Vegan Animal Crackers
Equipment
- Rolling Pin Helps flatten the dough evenly. No rolling pin? A clean wine bottle works in a pinch.
- Animal-shaped cookie cutters These are key for keeping the spirit of animal cracker cookies alive. If you don’t have any, small circles or stars will still be cute and snackable.
- Mixing bowls You’ll need a couple to keep wet and dry ingredients separate before combining.
- Baking sheet Standard-sized works perfectly.
- Parchment paper Prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour or white whole wheat flour for a healthier option
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup coconut oil solid, not melted
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: 1 tablespoon plant-based milk if dough is too dry
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C)
- and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl
- whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
In a separate large bowl
- cream the solid coconut oil with maple syrup using a spoon or hand mixer. Add the applesauce and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
Combine wet and dry ingredients
- and mix until a dough forms. If it feels too crumbly, add a splash of plant milk.
Roll the dough out
- on a lightly floured surface to about ⅛ inch thick. Cut into animal shapes using cookie cutters.
Transfer to baking sheet
- spacing slightly apart. They won’t spread much, so you can fit quite a few on one tray.
Bake for 8–9 minutes
- or until the edges are just golden. Remove and let cool completely—they’ll crisp up as they cool.
Store in an airtight container
- for up to a week—if they last that long!