These plant-based vegan shortbread cookies are delicious and more comfortable with making than most cookies. It comes together in 30 minutes and is a holiday must! You can make many variations with these sweet, buttery finger cookies, but my favourite are these fragrant robust Vegan Plant-Based Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies! Gluten-free and refined sugar-free option.
Some people swear to use only butter for the best flavour and results. Every time I see recipes asking for 2 cups of butter, I shudder. Even though I adore shortbread cookies, I'm automatically calculating how long I need to run to burn off the calories every time I think of how much butter is in them!
I used to buy these expensive shortbread cookies from a coffee shop next to my hairdresser's salon. I have a weak spot for them. Those chubby little shortbread fingers were delicious with coffee.
Healthy Plant-Based Vegan, Gluten-Free, Refined-Sugar-Free Options
For a healthier take on making shortbread cookies, I used Becel plant-based "butter" for a vegan base. You can also choose Bob's Red Mill gluten-free all-purpose flour if you want to make these cookies gluten-free. Use organic maple syrup in place of granulated sugar if you want it to be refined-sugar-free too!
To make these simple shortbread cookies more fragrant and enjoyable, I infused Vanilla Earl Grey tea leaves into the cookie dough. Grind the whole tea leaves in a coffee grinder with a spice grinder accessory kit until finely powdered. 1 ½ tablespoons should do the trick without overpowering the cookies!
Feel free to use your favourite tea leaves, hojicha tea powder or organic matcha green tea powder as a substitutes. Genmaicha green tea is also very lovely!
Option for vanilla paste with seeds instead of vanilla extra for a bold vanilla flavour that is unmatched.
Shape it into chubby fingers or roll them into ½ inch disks. What do you prefer? I love snacking on these shortbread cookies with a nice hot cup of Earl Grey Hot Chocolate by the fireplace!
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PrintVEGAN PLANT-BASED EARL GREY SHORTBREAD
These plant-based vegan shortbread cookies are delicious and more comfortable with making than most cookies. It comes together in 30 minutes and is a holiday must! You can make many variations with these sweet, buttery finger cookies, but my favourite are these fragrant robust Vegan Plant-Based Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies! Gluten-free and refined sugar-free option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert, Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Dessert
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- ½ C plant-based butter, softened at room temperature (I used Becel Plant-Based Unsalted)
- ⅓ C maple syrup (or ¾ cup granulated sugar)
- 2 ¼ C All Purpose flour (or Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free all-purpose flour)
- 1 ½ tbsp Vanilla Earl Grey tea leaves, finely powdered
- ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract (optional)
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Grind the Vanilla Earl Grey tea leaves in a coffee grinder with a spice grinder accessory kit until finely powdered.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 C).
- Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream butter until it is creamy.
- Add finely powdered Vanilla Earl Grey tea leaves, pure vanilla extract, maple syrup or granulated sugar, sea salt and blend.
- Add flour slowly in 3 or 4 intervals and blend until thoroughly mixed.
- Remove from stand mixer and work the dough until you can shape it into ball. The dough should press together without being sticky.
- With a rolling pin, roll the dough our and then flatten approximately 1 inch in height.
Use a dough cutter and cut the dough into 1" x 3" rectangles. - Refrigerate for 15 minutes to harden.
- Remove from refrigerator.
- Cut cookie dough into vertical 1 inch stripes.
- Carefully transfer cut cookie dough to prepared parchment paper lined large cookie sheet, spacing them ½ inch apart.
- Use a fork to gently poke some holes in each cookie so it will not crack with baking.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes or until light golden brown. Keep a close eye at the 14 minute mark.
- Remove from oven and let rest on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. The cookies will start to harder quickly.
- Serve and enjoy!
Equipment
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organic matcha green tea powder
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Bob's Red Mill gluten-free all purpose baking flour
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Buy Now → Notes
- If the dough is sticky, add 1-2 tablespoon flour and knead it.
- If the dough is too dry, add a little more 1-2 tbsp maple syrup.
- Divide the cookie dough in half (into two balls). It makes rolling it out easier.
- Cut cookie dough into ½ inch discs if you prefer round shortbreads instead of 1" x 3" rectangles.
- If the cookie dough has become too hard in the refrigerator, let rest for 5 minutes to soften.
- You do not need to grease the cookie sheet.
- Cookies can be stored up to 1 week.
- Double the recipe for a large batch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 20 cookies
- Calories: 109
- Sugar: 3.3 g
- Sodium: 30.7 mg
- Fat: 4.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 14.4 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 12.2 mg
Keywords: best shortbread recipe, Vegan Desserts, Plant Based Desserts, Vegan cookies, Plant Based cookies, Christmas Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Shortbread Cookies, Earl Grey Tea, Vanilla, non-dairy butter, gluten-free cookies,
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Ana says
Such lovely cookies! These are perfect to make with tea.
★★★★★
Nancy says
enjoy your afternoon tea break!
Natalie says
Beautiful cookies. I'm going to bake them this weekend. They sound perfect for afternoons with cup of tea. Love it!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Thanks so much Natalie!
Anna says
What a great idea to make Earl Grey Tea flavored shortbreads. It's also cool how quickly you can prepare them. This recipe is a keeper !
★★★★★
Nancy says
Enjoy your afternoon tea break!
Katie says
These shortbread cookies are incredible! I am truly obsessed!
★★★★★
Nancy says
thanks Katie for your support!
Emily says
I loved these buttery Vegan Plant-Based Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies! They have such a delicious flavor that goes perfectly with tea!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Have a lovely afternoon tea!
Anaiah says
These earl grey shortbread cookies turned out so beautiful and tasted amazing. Love the flavor combo!
★★★★★
Nancy says
thanks Anaiah! You're the sweetest!
Choclette says
Love Earl Grey biscuits and these look delicious. Now I really want some shortbread and I'm trying for a healthy January. Earl Grey works well in cake too.
★★★★★
Nancy says
everything in moderation for a well balanced new year!
Tavo says
DE-LI-CIOUS. I loved this recipe! Early grey and shortbread play together so well on this recipe! I will make this over and over again! Thank you!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Thanks !! We experimented with a few different teas and it all worked out !
Natalie says
I love Earl Gray. This looks so delicious.
★★★★★
Nancy says
Thanks Natalie! It's subtly aromatic!
Joshua says
These shortbread cookies sound wonderful! My wife loves earl grey so I will be making these for her.
★★★★★
Nancy says
I'm sure she will think you're a King!
Shilpa says
These shortbread cookies looks and sounds delicious. They’ll be perfect with my tea. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
★★★★★
Nancy says
it's a great treat with your fav tea!
Kaitlin says
They had just the perfect amount of earl gray! Thank you
★★★★★
Terri says
I love Earl Grey, especially infused into cookies! And these are sooo easy!
★★★★★
Nancy says
simple wins!
Sharon says
I love both shortbread AND earl grey so this is a win-win recipe for me!! I wonder if almond flour would work?
★★★★★
Nancy says
i haven't tried with almond flour. I wonder too! I think with almond flour on baking is required.
Colleen says
I'm a big fan of Earl Grey, so I know I'm going to love these cookies. Happy New Year!
★★★★★
Nancy says
perfect with a cup of tea in the afternoon!
Sadia Malik says
These look super easy and delicious, love that you have given the tip on how to make it gluten free.
★★★★★
Nancy says
I'm glad the GF option comes in handy!
Julia says
Love the flavours of this cookie. Perfect with a cup of tea!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Thanks Julia!! It's delightful with tea or coffee!
Vijitha says
Wow! These cookies are packed with lovely flavors - Earl Grey is one of my fav teas! Perfect cookies for throughout the year, I say!
★★★★★
Nancy says
I'd say you are absolutely right Vigitha!
Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli says
Loving the flavors and the look of these earl grey shortbread cookies so much! Thanks for the suggestions, I think the genmaitcha green tea ones would be lovely, too!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Thanks Loreto! I'm really loving these tea infused flavours!
Vanessa says
These cookies are perfect for a tea lover like me!! Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Nancy says
You're welcome Vanessa! Maybe try this with your favourite tea?
Amy Gatto says
What a great idea. Will add to my holiday baking tray to giveaway to family and friends.
★★★★★
Nancy says
Love Christmas Holiday cookie boxes!!