Vegan Sugar Cookies

Get out the baking sheet and cookie cutters because we’ve got the best vegan sugar cookie recipe around! These classic-yet-customizable holiday treats—which can be made into any shape (hello, snowflakes)—are brightened with the addition of natural colorings such as spirulina, turmeric, or beet powder, or flavors such as chocolate, citrus, and peanut butter. Even better? Kids will love to help with decorating this festive dessert.

Makes 36 cookies

What You Need:

For the cookie dough:

3/4 cup vegan margarine

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoons water

1/2 tablespoon vanilla

2-1/4 cups flour

1/4 cup + 1/8 cup tapioca flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

For the frosting:

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup vegetable shortening

3 tablespoons soy milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

What You Do:

1. For the cookies, preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat together margarine, sugar, water, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add remaining ingredients and stir well to form a smooth dough. Cover and chill for 1 hour or until firm.

2. Divide dough in half, work with one half at a time, and keep the remaining dough covered. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters, and carefully transfer cookies with a spatula to ungreased cookie sheets.

3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool slightly before transferring to a rack to cool completely before decorating with frosting. 4. For the frosting, in a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth. Decorate cookies and serve