Sugar cookies are a Christmas baking tradition, and I’ve always wanted to make a version without eggs. It had been on my "to-bake" list for years, but I never got around to it. Then, a couple of months ago, I was browsing my favorite recipe website and came across a recipe for eggless sugar cookies. I bookmarked it excitedly, planning to test it out ahead of the Winter Holidays—but as things go, I completely forgot about it.
Jump to:
One day, my kids asked to bake with me, and I realized this easy no egg sugar cookie recipe would be the perfect choice. Once I told them they could decorate the cookies with colorful sprinkles, they were thrilled to get started.
Now, with the bird flu going around and the steep increase in the price of eggs during the holiday season, you don’t need to wonder how to make sugar cookies without eggs. This simple, egg free sugar cookie recipe has been tested by both kids and adults and is sure to become a family favorite. And do you want to know the surprise ingredient that makes these cookies possible? It’s vinegar! Yes, you heard that right!
Why These Eggless Sugar Cookies?
This eggless sugar cookie recipe is a must-try for several reasons. First, it uses simple ingredients that are readily available in your kitchen—no need for any special or hard-to-find items. Even better, you don’t need any fancy equipment—just a handheld electric beater will do the job.
One of the best parts of this recipe is that you don’t have to hunt for special egg substitutes. Plain old vinegar does the job perfectly! Whether you use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, both work wonderfully without leaving any aftertaste or smell.
Rest assured, no one will even realize vinegar is part of the recipe, so you can enjoy the cookies without worrying about any unusual flavors. This is a basic cookie recipe that’s perfect for beginners—no advanced baking skills are required. The vinegar helps make the cookies light and tender, giving them the perfect texture every time.
Plus, it’s a versatile recipe! After receiving a comment from a reader, I even turned this eggless sugar cookie dough into eggless snickerdoodle cookies—another delightful variation.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Butter: Butter gives these cookies their rich, delicious flavor. If you're looking to make vegan sugar cookies, simply choose a vegan butter alternative.
- White sugar: Granulated white sugar is ideal for this recipe as it helps keep the cookies white, providing a perfect canvas for decoration. I haven’t tried this recipe with sugar substitutes, so I can’t vouch for how they would affect the taste or texture.
- White Vinegar: This is the special ingredient that gives the cookies their light and tender texture. Apple cider vinegar also works well without altering the taste or color of the cookies, which remain beautifully white.
- Vanilla extract: This classic ingredient adds the perfect flavor and aroma to the cookies. After a suggestion from a reader, I also tried almond extract, and it gives a beautiful, subtly nutty flavor and aroma.
- All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour is the best choice for this recipe, but you can try substituting with whole wheat pastry flour for a slightly different texture. If you need a gluten-free version, you can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Baking soda: Baking soda helps the cookies rise and stay light. Be sure to use fresh baking soda, as expired soda might not provide the same lift.
- Colored sugar: For decoration, use festive-colored sugars and sprinkles of your choice. They add a fun touch and are perfect for any occasion!
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. In a large bowl, add sugar and butter.
2. Cream them together until well-mixed.
3. Add white vinegar to the mix.
4. Add almond extract to the mix.
5. Cream them well until light and fluffy.
6. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt (if using).
7. Incorporate this into the creamed sugar mixture and mix well.
8. Final sugar cookie dough is ready!
9. Scoop out a tablespoon of dough for each cookie, roll it into a ball, and flatten into ¼ inch thickness; sprinkle with colored sugar and place 2 inches apart (See My Notes)
10. Bake in an oven preheated at 350F/180C in a greased pan for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
Expert Tip
To ensure the best results when baking these eggless sugar cookies or any other cookie for that matter, always measure your ingredients carefully, especially the flour. The first time I made this recipe, I found the dough a bit too sticky, so I chilled it for about 30 minutes before baking. However, the next time I baked the cookies, the dough had the perfect consistency right after mixing, and I was able to proceed without any chilling. While I’m not completely certain, I believe more accurate flour measurement made the difference in the dough's texture.
Another important tip is to always test bake a few cookies, regardless of the recipe. Test baking helps you determine how much the cookies will spread, how well they hold their shape, and what the ideal baking time should be. I recommend test baking 2-3 cookies first before baking the entire batch. This step helps you avoid wasting ingredients and ensures that your cookies turn out perfectly every time. If the test cookies don’t turn out as expected, you can make adjustments, rather than baking a full batch and wondering how to fix them.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! To make vegan sugar cookies, simply substitute the butter with a vegan butter alternative. Everything else in the recipe, including the vinegar, flour, and sugar, is already plant-based.
To make these cookies gluten-free, you can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Just make sure the flour blend includes a binder like xanthan gum or guar gum to help provide structure to the cookies. Or else you can try this eggless, gluten-free sugar cookie recipe too!
All-purpose flour is the best choice for this recipe as it provides the perfect texture. However, you can experiment with whole wheat pastry flour for a slightly heartier version. Keep in mind that using other types of flour might change the texture.
Yes! While white vinegar is the traditional choice, apple cider vinegar works just as well in this recipe. It will not affect the flavor or color of the cookies, and you’ll still achieve the light, tender texture.
If you don't have vanilla extract, almond extract can be used as a great alternative. It gives the cookies a lovely, nutty aroma. Just use it in small amounts to avoid overpowering the flavor.
Yes! Feel free to use any colored sugar or sprinkles of your choice. Festive, sparkling sugars add a fun and colorful touch to your cookies.
Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you'd like them to last longer, you can freeze them for up to three months.
Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough! One method is to scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough, slightly flatten them, and place them on a baking sheet. Cover the sheet with plastic wrap and freeze for about an hour.
Once the dough is frozen, remove the individual dough portions and place them in freezer-proof bags, double-bagging them for extra protection. When you're ready to bake, you can bake the frozen dough directly from the freezer, though you may need to add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
Alternatively, you can freeze the entire dough. Simply shape the dough into a disc, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and store it in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. The dough can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you're ready to bake, thaw the dough in the refrigerator for a few hours, then scoop out portions and bake as usual.
Bonus Tip: Eggless Snickerdoodle Cookies!
Thanks to a wonderful reader’s suggestion, you can easily turn this eggless sugar cookie dough into eggless snickerdoodle cookies! Simply roll each dough ball in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar, flatten it slightly, and bake for 8-10 minutes. In no time, you’ll have soft and delicious snickerdoodle cookies with a perfect cinnamon-sugar coating!
If you tried this Eggless Sugar Cookies recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
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Recipe
Eggless Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon vinegar (white or apple cider)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla/almond extract (combination of both too)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt (optional)
- As needed colored sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the vinegar and vanilla extract.
- In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt (if using). Incorporate this into the creamed sugar mixture and mix well.
- Scoop out a tablespoon of dough for each cookie, roll it into a ball, and flatten into ¼ inch thickness; sprinkle with colored sugar and place 2-inches apart (See My Notes)
- Bake in an oven preheated at 350F/180C in a greased pan for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
- Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cookies cool down for 2-3 minutes before removing them from the pan. Store it in air-tight containers once it's cooled completely.
My Notes
- The first time I baked these cookies, the dough felt a bit sticky. When I test-baked two cookies, they spread too much, so I chilled the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. After that, I baked them as per the recipe, and the cookies turned out perfect. The next time I baked them, I didn’t face the same issue. The dough felt just right, and after test baking two cookies, they baked perfectly. So, I proceeded to bake the entire batch without chilling the dough. Either way, the cookies had the same great texture and baked perfectly. Just be sure to pay attention to how the dough feels, and bake accordingly. Always test bake a couple of cookies first. And, before you begin, make sure to measure all the ingredients properly, especially the flour!
- I was initially skeptical about using vinegar in the recipe and wondered how it would affect the taste. When I tasted the dough, I did notice a slight hint of sourness, but surprisingly, it wasn’t detectable in the baked cookies. I’ve tried using both white vinegar and apple cider vinegar, and honestly, it doesn’t make any difference in taste or texture. So, trust me—go ahead and bake these cookies, the vinegar works perfectly without altering the flavor!
- When I first baked these cookies, I used only vanilla extract, and they turned out great. The next time, I decided to try almond extract based on a reader’s suggestion, and we loved it! The almond extract added a distinct nutty flavor that was delightful. I’ve also tried using a combination of both extracts, and it was fantastic. Feel free to experiment and see which flavor you prefer. Just be sure to avoid using almond extract if you're serving the cookies to people with nut allergies.
- I’ve also baked these sugar cookies with and without salt, and I really didn’t notice any difference in flavor. So, it’s totally your call!
Taste & Texture
Nutrition
Jerry Caucci says
TESTIMONIAL!!
I can't bake worth crap...really...I cook...i'm italian, it's inbred..anyways...lookin for sweets (I ain't supposed to eat!!)..found this recipe..gotta tell ya, these cookies are amazing..once I got down "baking terminology", these suckers made themselves!! All I did was follow the direc tions...first time in 71 years I've ever baked anything that came out this good!! I LUV WHOMEVER/WHOEVER POSTED THIS RECIPIE...IT'S GONNA BE A WEEKLY STAPLE.(don't tell my Doc!!)
now all I gotta do is find a good "butter frosting" recipe, and screw the bakery isle from now on!!✊
Grazi for the cookies!!
Madhuram says
Wow! Thank you very much, Jerry! You have made my day with your awesome feedback!
Claudia says
Can I cut these into shapes with cutters for my grandson to decorate?
Madhuram says
I have not tried shapes with this recipe, Claudia.
Samantha says
Amazing recipe! It’s important to chill all sugar cookie doughs for roughly an hour to help refirm the buttery dough. Be sure to follow the directions exactly and make sure your vinegar is WELL incorporated before adding flour mixture. Hands down he best vegan/allergy friendly recipe I have found.
Madhuram says
Thank you very much, Samantha.
Stormie says
I have young neighbors who have a little one who is allergic to eggs, so this recipe was perfect. I could not find my vanilla, so I used almond extract instead. The cookies were fantastic. Next time I make them I will use vanilla. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Madhuram says
You're very welcome, Stormie. Actually I want to try it with almond extract the next time. You have planted that idea in my brain 🙂
Sally says
I love this so much great job
Madhuram says
Thank you, Sally.
Raquel says
I kept thinking about 'why the vinegar?' until I remembered that there are recipes that use cream of tartar. That is the cleverest substitute EVER! I'm about to make them. Wish me luck.
Madhuram says
All the best, Raquel!
Olivia Griffith says
Holy God. I wish I could truly express how awful these cookies are. They taste like flour and have zero flavor. I even added extra vanilla and sugar. Would NEVER make these again
Madhuram says
It's unfortunate that you couldn't get the recipe right, Olivia.
Crystal Watson says
yes!
Stormie says
The cookies I made with this recipe were fantastic. I'm surprised at your experience with the recipe.
Madhuram says
Thank you, Stormie.
Savannah says
These are awful. They taste like flour and don't take anywhere near 10 minutes to cook. I followed the recipe exactly and I even used the tips. Will not be making again.
Madhuram says
It's unfortunate that you didn't get it right, Savannah. Please note that many of the readers have got it right.
Margaret Re says
I completely followed recipe. Would not change a thing...perfect cookie! Thanks for sharing.
Madhuram says
You're welcome, Margaret Re.
Christie Pancake says
These turned out great! My very picky daughter said, “Don’t tell the eggs…these are better!”
Madhuram says
Awww...thank you very much, Christie.
Brianne says
Great recipe! I used a half teaspoon more vanilla and rolled the balls in cinnamon sugar before baking. I did not find the dough loose or needed to be chilled first. They took about 12 minutes for me but are fantastic! Soft, chewy, quick and easy. Thanks for sharing!
Madhuram says
You're welcome, Brianne.
Olivia says
I made these cookies for my friends and family becasue they are vegatarian and/or have egg allergies so this was the perfect recipe. I think i cut them too thin though so they turned more crispy, but still tasted delicious. Just remember not to cut them too thin!
Madhuram says
Thanks for the feedback, Olivia.
Faye L Palmer says
Thank you!
Madhuram says
You're welcome.
Faye L Palmer says
Yes, worked out great. I got a perfect consistency for roll or drop cookies. Did drop cookies and they baked up very nicely, even with adding a little almond extract.
Madhuram says
Thank you for the feedback.
Chesa says
Since we had decided to go low carb 2yrs ago, I have been searching for a decent sugar cookie recipe. OMG! I found the perfect recipe! Thank you so much for sharing. Note: I did not have any vinegar so I used a bit of lemon juice instead. Thank you again for allowing your recipe become my favorite cookie recipe!
Madhuram says
Awww...thank you so much, Chesa.
JD says
These are really, really good! Can't taste the vinegar at all. Definitely will be my go-to cookie recipe from now on, and yes I'm eating one as I type this but I better leave some for the kids when they get home from school! 🙂
Madhuram says
Thank you very much, JD.
Leigh Byer says
These cookies are delicious. Very surprised at the taste! I created the recipe as required and added chocolate chips. What a hit! I just made up my fourth batch and froze them into little decorated balls with colored sugars and stars. All I have to do is pull out what I need and bake! Highly successful when baked on parchment paper and depending on the size of the balls, you may need to add a couple minutes to the baking time. Yay for my 2 yr. Old grandson. With egg allergies. We got this!
Madhuram says
That's awesome, Leigh. I wouldn't have thought of adding chocolate chips to this cookie recipe. Thank you for the tip.
Carolyn says
Any cookie dough that you will be 'rolling out' should always be chilled at least 30 minutes. Just take out enough for one sheet at a time.
Madhuram says
Thank you, Carolyn.
Jada says
are you suppose to put it in the refrigerator?
Madhuram says
Depending upon the consistency of the dough you can decide it, Jada.