Vegan Earth Day Sugar Cookies
by Meghan Rodgers
April 21, 2021
Tomorrow, one billion people across 193 countries will celebrate Earth Day (or International Mother Earth Day as it’s known in most countries outside of the United States). April 22 has become the day we pause to recognize the beauty and fragility of our planet and to show support for environmental and sustainable causes. It’s also become one of the largest secular holidays in the world.
And doesn’t every holiday need a special little sweet treat to help us celebrate?
These adorably delicious Vegan Earth Day Sugar Cookies are a perfect addition to any eco-friendly celebration, Earth Day or any day. They’re a great reminder that even small adjustments to your daily routine — like not consuming eggs are daily products — can make the world a little greener.
Note: Some vegans go back and forth on whether food coloring fits the animal-friendly diet. Most artificial coloring comes from a lab, so many are natural (using things like fruits or vegetables) or chemical creations. But some artificial dyes do still contain animal products and others rely on animal testing. If you’re not sure where your artificial colors are sourced, there are several great vegan food coloring options out there just to be safe.
Even better, learn to make your own all-natural food dyes and skip the packaging.
Happy Earth Day!
Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegan butter
1/4 cup applesauce
1 tsp high-quality vanilla extract
2 tbsp almond milk (or milk of your choice)
green vegan all-natural food coloring
blue vegan all-natural food coloring
Directions
Lightly grease a baking sheet and set aside. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, brown sugar, flour, baking soda and salt.
Next, add the vegan butter, applesauce, vanilla, and milk. Stir until blended well.
Separate the dough into about 2/5 and 3/5 dough balls. (This can be very rough. It just accounts for the fact that real Earth has more water than land, so your cookies might like to have more blue visible than green, as well.)
Start by adding 6 drops of green to the smaller dough ball. Work dough just until color is distributed. Add more green food coloring and repeat to reach desired color.
Add 10 drops of blue food coloring to the larger dough ball. Work dough just until color is distributed. Add more blue food coloring and repeat to reach desired color.
Place both dough balls in bowl and cover. Freeze for 5 minutes.
Remove dough from freezer. Take several small pinches of each color and press together to make earth-like looking cookie dough ball about 3/4-inch wide. Place each on the prepared baking sheet — no more than 8 at a time (these are spreaders!).
Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool for 2-3 minutes before removing from baking sheet and transferring to a wire rack to cool.
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