Vegan Christmas Cookies You Won't Believe Don't Have Butter

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and that's largely thanks to the existence of holiday cookies. And while, yes, your traditional gingerbread baked good might be loaded with butter and eggs, there are still plenty of sugary delights you can have even if you're vegan. There's a substitute (or four) for virtually every baking ingredient you'll need to make vegan Christmas cookies, so you can easily put a plant-based spin on all your faves. Whether you're looking for an easy vegan Christmas cookie recipe or are eager to whip up something that's a bit trickier, there's a vegan Christmas cookie out there for you. (Although, goes without saying: You can make these cookies to celebrate any holiday — not just Christmas.) Check out these 13 options.

Related: Vegan Dinner Recipes You'll Want to Make Over and Over

Have at it with the cookie cutters, but proceed with caution when it comes to food dyes since some aren't vegan. Instead of traditional food coloring, these sugar cookies are colored with beet, spirulina, and turmeric, and they're no less pretty for the swap.

When you're exhausted but need to round out your tray, whip up these simple vegan Christmas cookies. If you've already done some vegan baking, you probably already have everything you'll need for the snickerdoodle recipe. (Related: 25 Healthy Holiday Cookies Recipes)

Vegans might not be able to eat peanut butter blossoms with the classic Hershey's Kiss, but there's something to be said for the imperfect effect of hand swirling your chocolate. Even better: Everyone will know you made these vegan Christmas cookies with love.

Making melt-in-your-mouth molasses cookies is one of the best uses of holiday spices. But in case you need another reason to make these vegan Christmas cookies, know that molasses is rich in iron, which is less easily absorbed from eating plants than animal products, making these a perfect complement to any vegan diet.

Sometimes the best vegan Christmas cookies are those that don't require that much effort. After all, the season can be stressful enough, so there's no need to add a complex vegan Christmas cookie recipe to your running to-do list. This freezer fudge features just five ingredients, so you can pull it off when you're low on time and/or willpower. And the combination of chocolate and peanut butter never disappoints. (Related: Healthy Peanut Butter Desserts That You’ll Go Nuts Over)

Love a gooey center? Go with these easy vegan Christmas cookies that are filled with cherry pie filling instead of jam, then drizzled with melted chocolate.

Win your next (post-COVID-19) cookie swap with the crowd-pleasing combo of gingerbread and cream cheese frosting. Vegan cream cheese, flax, and plant milk keep these vegan Christmas cookies, err, whoopie pies dairy-free.

When you've had your fill of chocolate-covered Oreos (which, praise, are vegan!), switch it up with this chocolate-covered Ritz cookie recipe. You'll sandwich SunButter between two crackers, but you could always sub in your favorite vegan peanut butter cracker sandwich to save a step and make these easy vegan Christmas cookies even, well, easier.

Instead of red or green candy, this vegan bark gets topped with antioxidant-rich pistachios and cranberries. But they're mostly chocolate, so everyone will be grabbing for the larger pieces.

If you're a firm believer that bars are the best type of dessert, then this vegan and paleo recipe is for you. Starring seasonal ingredients such as maple syrup, nutmeg, and cinnamon, these vegan Christmas cookie bars take just 30-minutes to create. Top off with vegan frosting and sprinkles and you're golden. (Related: Delicious Paleo Desserts That Prove the Caveman Diet *Can* Be Sweet)

Sure, chocolate chip cookies aren't the most seasonal of sweets, but a freshly-baked batch is always sure to please. Simply make a few quick ingredient swaps (i.e. eggs for aquafaba, the liquid from chickpeas) and, violá, you've got a heaping pile of vegan Christmas cookies for a delish dessert. (See also: It's Time to Start Using Aquafaba In All Your Vegan Baking Recipes)

Crushed candy canes are the secret to simple vegan Christmas cookies that still look beautiful. But before you start smashing the peppermint treat into pieces, make sure to read the ingredients, as some store-bought varieties might actually contain animal products.

If you need to narrow your search down to vegan Christmas cookie recipes that are also paleo and/or gluten-free, you can go with these chocolate gingersnap bars. With pecans, chocolate, ginger, and molasses, each bite tastes like a hybrid of your favorite holiday desserts.