17 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes | Vegan & Gluten-Free

We scoured the internet to bring you the very best Christmas cookie recipes of 2020. Warning: this list contains sugar, spice, and all things nice. 

Christmas and cookies just go together. Crunchy, chewy, sweet, and spicy, the best Christmas cookie recipes are easy to follow and yummy enough to share with all your loved ones. Here are a few of our favorite Christmas cookie recipes that are delicious and vegan friendly, with a few gluten-free options thrown in for good measure. 

Happy baking!

Festive Gingerbread Cookies

A finished gingerbread man cookie.

Fun, festive, and gloriously easy to make, this adorable gingerbread cookie recipe will have you fa-la-la-ing all the way to Christmas day! They’re crisp on the outside, chewy in the middle, making them the perfect canvas for festive icing. This recipe is sweet and simple, making it the perfect baking project to enjoy with the kids.

Easy Vegan Linzer Cookies

White platter topped with lots oof vegan Linzer cookies

These beautiful Vegan Linzer Cookies are based on a traditional Austrian Christmas cookie recipe, and look so pretty as part of a festive spread. Sweet strawberry jam is sandwiched between buttery, flaky shortbread, which is given a vegan twist thanks to plant-based butter.

Wooden platter topped with cinnamon star christmas cookies

You’ll only need four ingredients for this sweet, spicy, gluten-free Christmas Cookie recipe! Ground almonds join forces with orange juice and zest, for a deliciously simple take on the legendary Zimtsterne cinnamon star cookie. Top with vegan royal icing and serve with a glass of mulled wine to get into the festive mood.

Gingerbread Cream Sandwich Cookies

Stack of three Christmas sandwich cookies

Spicy gingerbread is filled with vegan-friendly nog flavored frosting, for a soft and creamy Christmas cookie recipe that’s bound to have you going back for seconds. Amazingly, these decadent cookies bake in just 10 minutes, leaving you time to whip up a second batch for gifting (if you can bear to part with them, that is!)

Ginger Molasses Christmas Cookies Recipe

Stack of molasses christmas cookies

These ultra-soft Vegan Ginger Molasses Cookies are a winning combination of crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. With a rich, deep flavor that screams festive indulgence, these cookies are made for cozy evenings, and can be eaten warm from the oven or chilled the following day. No cookie-cutter required!

Gluten-Free Hot Chocolate Cookies

Plate of vegan hot chocolate cookies by Plant You

These scrummy Hot Chocolate Christmas cookies are naturally gluten and dairy-free, and taste like a mug of sweet hot cocoa! Packed with vegan marshmallows and chunky chocolate chips, they go down a storm with kids and adults alike and are simple enough to whip up at short notice.

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Basket filled with peppermint christmas cookies

If you’re a sucker for mint-choc-chip then you’ll love these super-festive Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies! Sweet, soft, with a sprinkling of crunchy peppermint candy, these Holiday treats look and taste like they were made by Santa’s elves.

Triple Ginger Cookies

Plate with five triple ginger cookies

Packed full of warm, spicy holiday flavors, these Triple Ginger Christmas Cookies pack a serious flavor punch. If traditional gingerbread isn’t cutting it then these are bound to give you the ginger kick you need. If you’re feeling extra creative then they can also be used as the building blocks for a ginger-bread house. Cute!

Vegan Sugar Cookies

Christmas cookies placed no the counter, snowman, snowflakes, Christmas trees and stars

Treat your inner child to a batch of these super-simple Vegan Sugar Cookies. The recipe calls for just 8 pantry staples and produces beautifully crunchy cookies that are perfect for icing and displaying as part of your festive feast.

Cinnamon Twist Cookies

Plate filled with cinnamon twists being placed on a table, surrounded by Christmas lights, berries and pine cones

Cinnamon twist cookies get a vegan makeover, with this delightful Cinnamon Twist Christmas Cookie recipe. Make them with a simple blend of plant-based butter, vegan cream cheese, and flour, then enjoy the buttery, flakey treats dunked in a glass of milk.

Peppermint “Meltaway” Christmas Cookies

Nine balls of peppermint meltaway balls topped with candy cane

These pretty Peppermint Cookies literally melt in your mouth and are a gorgeously light alternative to the usual Christmas go-to’s. We think they look like mini snowballs (but taste considerably more magical!)

Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

Plate with four gingerbread men, surrounded by more gingerbread cookies and red twine

Ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves blend together in this gloriously simple Gingerbread Cookie Recipe. Treat yourself to a relaxing afternoon icing up these cuties in front of a Christmas movie, and prepare for a serious case of the warm and fuzzies.

Gluten-Free Sugar Cutout Cookies

Snowman Christmas Cookie recipe

Finally, a delicious sugar cookie recipe that doesn’t contain gluten! This super-simple Christmas cookie recipe uses a winning combination of oat, rice, and almond flour. This makes them crispy on the outside, chewy and on the inside. Oil and butter have also been ousted in favor of tapioca starch and nut butter. That means you can gobble these up with zero guilt!

Vegan Gingerbread House

Christmas Cookie gingerbread house

If you’re feeling ambitious, then this stunning edible house recipe will take you through all the steps needed to create your own vegan gingerbread house. The recipe also includes templates for cutting out your cookies. The house features soft-but-crunchy plant-based gingerbread and super-simple egg-free royal icing, for an impressive sugar-based centerpiece. Yes please!

Stack of three Harry Potter Christmas Cookies

These Harry Potter Christmas Cookies are so magical they’ll make you feel like you’re celebrating Christmas at Hogwarts! Based on Mrs. Weasley’s Christmas cookie recipe, this vegan-ized version features handfuls of hazelnuts and shredded chocolate, resulting in magical, melt in the mouth cookies. These are sure to be a hit with vegans and non-vegans alike.

Vegan Triple Chocolate and Pecan Cookies

Close up of a chocolate pecan Christmas Cookie

Double chocolate is so last season. These plant-based Triple Chocolate and Pecan Cookies don’t hold back on flavor, using dairy-free chocolate chips and crunchy pecans. They’re also super-simple to adapt if you’re looking for a gluten-free recipe.

Vegan Ice Cream Cookies

Scattered ice cream cookies with pink and blue icing

These adorable Vegan Ice Cream Cookies look pretty as a picture, and are surprisingly easy to make! Pink pitaya powder and blue spirulina powder give the icing a vibrant color boost, without any of the nasties associated with artificial colorings.

I hope this list of vegan Christmas Cookies brings you some joy and you will enjoy baking with your family this Holiday season.

Thanks for checking out this list of vegan Christmas Cookies! If you try any of the recipes, please let us know by leaving a comment below. Every bit of feedback helps make the blog even better!

Looking for more Holiday Recipes?

Here are a few of my readers favorite cake recipes. I hope you enjoy them too!
Holiday Menu
Holiday Roasts You Must Try

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