Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

These vegan chocolate chip cookies are soft, chewy, and loaded with melty chocolate in every bite. Made without eggs or dairy, this easy recipe delivers perfect, salty-sweet flavor no one will know is vegan!

Featured Comment:

Made these cookies for the first time this week and OH MY GOODNESS they are the absolute best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had. I took them with me to work and no one knew they were vegan! - Danielle

The perfect chocolate chip cookies have crisp edges and soft, gooey centers. I don't make the rules, this is simply a fact.

This recipe utilizes both brown and granulated sugar to achieve this incredible combination. Brown sugar makes for great chew, while granulated sugar produces those perfect edges. The effect is simple, melt-in-your-mouth heaven.

We love this recipe so much that we've also adapted it into our vegan banana chocolate chip cookies and vegan orange chocolate chip cookies. Let's get baking!

Jump to:

• Ingredients You'll Need (with substitutions)
• Why You'll Love These Cookies
• How to Make Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies (step-by-step)
• Recipe Tips
• What Chocolate is Best for Vegan Cookies?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Troubleshooting
• Recipe Variations
• Best Vegan Butters for Making Cookies
• Best Equipment for Cookie Baking
• Storage
• Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
• More Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes:
• More Vegan Cookie Recipes:

Ingredients You'll Need (with substitutions)

• vegan butter: Provides richness, moisture, and structure, helping create a soft, chewy cookie with crisp edges.
• light brown sugar: Adds sweetness and moisture while contributing a caramel-like flavor and chewy texture.
• granulated sugar: Helps the cookies spread and creates crisp edges while balancing the softness from the brown sugar.
• nondairy milk: Adds moisture and helps bind the dough in place of eggs.
• vanilla extract: Enhances overall flavor and brings warmth to the cookies.
• cornstarch: Acts as an egg replacer, helping create tender, soft cookies with a chewy center.
• baking soda: Provides lift and encourages spreading, resulting in a classic cookie shape and texture.
• salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.
• all-purpose flour: Provides structure and stability so the cookies hold their shape.
• dark chocolate (50-70%): Adds rich chocolate flavor with just the right balance of sweetness and bitterness.
• flaky sea salt (optional): Adds a finishing touch that enhances sweetness and brings out the chocolate flavor.

Why You'll Love These Cookies

• Soft and chewy centers with crisp edges-the perfect cookie texture
• Rich, melty dark chocolate in every bite
• Completely egg-free and dairy-free, but tastes just like the classic
• Made with simple pantry ingredients
• Easy to make-no fancy equipment required
• Perfect for sharing, gifting, or freezing for later
• Finished with flaky sea salt for that irresistible sweet-salty balance

Recipe Tips

Utilize the following tips to ensure your cookies come out perfectly every time:

1. Use high-quality ingredients. The quality of ingredients can significantly impact the final result. Use high-quality vegan butter (I like Earth Balance from the tub), chocolate, and vanilla extract for the best flavor and texture.
2. Use softened, not melted, vegan butter for the best texture and proper creaming.
3. Cream the butter and sugars well to create light, chewy cookies.
4. Measure flour accurately by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off to avoid dense cookies.
5. Don't over-mix the dough once the flour is added. This keeps the cookies tender.
6. Chill the dough if needed for thicker cookies or if your dough feels very soft.
7. Use good-quality dark chocolate for the best flavor and melty pockets.
8. Sprinkle flaky sea salt right after baking so it sticks to the warm cookies.
9. Slightly under-bake for soft, chewy centers. The cookies will firm up as they cool.

What Chocolate is Best for Vegan Cookies?

The best chocolate for vegan cookies is chocolate that's dairy-free, melts well, and has rich flavor. Here's what to look for and some great options:

What to Look For

• Clearly labeled dairy-free or vegan (some dark chocolate contains milk fat)
• 50-70% cocoa for the best balance of sweetness and richness
• Bars or chunks, not chips, for better melting and puddles of chocolate
• Short ingredient list with cocoa butter (not palm oil) for smoother texture

Best Chocolate Types for Vegan Cookies

Chopping a bar gives you melty pockets and uneven chunks, which makes cookies feel bakery-style.

• Enjoy Life (allergy-friendly, certified dairy-free)
• Lindt 70% or higher (check label-many are dairy-free)
• Endangered Species 70%+
• Theo Chocolate Dark Bars
• Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate

Pro Tip: Mix chopped chocolate + chips for the best texture. You'll get melty pools and classic chips in one cookie.

Frequently Asked Questions

Troubleshooting

Cookies spread too much

• Butter was too warm or melted
• Dough wasn't chilled
• Too little flour
  👉 Chill the dough 30-60 minutes and use stick-style vegan butter

Cookies are dry or crumbly

• Too much flour
• Over-baked
  👉 Measure flour carefully and bake until edges are set but centers are soft

Cookies are cakey instead of chewy

• Over-mixed dough
• Too much cornstarch or flour
  👉 Mix just until combined and avoid packing flour into the cup

Chocolate didn't melt well

• Using chips with stabilizers
  👉 Use chopped dark chocolate bars for better melting

Greasy bottoms

• Too much butter or very dark baking sheets
  👉 Line pans with parchment and use light-colored baking sheets

Recipe Variations

Here are a few ways you can add a unique twist to your Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1. Double Chocolate Cookies: Replace ¼ cup of flour with cocoa powder for a rich, chocolatey cookie base.
2. Sea Salt Espresso Cookies: Add 1-2 teaspoons espresso powder to enhance the chocolate flavor.
3. Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookies: Fold in ½ cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds for extra crunch.
4. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies: Replace ¾ cup of flour with rolled oats for a heartier texture.
5. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: Replace ¼ cup of vegan butter with creamy peanut butter for a nutty twist.
6. Lower-Sugar Option: Use chopped 70-85% dark chocolate and slightly reduce the granulated sugar.
7. Chunky Bakery-Style Cookies: Scoop larger dough balls and bake 1-2 minutes longer for thick cookies.

Best Vegan Butters for Making Cookies

Here's a clear guide to the best vegan butter for making cookies and what to look for so you get perfect texture every time:

Top Recommended Brands

These work best because they're firm, fat-forward, and low in water:

• Miyoko's European Style Vegan Butter (unsalted): Rich flavor, great structure, excellent for chewy cookies
• Country Crock Plant Butter (sticks): Easy to find, reliable spread and browning
• Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks or Spread (I prefer the spread in this brand's case!): Classic choice with consistent results
• Violife Plant Butter (block or sticks): Good fat content and clean flavor

What to Look For When Choosing Vegan Butter

• Stick or block form (usually): Indicates higher fat and less water, which prevents excessive spreading
• At least ~75-80% fat: Helps create crisp edges and chewy centers
• Neutral flavor: Avoid strong coconut or olive oil flavors unless intentional
• Firm when cold: If it's very soft straight from the fridge, it may cause flat cookies

Best Equipment for Cookie Baking

Not all baking sheets and mixers are created the same. A few simple swaps can make a huge difference!

1. Mixing bowls: One large bowl (or two medium) makes it easy to cream the butter and sugars and mix the dough evenly.
2. Electric hand mixer or stand mixer: Helps properly cream the vegan butter and sugars for the best texture (a whisk works too with extra effort).
3. Rubber spatula: Perfect for scraping down the bowl and gently folding in flour and chocolate.
4. Measuring cups and spoons: Accurate measurements are key for consistent cookie texture.
5. Kitchen scale (optional): Great for precise flour and sugar measurements and repeatable results.
6. Baking sheets (light-colored): Prevent over-browning on the bottoms of the cookies.
7. Parchment paper or silicone baking mat: Prevents sticking and promotes even baking.
8. Cookie scoop: Ensures evenly sized cookies that bake at the same rate.
9. Cooling rack: Allows cookies to cool properly and set without becoming soggy.

Storage

At Room Temperature

• Store the cookies in an airtight container with a slice of bread for up to 3 days.
• Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Freezing

• Place cookies in a freezer-safe bag or container.
• Freeze for up to 1 month.
• Thaw at room temperature.

If you make this recipe be sure to tag @censoredbaker on Instagram!

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More Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes:

• vegan toffee chocolate chip cookies
• vegan espresso chocolate chip cookies
• vegan banana chocolate chip cookies
• vegan orange chocolate chip cookies

More Vegan Cookie Recipes: