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How to Make Easy Vegan Levain Cookies

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How to make easy vegan Levain style chocolate chip Cookies. Despite lockdown and the popularity of the Great British Bake Off, us Brits still haven’t embraced baking in the same way as Americans (or Canadians). Perhaps it’s too easy to buy sub-par cakes from the local supermarket or over-priced pastries from the local bakery. The real truth is, the more you bake, the easier it becomes. And, if, like us, you have a small family, most cookies or muffins can be frozen for future snacking. Furthermore, for the price of a box of cakes from the bakery, you can buy the foundation ingredients for several dozen more sweet treats.

How to Make Vegan Levain Cookies

It is my experience through speaking with inexperienced cooks (and it must be something in the water – the only people I have ever spoken to who share my passion for baking and cooking in general have been online.) that they feel baking is an insurmountable challenge or a relic from the 1950s – and one that should stay in museums. This is a pity because making a batch of cookies or muffins is so easy that even young children can do it. Not only this, you can control exactly what goes into your recipes: no preservatives, no colourings (Red Velvet Cake excepted), no hidden baddies. You can sneak healthy things into baking that taste delicious but that would otherwise be shunned by fussy children. The Carrot Cake is a perfect example.

But, I’m not here to proselytise about baking, those who want to bake will do so, those who don’t, won’t and they won’t be here reading my tirade anyway. They’ll probably be at the gym.

What you want to is how to make these Levain Cookies vegan, right?

Levain Cookies have been flooding social media for the last couple of years now, although they’ve only just appeared on my radar. I’m always a bit behind the times.

What Are Levain Cookies?

Levain Bakery is US based bakery with 8 stores, most of them in New York. They were established in 1995, and have been seducing New Yorkers with their famous huge ass cookies, each weighing 6oz (160g to us Brits) each! That is huge! These cookies are (allegedly) made for sharing. They are also famous for having a soft, gooey filling. This is what the internet is going made trying to replicate. You can also buy them in the supermarkets too, ready to bake at home. And why wouldn’t busy people do this? I know I would!

How to Make Easy Vegan Levain Cookies

However, we don’t have Levain in the UK, nor are they vegan, so it seems only obvious to recreate them in my own kitchen.

I know, I know. Now I’m waffling. I have a love/hate relationship with American cookies (biscuits). They are usually too soft for my liking and when I visit the US, I have to bring my own secret stash of Digestives or Bourbons (like a nicer version of Oreos, sans the whiskey content, alas) so I don’t feel too homesick. To me, a soft cookie (biscuit) means a stale cookie (biscuit) and only fit for the consumption of those weirdos who love soft cookies (biscuits).

When I bake cookies (biscuits) from an American cookbook, I always cook them for several minutes longer than recommended so that they become crisp and crumbly. I took a risk with this recipe though, because I wanted that ooey gooey middle. And after all, didn’t I almost overcome my soft biscuit phobia the day I bit into a Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Sandwich?

Levain-style Cookies are easy to make but taste (and smell) sensational. Vegan Butter creamed with sugar (two types!), mixed with egg replacer, flour, chocolate chips and walnuts, rolled into four large balls, then baked until softly golden. These are not healthy biscuits, but they do make a wonderful treat and if you freeze them, you have a little something to look forward to if you’re feeling like you just have to have something sweet now! And the smell when you open the oven door is just wow! If you prefer a smaller cookie, click here for my delicious vegan peanut butter chocolate chip cookies!

How Do You Make Vegan Levain Cookies?

How to Make Easy Vegan Levain Cookies

Easy! You simply replace the butter with your favourite vegan butter, and replace the egg with egg replacer. My favourite is Orgran, which is really easy to use, and works perfectly in cakes and cookies.

I modified a recipe by Kirbies Cravings, halving it and then veganising it. She also has a few other interesting variations of the Levain Cookie that I’ll be trying.

I halved her recipe to make just four large cookies. This is plenty for myself and to take into work. My boyfriend is currently on the keto diet, so cookies are an absolute no-no for him right now! I’m need to work on a keto Levain cookie!

How Do You Make Cake Flour?

We don’t have cake flour in the UK, so to replicate it, follow these ratios and you can make cake flour anytime you like:

  • 1 cup plain flour – (remove 2 tbsps) + (then add in) 2 tbsps cornflour

It is just a slightly lighter flour mix, using cornflour to give a tender crumb to baking. It isn’t essential, but takes 30 seconds to do.

Modifications

I wouldn’t recommend removing the chocolate, as these add to the gooey element of the cookie but try these add-ins:

  • Pecans
  • Pistachios or a mixture of different nuts
  • Cranberries
  • Vegan White Chocolate or Milk Chocolate Chips (or a mixure!)
  • Dried Cherries
  • Salty Peanuts

Try my other delicious vegan chocolate recipes

Vegan Levain Cookies

How to Make Vegan Levain Cookies
adapted from a recipe by KirbieCravings.com
Freya
4.97 from 58 votes
Prep 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking sheets lined with greaseproof paper
  • Scales

Ingredients

  • ½ cup Butter - cold, vegan, cubed
  • 6 tbsp Brown Sugar - soft
  • ¼ cup White Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Egg Replacer - whisked up 2 tbsp water
  • ½ cup Cake Flour - (i use ½ cup plain flour minus 2 tbsp, then replace with 2 tbsp cornflour)
  • 1 cup + 6 tbsp Plain Flour
  • ½ tsp Cornflour
  • ½ tsp Baking Powder
  • ¼ tsp Table Salt
  • 2 tsp Soy Milk - or dairy-free of your choice
  • 1 cup Walnuts - chopped
  • 1 cup Dark Chocolate chips - vegan

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 210c.
  • Using a hand whisk or standalone mixer, blend together the sugars and the butter, until light and fluffy (a couple of minutes).
  • Add in the egg replacer and mix for another minute
  • Scrape down the bowl, then add in the flours, baking powder, and salt. Mix on a low speed until it just starts to come together. Don't overmix.
  • If the mixture is not coming together, you may need to add a couple of teaspoons of milk. I added this before the nuts and chocolate.
  • At this point, you may find it easier to use a spatula or your hands to fold in the nuts and chocolate chips.
  • Divide your mixture into four balls. Each one should weight about 160g or thereabouts. Place on your prepared baking sheet(s), 2" apart. Gently press down slightly.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden. I left my second batch a couple of minutes longer and they caught, so keep a close eye on them.
  • Remove tray from oven and leave to cool for about 10 minutes before eating!

Please note that where the recipe asks for milk, butter or yogurt, this refers to any plant-based version that you prefer.

Nutrition Facts
Vegan Levain Cookies
Amount per Serving
Calories
1117
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
58
g
89
%
Saturated Fat
 
30
g
188
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
15
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
9
g
Cholesterol
 
71
mg
24
%
Sodium
 
472
mg
21
%
Potassium
 
564
mg
16
%
Carbohydrates
 
134
g
45
%
Fiber
 
6
g
25
%
Sugar
 
47
g
52
%
Protein
 
20
g
40
%
Vitamin A
 
751
IU
15
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
240
mg
24
%
Iron
 
6
mg
33
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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13 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    How nice to have a vegan version of these famous cookies! I can’t wait to try these out. They look amazing!

  2. 5 stars
    These cookies look amazing freya! I’m definitely a weirdo, my cookies need to be soft and chewy.. these are perfect for me!

  3. 5 stars
    I like crumbly and crispy cookies ,but the rest of my family like that soft gooey centre. Either way, this recipe sounds great and will please our whole family. Thank you, will be making this recipe this week!

  4. 5 stars
    What a wonderful cookie recipe! And I love that you describe how to make your own cake flour. Thanks for sharing! Will try it out soon!

  5. 5 stars
    I can assure you the west country (south of Bristol, at least) was busy cooking this past year! I even heard men trying their luck in the kitchen, more or less successfully, but they did feel like going crazy at home week2 lockdown!:)) My friend’s husband even became a macaroon specialist after many failed attempts, which drove her crazy! Haha
    I need to try your cookies for myself – I never used cornflour before. They look amazing for coffee!

  6. 5 stars
    The combination of walnuts and dark chocolate in cookies is just delicious. I have to give your vegan version a try. Sounds super tasty!

  7. Hey these cookies turned out so so good! Can I keep the cookie dough in the fridge before baking? How long will it last and will it change the baking times you think?

    1. Hi Rina, you can refrigerate the cookie dough! I would say you can store it in the fridge for maybe 5 days and then cook it from chilled. It will make shaping the cookies easier! You may need to cook them for a couple of minutes more, but I don’t think it will make too much difference.

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