Vegan Snickerdoodles

In my thirty some years on Earth, I’ve seen dalmatians, pugs, German shepherds, shiba inus, and French bulldogs rise to and from the pinnacle of dog popularity. In Seattle, French bulldogs are riding the final rays of the shining spotlight while doodles of all forms (golden doodles, labradoodles, and schnoodles) are all the rage. To celebrate their ascent to the doggie throne, I baked these vegan snickerdoodles with the help of my trusty sous chef, our dog, Otis.

Otis, a 35-lb dingo look alike, couldn’t be happier with the recent shift of puppy power.. He hates French bulldogs with a barely contained fury – muscles tense, shallow breathing, and cheeks puffing out with every breath, somewhere between hyperventilation and a growl. He’s simply furious about their very existence. I’ve had Otis since he was 8 weeks old and can vouch that a Frenchie has never done him harm,  so his breedism is a bit of a mystery. So, on the off chance that Otis’ hatred is popularity based, I decided to get ahead of the curve by creating positive associations with this latest dog trend. Instead of focusing on his hate, we celebrated the rise of the fluffy, goofy, and decidedly less snorty doodle by baking vegan snickerdoodles.

Our baking adventure was successful on a number of levels–most importantly, they turned out absolutely delicious. And let me tell you, this snickerdoodle recipe is one to keep around. They’re incredibly easy to pull together with the perfect amount of crispness to protect the soft, and fluffy center. Got a book club coming up and you need a sweet treat? Done. Going over to your vegan friend’s house and you’re in charge of dessert? Easy solution. Interested in trying out a vegan dessert and want to start with something simple? Check the box. Got a dog that with a soft spot that needs nurturing? Sit boy, it is time for a treat.

what is the difference between a snickerdoodle and a sugar cookie?

Snickerdoodles are not just sugar cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar deliciousness. While snickerdoodles and sugar cookies share a lot of basic ingredients (flour, sugar), there is one key ingredient that’s critical to the snickerdoodle – cream of tartar. Cream of tartar is responsible for two of the qualities that we all know and love in snickerdoodles – the signature “tangy” taste and the perfectly pillow chewiness. Cream of tartar stops sugar’s natural tendency to bind together, preventing sugar crystals from forming. This is how snickerdoodles remain chewy while sugar cookies are crispy.

If you’re in the mood for some more vegan sweets, check out these vegan thumbprint cookies, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, vegan sugar cookies, vegan apple crisp, and vegan chocolate chip cookies. Let me know if you try these vegan cookie delights by leaving a comment, rating, or tagging a photo with #plantandvine on Instagram.

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vegan snickerdoodles and wine

Milk and cookies? Pshhh, let’s talk about wine and cookies! These pairings will help you chill out with a sweet treat and a glass of wine:

• Sauvignon Blanc: fruity and light-bodied, with grapefruit, white peach, passion fruit, and melon flavors. If you want to play to the creamy elements of the vegan snickerdoodles, look for a Fumé Blanc, a barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc.
  • Suggested Regions: Sonoma or Napa, California
• Madeira: fortified wine from Portugal with burnt caramel, hazelnut, peach, and walnut oil notes. Sweet and big-bodied enough to contend with the cinnamon and creaminess of the snickerdoodles.
  • Suggested Regions: Madeira Island, Portugal
• Muscat Blanc: if you’re looking for fruity, sweet, and acidic, Muscat Blanc will be your mandarin orange, pear, honeysuckle sweetie. If you want to turn up the volume on sweetness, look for the sweet dessert versions.
  • Suggested Regions: Asti, Italy (Moscato d’Asti)

Want to learn more about wine pairing techniques? Check out my wine pairing guide and guide to vegan wine for more ideas. Got a bottle of wine but don’t know if you should decant it? Check out my wine decanter guide.

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