As a passionate baker, I don’t make bold claims lightly, but these vegan gluten-free chocolate chip cookies genuinely stand out. From the moment they start baking, filling your kitchen with an irresistible aroma, to that first warm, soft, and chewy bite loaded with melted chocolate chips – you’ll understand why I can’t get enough. The secret to their incredible texture and subtle depth of flavor lies in a touch of pumpkin puree and a delicate blend of pumpkin spices, making them an ideal treat to usher in the cooler months or enjoy year-round whenever a craving strikes.

Why These Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Are a Must-Try

• Effortless One-Bowl Preparation: Say goodbye to mountains of dirty dishes! This recipe simplifies your baking process, requiring just a single mixing bowl for the dough. Whether you prefer the convenience of a stand mixer or a hand mixer, or simply want to use a sturdy spatula for a no-fuss approach, these cookies come together with remarkable ease. It’s the perfect recipe for a spontaneous baking session, proving that delicious, wholesome treats don’t have to be complicated.
• Irresistible Bakery-Style Texture: Prepare for a sensory delight! These aren’t just any chocolate chip cookies; they boast that coveted bakery-style texture everyone loves. Think perfectly crisp edges that give way to an incredibly soft, thick, and wonderfully chewy center. The inclusion of pumpkin puree in the dough is a game-changer, contributing to their remarkable moisture and chewiness. Even skeptics or those accustomed to traditional cookies will be reaching for a second (or third!) helping.
• Wholesome Indulgence: Crafted with feel-good ingredients like pumpkin puree, oat flour, and coconut oil (as a butter alternative), these cookies offer a lighter take on a classic indulgence. You can savor every bite knowing you’re enjoying a treat that’s not only delicious but also made with thoughtfully selected components. It’s permission to indulge, perhaps with a plate of three or four, because these lighter, plant-based delights truly hit the spot!
• Perfect for Fall & Beyond: While the hint of pumpkin spice makes them an autumnal dream, these cookies are truly versatile. The warming spices add a comforting depth that’s delightful any time of year, transforming a classic into something extraordinary without overpowering the rich chocolate flavor.

Essential Ingredient Insights for Perfect Vegan Gluten-Free Cookies

For precise quantities and step-by-step instructions, please scroll down to the detailed recipe card below.

Crafting these delectable vegan gluten-free chocolate chip cookies relies on a few key ingredients. Understanding their role ensures your baking success:

• Coconut Oil: In its solid form, coconut oil is a fantastic dairy-free substitute for butter, providing richness and helping with the cookie’s structure. Be sure it’s solid, not liquid, for best results. Alternatively, your favorite high-quality vegan butter will work beautifully.
• Cane Sugar: This provides the classic sweetness and helps with the browning of the cookies, contributing to those desirable crispy edges. You can also opt for coconut sugar for a slightly less sweet, caramel-like flavor and a lower glycemic index option.
• Flour (Oat Flour or GF Blend): For these gluten-free cookies, ground oats (oat flour) are an excellent choice, offering a wonderfully delicate texture and a boost of whole-grain goodness. If using pure oat flour, remember to add ½ teaspoon of xanthan gum, which acts as a binder in gluten-free baking to prevent crumbling. Alternatively, a pre-made gluten-free all-purpose baking flour mix (which often already contains binders like xanthan gum) can be used. If you’re not strictly gluten-free, feel free to check out my original vegan chocolate chip cookies recipe made with regular all-purpose flour.
• Baking Powder and Baking Soda: These are your essential leavening agents, working in harmony to give the cookies their perfect rise and soft texture. Always double-check their expiration dates to ensure they are fresh and active, as stale leaveners can lead to flat cookies.
• Spices (Pumpkin Pie Spice & Cinnamon): These warming spices are what elevate these cookies, infusing them with a cozy, autumnal essence that perfectly complements the pumpkin. Pumpkin pie spice typically includes cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, but a little extra cinnamon never hurts! Feel free to experiment with other warm spices like a pinch of cardamom, nutmeg, or ginger for a unique twist.
• Sea Salt: A touch of salt is crucial for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors in the cookie dough. For those who love a sweet-and-salty combination, a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt over the tops of the cookies before baking is highly recommended.
• Vanilla Extract: A classic and indispensable ingredient that deepens the overall flavor profile, adding warmth and richness to the cookies.
• Pumpkin Puree: This is the star ingredient that replaces eggs in a traditional cookie recipe, acting as a binder and providing incredible moisture and tenderness. Make sure you use pure canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which contains added sugars and spices that would alter the recipe.
• Vegan Chocolate Chips: The heart of any chocolate chip cookie! Choose your favorite brand of dairy-free chocolate chips. Dark chocolate chips are a popular choice for their intense flavor, but semi-sweet or even white vegan chocolate chips (if you can find them!) would also be delicious.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Perfect Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Making these cookies is a straightforward process, especially with the one-bowl method. Follow these steps for delicious results:

• Cream Coconut Oil and Sugar: Begin by combining your solid coconut oil (or vegan butter) and cane sugar in a large mixing bowl. Using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, beat these two ingredients together until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and well-creamed. This step is crucial for incorporating air and creating a tender cookie texture.
• Incorporate Remaining Ingredients: Next, add the dry ingredients to the bowl: the oat flour (or GF baking flour mix), baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, and sea salt. Mix for about one minute until just combined. Then, pour in the vanilla extract and pumpkin puree. Continue mixing until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is evenly blended. Finally, gently fold in your vegan chocolate chips with a spatula. Avoid overmixing, especially with gluten-free flours, as this can lead to tougher cookies.
• Chill the Dough – This is Key!: Gather the cookie dough into one large ball, or divide it into two smaller balls, and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 2 hours. This chilling period is absolutely vital for vegan and gluten-free cookies; it allows the fats to solidify, prevents excessive spreading during baking, and gives the flour ample time to hydrate, resulting in thick, chewy cookies with perfect texture. Do not skip this step!

• Shape and Prepare for Baking: Once the dough is adequately chilled, preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Remove the dough from the fridge and unwrap it. Using a cookie scoop or two tablespoons, portion out the dough into uniform balls, roughly 2 tablespoons each. Place these dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring about 2 inches of space between each cookie. To further guarantee minimal spreading and maximum thickness, pop the baking sheets with the shaped dough back into the fridge for another 10 minutes to ensure the dough is very cold just before baking.
• Bake to Perfection: Bake the cookies in your preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes. The edges should be lightly golden, and the centers should still look slightly soft. Remember that cookies continue to bake slightly even after they’re removed from the oven. For optimal texture, allow the baked cookies to cool on the baking sheets for at least 10 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This resting period allows them to set up and develop their signature chewiness.

Expert Tips for the Perfect Vegan Gluten-Free Cookies

Achieving bakery-quality vegan gluten-free chocolate chip cookies is within reach with these helpful tips:

• Mindful Dough Shaping: When rolling or scooping your cookie dough balls, aim for them to be slightly taller than they are wide. This intentional shaping encourages the cookies to bake up thicker and chewier, rather than spreading too thin. A slight conical shape can make all the difference in achieving that desired soft-batch middle.
• Refrigeration is Non-Negotiable: I cannot stress this enough – chilling the dough is paramount for vegan and gluten-free cookies. It allows the coconut oil (or vegan butter) to firm up, preventing the cookies from spreading excessively in the oven. More importantly, it gives the gluten-free flour blend time to properly hydrate, which is essential for developing a chewy, satisfying texture instead of thin, flat, and crumbly cookies. Plan ahead for this chilling time for the best results.
• Customizing Crispy Edges and Chewy Centers: Your preferred cookie texture is achievable! If you adore those delightful crispy edges paired with a lusciously chewy interior, consider leaving your vegan gluten-free chocolate chip cookies in the oven for the full 15 minutes of baking time. For a softer, melt-in-your-mouth cookie, you might pull them out closer to the 12-minute mark when the edges are just barely set.
• Don’t Rush Cooling: The initial cooling time on the baking sheet is crucial. Cookies continue to firm up and set as they cool. Moving them too soon can cause them to break apart. Let them rest for the recommended 10 minutes on the hot sheet before transferring to a wire rack.

Exciting Optional Add-Ins and Flavor Variations

While a classic chocolate chip cookie is undeniably perfect, there’s always room for a little creativity! These vegan gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are a fantastic base for experimentation. Here are some ideas to make your cookies even more unique and over-the-top:

• Dried Fruits: Add a burst of fruity sweetness with raisins, dried cranberries, chopped dried cherries, or even finely diced dried apricots. These pair wonderfully with the pumpkin spice flavors.
• Nuts and Seeds: Introduce delightful crunch and nutty flavor with chopped walnuts or pecans. For a seed-based option that works well with the pumpkin theme, consider pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds). Toasted nuts will amplify their flavor even more!
• Different Chocolate Varieties: Beyond classic vegan chocolate chips, try vegan white chocolate chips for a creamier contrast, or chopped vegan chocolate bars for larger pockets of melty goodness.
• Citrus Zest: A touch of orange or lemon zest can brighten the flavors and add an unexpected aromatic note.
• Extra Spices: If you’re a spice lover, consider adding a pinch of ground ginger, nutmeg, or even a tiny amount of ground cloves to further enhance the autumnal profile.
• Coffee or Espresso Powder: A teaspoon of instant espresso powder can deepen the chocolate flavor without making the cookies taste like coffee.

Storage and Freezing Instructions for Freshness

These vegan gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are so delicious, they might not last long! But if you happen to have leftovers, here’s how to keep them fresh:

• Room Temperature/Refrigerator: For short-term storage, place your baked vegan gluten-free chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh and soft for up to 3 days. If you want to extend their shelf life slightly, you can refrigerate them for up to 5 days. Just make sure they are completely cool before storing to prevent condensation.
• Freezing Baked Cookies: These cookies freeze wonderfully! Ensure your cookies are completely cool first. Then, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper. “Pre-freeze” them in the freezer for about 1-2 hours until solid. Once frozen, transfer the cookies to an airtight freezer-safe container or a large zip-top bag. This method prevents them from sticking together. Thaw them at room temperature for a few hours, or gently warm them in the microwave for a few seconds for that freshly baked feel.
• Freezing Unbaked Dough: You can also prepare the dough ahead of time and freeze it! After chilling the dough, scoop and shape the balls as you would for baking. Place the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to bake, you can bake them from frozen (they might need an extra minute or two in the oven), or let them thaw slightly in the fridge first.

Explore More Delicious Vegan Cookie Recipes

If you loved these vegan gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, be sure to explore my other fantastic plant-based cookie creations:

• Hearty Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Wholesome Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies
• Aromatic Chai Sugar Cookies
• Flavorful Vegan Kitchen Sink Cookies
• Soft & Chewy Vegan Gluten-Free Gingersnap Molasses Cookies