Vegan Desserts
The Basic Vegan Sugar Cookie

Heart Shaped Vegan Sugar Cookie

My Basic Vegan Sugar Cookie can be adapted to lots of flavors, shapes and added ingredients like nuts and chocolates. But for the holidays, this recipe makes perfect cookie shapes for that traditional sugar cookie we all LOVE! Give this recipe a test drive and see what I mean. I keep several "logs" in the freezer to have on hand for a quick tea party treat or addition to fruit desert.


Oven Preparation
Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Spray cookie sheets with non-stick oil spray or line with parchment paper.

Ingredients
5 cups organic unbleached flour
4 teaspoons Bob's Red Mill Baking Powder
2 cups sugar organic white sugar
1/2 cup almond milk, soy milk, or soy milk creamer
1 tablespoon organic vanilla, almond, coconut or lemon extract
1 13-ounce carton of Whipped Organic Earth Balance Buttery Spread

Tools
measuring cups & spoons
Cuisinart Stand Mixer
Beater Blade
cookie sheets
parchment paper
insulated cookie sheets
sharp knife
cookie cutters
rolling pin


Preparation
Sugar and Earth Balance
Using the Cuisinart Stand Mixer fitted with the Beater Blade, cream the Earth Balance and sugar together until light and fluffy.

Baking Powder
Add baking powder to mixture and beat till incorporated.

HINT: Baking Powder
Baking soda from the health food store is better for your body... it is aluminum-free to save those brain cells. Studies have shown that high aluminum levels are found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases... aluminum is also linked to bone degeneration and kidney dysfunction. So begin using the aluminum free baking soda now to save those valuable brain cells.

Liquid
Add 1/2 cup of almond milk, soy milk, or soy milk creamer.

Flavoring
Add vanilla or your favorite organic flavored extract.

Flour
Slowly add flour until blended... do not over process.

Refrigerate
The Basic Vegan Sugar Cookie Dough needs to be refrigerated.
Roll the dough in the bowl into a large log shape and wrap with parchment paper.

Add a layer of plastic wrap and carefully seal it and lay on a shelf in your refrigerator.

This log can also be frozen for use at another time.

The Basic Sugar Cookie Circles Cut from Refrigerated Log.

Bake
Pre-heat over to 350 degrees F.

Remove the dough log from the refrigerator and remove the coverings.

Slice 5/8 inch circles and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake the Vegan Sugar Cookies until a light brown is seen on the edges.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are just starting to turn a pale brown. After the cookies have cooled on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes, use a spatula and lift them onto a cake rack to cool completely.

Shapes
If you want to use a cookie cutter, let the dough sit for 10 minutes before rolling.

Cut the log in half and roll out the dough to 1/4" height and cut the shapes desired.

You can make several logs from one batch so that you create smaller circle cookies.

The logs will be just like those refrigerator cookie rolls sold in the markets, but yours will be vegan!

CopperGifts.com
I just found the CopperGifts.com and ordered several of their beautifully handmade copper cookie cutters. Use the Code ANA497 if you order anything. They also carry a full range of decorating tools, sprinkles and coloring choices that are organic.

Frosting
I like FROSTING, but don't like to take a lot of time creating the end result. So I have experimented with a "flooding" type frosting that I dip the tops of the cookies into and then let them drip dry on a cake rack.


Related Recipes
Vegan Royal Icing
Ruby Poached Pears

Presentation
Wrap individual cookies in plastic wrap, cellophane bags, plastic containers, etc. The problem is that you'll have to hide these cookies or they will be all be gone in one presentation.