Happy Halloween everyone! In spirit of today’s holiday, I have a recipe to prepare you for the NEXT holiday! Too soon? At least I don’t have any Christmas music playing…
It’s no secret that I love to bake. I also happen to love almost everything I bake, but I have found that my taste buds are accustomed to flavors that some people would call bland. I enjoy the flavor of plain grains and veggies, my meals don’t get extra seasonings, and I am a coffee and tea purist to the max. I don’t add cream or sugar to either.
I’ve been wanting to attempt a gingerbread cookie recipe for a while now, and finally gave it a shot. As per usual I LOVED them, but I wanted to see what the civilians thought (non vegan eaters.) Most people I know are skeptical of my treats before they try them, and I get a total baking high when I introduce my friends to the better side of vegan baking.
I wanted to make all these cookies into maple leaf shapes, but had too much batter and not enough patience, so I made some circular cookies as well. These are perfect for those of you that enjoy a simple cookie that’s not overpowering in the sweet department. I LOVE extra sweet treats, but these mild cookies were delicious. Perfect along side a cup of black coffee.
Super Soft Gingerbread Cookies
- 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp of a chia or flax egg (I used chia)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup Earth Balance vegan butter
- 3/4 cup xylitol
- 1/4 cup raw sugar
- 3 tblsp vanilla almond milk
- 1/4 cup molasses
- a couple more pinches of raw sugar
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Combine your flour, spices, salt, baking soda, and chia or flax egg in a medium sized bowl.
- In a separate bowl, mix together your xylitol, sugar, coconut oil, and Earth Balance vegan butter. Then mix in the vanilla almond milk and molasses.
- Slowly stir in the dry ingredients until mixed
- Form into small balls (or shapes), sprinkle the top with sugar, and bake for 8-10 minutes.
A few notes: I used part xylitol, and part sugar because I wanted to lessen the amount of sugar, but you can use all sugar if you want. I also ran out of coconut oil, so I used part oil and part butter, but you can use all of one or the other. I liked the combo of both.
I had to…because I am 12. It is Halloween after all!
This was my first time baking with molasses and I have to say I was scared of the smell. Thankfully it tasted nothing like it smelled, and I already have requests to bake a second batch! Oh how I love seasonal baked goods, bring on the eggnog cupcakes!
Q: Do you like gingerbread cookies?! If you said yes, you must make these.
Blissfulbritt 
39 thoughts on “‘Tis the Season”
* Vegan Sparkles *
…Especially ones with mouse ears! 🙂 Love it! Happy Halloween, girl! xx
pickyrunner
I keep saying I’m going to make cookies and then it doesn’t happen. I NEED TO MAKE COOKIES. Gingerbread is one of my favorites! Especially in mickey mouse shape 🙂
Nicole @ FruitnFitness
I love gingerbread cookies, soft gingerbread cookies though not the hard ones they have at Christmas time. These sound really good! I love seeing new vegan baked good ideas, it’s nice to be able to bake for my vegan friends.
Taryn
I made gingerbread cookies last year, but I think I used too much molasses because they were very hard to eat. I want to try this recipe though.. they look good and I’m sure you used the right amount of molasses 😉 Adding it to the Thanksgiving baking list!
cleaneatingveggiegirl
Yum!! I LOVE the flavor of gingerbread! Now I am even more in the spirit for Christmas! 😉
Change of Pace
Yum- thanks so much for sharing!!! Love gingerbread!
Are you going on a baking kick now?!
One of my coworkers told me yesterday that they set up their Christmas tree!! Crazy! So, you’re not too early with Thanksgiving recipes in my mind!
kathy @ vodka and soda
i LOVE gingerbread! if you’re on a baking kick, please send some my way. the mickey mouse ones shall do okthanksbye xoxoxo
The Vegan 8
Yummy! I love gingerbread flavors!! I make some ginger snap peppermint muffins that I eat like 10 at once, which I’m sure I’d do with these cookies! They look delish!!!
Davida @The Healthy Maven
yum! Bring on all things gingerbread. By December 1st I may not be saying the same thing but damnnnn these look good!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Those look and sound great. I love gingerbread cookies. The mouse is super cute. 🙂
thoughtsappear
I think I’m the only person who doesn’t like gingerbread cookies. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
Britta
SIT TIGHT IM COMING OVER!!!! Ahh, this is exactly what I want right now. They would go so well with my morning coffee 🙂 Gingerbread always reminds me of my Oma, oh shucks. You are a vegan baking wonder woman and I absolutely LOVE that. I think I am going to make them when I get home to Nelson! NUMMYYYYYY!
apartmentwife
i’ll eat just about *anything*, and so i’m game for being your next vegan convert 🙂 oh.. and it’s never to early for christmas music and gingerbread cookies. crank up the jams and enjoy the treats 🙂
spectacuLAUR
YUM! And I know what you mean about molasses. It smells like tar, but turns magically delicious after it has been baked. I was very, very nervous the first time I made Gingerbread cookies because they were not smelling good before they went into the oven. Lol
Meghan @ fitnesscrEATures
Haha, I would try all your treats if you’d let me! These look amazing! I never would have guessed to use actual ginger, funny, huh? I go through phases with blandness of food – sometimes I love it and sometimes all I want is something way too fancy and rich for my digestive system to handle! 🙂 And black coffee FTW always. Always. 🙂
Megan
I like when people MAKE cookies for me. I don’t care to make them myself : ) Not sure if I have tried gingerbread cookies before to honest!
sincerelylily
yesssssss gingerbread! i once in hs in german club, had to make a real gingerbread house, and all my pieces collapsed and it turned into a mexican abode. it was tragic and i failed that assignment.
random. ANYWAYS BACK TO YOU- i love that you used your maple leaf cookie cutter! meg sent me one and i tried to cut out sugar cookies from a pre-store bought dough… didnt work. Question- what the heck is xylitol???? that sounds like a drug. are you drugging ppl into eating sweets? i think our B and B needs a cookie/baking corner, where we use cookie cutouts and make sweet awesome treats all the time. and sell them for like $30/batch. Profit margins will be through the roof.
Brittany
OH NO! You’ve discovered my secret to making people fall in love with my treats! Just kidding, xylitol is a sugar alcohol, so it’s not an actual sugar, but it’s not bad like the artificial stuff. It’s really good for your teeth, and is found in a lot of toothpastes. The only real down side is that since it’s not easily recognized by our bodies, it’s harder to digest and causes some GAS! Watch out errybody!! It’s good for diabetics or anyone watching their sugar intake!
I would be in the cookie corner all day at our B&B!
PNWRunner
Can you mail me some cookies?! Pretty please?!! 🙂 These look amazing and yes I do LOVE gingerbread cookies. Perfect for the upcoming holidays. I agree, no holiday music is playing yet and hopefully not until Thanksgiving. I am super weird about that. lol. Since I enjoy baking maybe just as much as you, I’ll need to get in the kitchen this weekend and make these. I need some fun cookie cutters asap!!
di @ life of di.
Yum. I love Gingerbread cookies 🙂 What a perfect day to share this recipe too – Halloween is almost over and it is time to start thinking about the next two holidays!
Meredith
definitely making these, I am obsessed with gingerbread cookies! I love that you used almond milk! Plus the maple leafs are adorable. nice job girl!
Amy
Mmm I love gingerbread cookies!! It’s one of the few cookies both my guy and me agree on. (He hates chocolate or anything creative, which makes things tough in my cookie-baking kitchen!) You are SO adorable with your Mickey Mouse cookie! When you come visit me, we’ll take a road trip down to Anaheim and go ALL out!! 😀
I haven’t worked with xylitol before… Where did you find it? And does it have any funny aftertastes?
Brittany
AHH I LOVE DISNEY hah!
Taste wise I haven’t noticed anything funky with xylitol, I actually really like it and have read you can sub it 100% for sugar, cup for cup. In my baked goods I have always included some real sugar too just in case, but my mom made some pumpkin bread with 100% xylitol and it was great! The only downside is it can cause some gas since our bodies don’t recognize it like they would real sugar.
I found mine at my local health store!
Amy
Thanks Brittany, that’s good to know! Food science at its finest… Although I’ve found I’ve had more gas with real sugar than sugar substitutes. My body is so weird — I’m like a mutant alien! 😉
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Soooo it’s Halloween night and now I’m sitting here ridiculously excited for Christmas 😛 I’m not quite sure that I’m ready for gingerbread cookies yet, but dang do I love ’em.
Becky
Yum! I love gingerbread cookies!
Matt @ Runner Savvy
I ❤ gingerbread cookies!
Alex @ therunwithin
aw so cute. I swear one day I will take up baking… one day
Luv What You Do
I LOVE gingerbread cookies! These look SO good!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
Those look and sound so good- I love molasses! I’m quite keen to give those a go- I’ve tried a vegan cookie once and it crumbled in my hand (but it tasted good)
Also Hi 5 for being a tea and coffee purist 😉
Ally
I love your maple leaf cookies. 🙂
Rach @ This Italian Family
These look delicious! And I can actually eat them since they are so low in sugar! Lovely! Also, no judgement for baking for the next holiday… I’ve been playing Christmas music for a couple of weeks now. 😛
kelly @ racesrepsramblings
Holy YUM! I love it. This looks like a doable recipe for my level 😉 Very fall and very delicious.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Does this mean your over the activity phase and hopped straight onto the baking train? Gingerbread cookies sound delicious, although I will say I’m fond of the maple leaf shaped ones. It’s always nice when non-vegans approve of your cooking/baking. Nice job.
allieksmith
When I have more time to bake, I really want to make these bad boys! YUM.
Melissa @ Al Forno Mementos
I’m scared to bake with molasses! I don’t know why butttt I do like sweets that aren’t sweet sooo I might just give this a try! 🙂
Life's a Bowl
Gingerbread and molasses cookies are my favorite holiday cookies! Plus those green Christmas weath cookies that are made out of cereal + marshmallows + food dye 😛
Sonnische
That recipe sounds wonderful, and the photos clinch the deal. I’m making these! Thank you for stopping by my blog to like my post on Thanksgiving memories.
Brittany
I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!