Chai Vegan Sugar Cookies with Eggnog Glaze

Thanksgiving may be next week– and you may still be knee-deep in trying to figure out your menu (PS- I’ve got 50+ vegan Thanksgiving recipes here) but may I suggest switching gears to Christmas cookies?

My fellow baking fans, get ready. These chai vegan sugar cookies are the first in a line of holiday cookies that I’ve got coming your way over the next few weeks. Yes, I’m still a dietitian, but as I like to say frequently– healthy diets include dessert. And these sugar cookies? Well, they should definitely be included in your holiday plans.

Chewy, spiced chai sugar cookies that are fantastic on their own, but are pure WOW factor when dipped into an eggnog glaze. These vegan sugar cookies are a must in Christmas cookie boxes, cookie exchanges or even just a Wednesday night when you’ve got a hankering for ‘what Christmas should taste like.’

Vegan Sugar Cookie Ingredient Notes

These chai cookies are essentially a classic sugar cookie that we’ve added chai spices to. The ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves and a pinch of black pepper make these taste like chai. If you sub out the spices, then the flavor profile of the cookies will be altered.

The applesauce adds moistness to the cookies and helps replace the egg used in regular vegan sugar cookies. Same with the cornstarch, it helps to bind the cookies.

I use Earth Balance baking sticks for almost all of my vegan baking, but any butter should work. I wrote these cookies to be vegan, but regular butter and milk will also work. Lastly, I almost always use oat milk for baking as it contributes to browning, but again– any milk should work. 

Substitution Notes

For the very best cookies, make sure your spices are potent– especially the ginger for a nice chai bite. This is likely more important if you don’t use ground ginger that often and it’s been sitting in your cupboard for years.

If you don’t have all of these spices, then I recommend heading to your nearest co-op or even Whole Foods (some have this option, not all) and the bulk spice bin area. This lets you grab just a teaspoon or two without having to commit to the entire recipe.

I highly, highly recommend all of these spices to make them really taste like a chai cookie BUT I also know that not everyone has access or wants to purchase all of the spices new. In that case, you can use just the ginger and cinnamon. It won’t taste like chai, but it will have a nice spiced bite.

The powdered sugar plays very well with the spice profile of this chai sugar cookie; I don’t recommend trying to swap it out with other sugars but if you must, then I’d recommend more cane sugar or brown sugar as a last resort.

(This may be the point in the recipe where I put on my dietitian hat and kindly say that regardless of what’s being said on TikTok from shirtless men in grocery stores, sugar is sugar. Of course the amount matters in the context of an overall diet, but you can enjoy a regular cookie made with regular sugar too.)

How to make Chai Vegan Sugar Cookies

Make the chai spices

Mix together the chai spices: ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves and cracked black pepper

Cream the butter and sugar

Cream together the butter and sugars, then add in the applesauce and vanilla extract

Add in the dry ingredients

Mix in the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. Stir in the non-dairy milk; the dough should be the consistency of play dough. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes or freezer for 10-15 minutes to make rolling easer.

Scoop and roll into balls

Using a cookie scoop, roll the dough into a ball, then roll into cinnamon sugar and flatten slightly. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a non-stick silicone mat, like a silpat and bake for 12 minutes.

Glaze

These chai sugar cookie is fantastic on it’s own, but even better with the eggnog-inspired glaze on top. Whisk together powdered sugar, milk and nutmeg then either dip or drizzle on top!

Can I use this Vegan Sugar Cookie Recipe as a Cut Out Cookie?

Yes! Just like regular sugar cookies, this recipe can be made as a cut out cookie with cookie cutters. To do that, place the dough in the fridge/freezer to harden slightly. This will make it easier to roll.

When ready to roll, gently roll the dough with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface, or between two pieces of parchment paper. For a chewier cookie, roll to about 1/2 inch thickness; for a thinner cookie, roll to about 1/4 inch thick.

Using lightly floured cookie cutters, cut the dough into preferred shapes, then bake as directed. If you are cutting the dough into large shapes, then you may need to add a minute or two to the bake time. Let cool slightly on the baking tray then transfer to a baking rack to finish cooling completely before adding the glaze or frosting as desired.

Storing Instructions

These cookies will store at room temperature for 3-4 days. Like most cookies, they will still have a great flavor but the texture will change and be more crumbly the longer they sit.

You can also freeze the cookies! This is especially important if you like to make a big batch of cookies to give as cookie boxes like I do for gifts (especially when paired with my bourbon balls, molasses gingerbread cookies and vegan chocolate peppermint cookies). You can freeze the dough to bake from frozen OR make the cookies, then freeze. Either works, as long as they aren’t glazed first.

More Vegan Christmas Cookies:

• Vegan Molasses Cookies
• Homemade Oreos
• Vegan Peppermint Cookies
• Salted Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Lemon Crinkle Cookies
• Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

If you try these vegan sugar cookie recipe, make sure to come back to leave a rating and a comment. Your feedback helps other readers and seeing you make my recipes makes my day!