Chewy Vegan Chai Cookies

Jump to Recipe

Introducing these simple but elegant chewy vegan chai cookies. 

Think of these as a spiced-up chewy sugar cookie. Made healthier, vegan and so much better. 

Seriously, don’t be deceived by these chewy chai spiced cookies. They may look simple, but in simplicity lies beauty! 😉

These cookies are crisp and crackled on the edges, but buttery soft and chewy on the inside. Plus, they’re packed with tons of spices and brown sugar flavor (minus the sugar).

But it gets better. 

Not only do these elegant vanilla chai cookies taste insanely good, they’re also vegan, healthy, refined sugar-free and oil-free. Checking every box out here! 

Chewy Vegan Chai Cookie Ingredients 

Here’s everything you’ll need for this easy chai cookie recipe! 

• Tahini 
• Coconut oil — I recommend using refined coconut oil so your cookies don’t have a coconut flavor 
• Golden Coconut Sugar — Big Tree Farms sells this type of coconut sugar and if you’re in the US, Whole Foods and Sprouts carry this brand.
• Spelt flour — I like using the sprouted spelt flour from One Degree Organics
• Cashew milk — linking my cashew milk recipe here 
• Vanilla extract 
• Cardamom 
• Cinnamon —Ii recommend using ceylon cinnamon as it has the best flavor
• Nutmeg 
• Clove 
• Salt
• Leaveners — both baking powder and baking soda

Ingredient Substitutions 

While I always recommend following a recipe to the “T”’ for best results, here are a few notes of certain ingredients and what you can use instead. Keep in mind that if you use any different ingredients, the recipe won’t be the same as the original! 

• Spelt flour — if you’re gluten-free you can use a gluten-free flour blend, i’ll link the one use here 
• Tahini — any runny nut butter works well here, especially a runny almond butter or cashew butter 
• Cashew milk — feel free to use any plant milk you have on hand

Upgrade These Vegan Chai Cookies

Listen up, if you want to give these simple cookies a little zhuzhj, I’ve got the secret to take them from amazing to…even more amazing! 

Simply make these into chai snickerdoodles. Follow this recipe as usual, but once you roll the cookie dough into a ball, roll it in cinnamon sugar.

I’ll leave some instructions below if you want to try this version: 

• In a bowl, combine ¼ cup coconut sugar, 1 tbsp of Ceylon cinnamon and a pinch of salt.
• Roll the cookie dough into a ball, roll it in the bowl of cinnamon sugar. Make sure to thoroughly coat the cookie with the mixture.
• Place the cookie dough ball on the prepared baking sheet and gently press down until the cookie is about 2 cm thick and round. I like to shape the cookie into as even of a circle as possible using my fingers. 
• Then just repeat with the rest of the cookies. 

Tips, Tricks and Notes

Pencils out, because i’m dropping the deets to making these healthy chai cookies perfectly! 

• Use golden coconut sugar: This sugar is slightly more refined than the classic coconut sugar and also doesn’t discolor your cookies a muddy brown color.
• Don’t overmix the dough: The number one tip everyone has for making cookies. Seriously though, the more you stir the dough, the more gluten will develop, and the more “bready” your cookies will be.
• Taste test the dough: As if you need an invitation to taste the dough haha. But do taste it and add more spices if you like the dough more ‘spiced’.
• Make the cookies super round: These cookies won’t spread that much in the oven, so make sure that when you flatten the cookies, they’re also super round. I like to use my finger to press in the sides and flatten the top to achieve a super round cookie.
• Use the right cookie sheet: I recommend using a cooking sheet that has shallow sides as this will allow for better heat distribution…and better cookies!
• Don’t over bake the cookies: They may not look done after 8 minutes, but trust me, they are. As they cool, these cookies will continue to bake. 
• After baking, shape the cookies: When the cookies are done baking, they’ll still be super malleable. So you can either use your fingers to make the cookies perfect circles. Or you can use a large cup, place it over the cookie and gently move it around the cookie to gently shape the cookie into a perfect circle. 

Even More Cookie Recipes 

Want even more recipes like these vegan chai cookies? Check out these classic but healthier cookie recipes below!

• Classic Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Fudgy Vegan Double Chocolate Chip Cookies 
• Single-Serve Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookie

Print