Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies with Cherries

Who doesn't love a classic chocolate chip cookie?! And everyone, from vegans to celiacs deserve a really good, chewy, and soft, homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe. For this version the added cherries were inspired by the chocolate I used, Zazubean's Cherry Hazelnut Crunch Chocolate Bar. Packed with tart dried cherries and crunchy hazelnuts in a rich, real cacao vegan chocolate bar. There chocolate is simply the best and always leaves me feeling inspired to create something new and unique like their flavours. But cherry chocolate or not, this classic vegan chocolate chip recipe is great with whatever chocolate or mix-in you choose!

The cookies are vegan, dairy free, egg free, and have a gluten free option so everyone can enjoy them! Perfect for a family treat, the next time you're hosting, or to bring to a pot luck!

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Why You'll Love These

Really easy to make! Just cream the butter and sugar, then add all the remaining ingredients into the same mixing bowl.

Vegan, plant-based, gluten-free friendly, egg and dairy free. 

Customizable! This is a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe so feel free to add whatever mix-in's you prefer.

Soft on the inside and golden and crispy on the outside. 

Recipe is inspired by my grandma Tim's famous chocolate chip cookies, so you know they're good.

What You'll Need

Vegan butter. I like the Earth Balance brand, and pro-tip: if you buy their butter sticks instead of the containers you can save a ton of money per serving!

Coconut sugar or brown sugar. My grandma's recipe calls for brown sugar, I've updated it with coconut sugar because I like that it has a lower glycemic index, but use whatever you have on hand.

White sugar, but if you're vegan specifically organic white or certified vegan white sugar. Regular white sugar isn't vegan due to the use of bone char in the refining process.

Vanilla extract to get the perfect cookie flavour.

Flax meal to replace eggs. If you have flax seeds, you can blend them into a meal to use for the egg replacement.

All purpose flour, or gluten free all purpose flour.

Your favourite chocolate. I used the Zazubean Vixen Bar for a cherry hazelnut dark chocolate flavour. 

Frozen or fresh cherries. 

Substitutions

For coconut sugar, you can use brown sugar. 

In place of flax meal "eggs" you could use 1/3 cup aquafaba which is the brine from a can of chickpeas. The brine is a great egg substitute. 

Any preferred mix-ins you like.

Next up you might like my Classic Peanut Butter Cookies! (Also gluten-free friendly!)

Please note: all calories and macros have been calculated to the best of my ability but may vary slightly. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Cherries 

Recipe makes 10 cookies 

 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup vegan butter, room temperature 
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup organic white sugar 
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp flax meal + 4 tbsp water, set in the fridge to gel for 10 minutes
• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour or gluten free all purpose if needed
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 80g Zazubean Vixen Bar, chopped (1/2 cup chocolate chips)
• 1/2 cup frozen cherries, chopped 

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. Add the butter to a mixing bowl and using a hand mixer, whip until creamy, 1 minute.
3. Add in coconut sugar and white sugar and cream together with the butter, 1 minute.
4. Fold in gelled flax/water mixture.
5. Sift in flour, baking soda and salt.
6. Fold everything together until just combined. This is easier by hand if you don't mind getting a little messy!
7. Fold in chocolate and cherries.
8. Scoop batter into 10 cookies and place on the prepared parchment lined baking sheet.
9. I like to keep my cookies as a mound so they're thick, but if preferred you can gently flatten the cookies before baking.
10. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until browned around the edges. 
11. For the "perfectly round cookie" - while the cookies are still hot and on the baking tray place a cup around them and move it quickly in circles. This will form the perfectly circle cookie.
12. Once cooled remove from baking tray and top with additional flaky salt if desired.
13. Enjoy!

 

Let us know in the comments how this recipe went for you!