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Snickerdoodle cookies are a classic American cookie that are soft, pillowy and chewy with a coating of cinnamon sugar and although not the most show stopping of cookies, are a favorite amongst cookie lovers. For fall, I decided to update my delicious vegan version with warm notes of pumpkin spice and white chocolate chips for a chewy version of this fan favorite!

Standard recipes call for flour, sugar, salt, butter or vegetable shortening (or both like my recipe), and eggs in the dough (I’ve substituted canned pumpkin puree and it works perfectly), as well as a mixture of ground cinnamon, pumpkin spice seasoning and sugar for rolling balls of dough before baking. Most—but not all recipes—rely on a combination of baking soda and cream of tartar for leavening. Purists believe cream of tartar is essential to the chewy texture and its slightly tangy taste. Cream of tartar activates the baking soda and keeps sugar crystals from forming, so the cookies end up pillowy rather than hard and crisp. Non-purists believe it’s the cinnamon-sugar that accounts for the appeal of these cookies, and leave the cream of tartar out, replacing it with baking powder for leavening which can be done but I don’t recommend it.

Some say that snickerdoodles originated in New England, and that the name is simply a nonsensical word that results from a regional naming tradition but others says they’re Pennsylvania Dutch Amish in origin. Some say that the name is a deviation a German word meaning “crinkly noodle” or “snail.” Though no one knows for sure where the snickerdoodle came from, one thing is for sure: This beloved American cookie seems to be here to stay!

Why my recipe is different!

No flax eggs! For my pumpkin spice version it was a no brainer that pumpkin puree was all that was needed.
Pumpkin spice! I add pumpkin spice seasoning to the dough and more to the sugar mixture that coats the cookies to amp up the flavor.
Vegan butter plus shortening! Butter gives flavor but shortening provides tenderness making these cookies softer and chewier than most other recipes.
Brown sugar! Most recipes just use granulated cane sugar but I found adding some brown gives the bake a bit more moisture and chew.

Tips for success:

Use a dense vegan butter like the stick style not from a tub. The sticks contain less water.
My recipe replaces eggs with canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling that’s sweetened). I prefer Libby’s brand which never fails. If you use a brand that seems very wet, place it on a few paper towels in a bowl to draw out some of the moisture before using in the recipe.
The baking of these is crucial if you want a chewy cookie. Over baking will eliminate that texture so do not over bake. All ovens vary and I bake with convection which cooks faster so I bake at 325° but standard ovens should be set to 350°. The size you make the cookies will also determine baking time. I use a 1.5” scoop to make sure they’re all uniform but if you make them larger or smaller, remember to adjust your baking time accordingly.
Take out the cookies when they look barely golden at the edges. They’ll seem underbaked but they’ll continue to bake as the cookie sheets cool down resulting in a perfect bake. They’ll puff up a bit when baked but will settle down once cooled. You do need to flatten them somewhat with the bottom of a glass otherwise they’ll be a puffy ball instead of a flat cookie.

If you want a prettier looking cookie, make sure to tap in the sides if you notice any rough edges after pressing the cookies down before baking. Sprinkle a few more vegan white chips on top and an additional sprinkling of the sugar mixture too. This will result in a really nice looking cookie after baking. When I developed this recipe last Christmas, my cousin brought her non-vegan snickerdoodles to a family gathering and after she tried mine, she said “wow, yours are so much better, what’s your recipe?!” That made me feel great and just shows a vegan recipe can be even better than a traditional one! I hope you enjoy these and they become part of your fall baking favorites and don’t forget to rate and review if you try them!