Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies


These vegan lemon poppy seed cookies are the best! Perfectly soft and buttery cookies made with fresh lemon zest, nutty poppy seeds and topped with a delicious tangy lemon glaze.

Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed cookies stacked on a grey plate.

These vegan lemon poppy seed cookies are everything a cookie should be—soft, zesty, sweet, and just the right amount of tangy. Whether you’re making them for a party or simply to satisfy your sweet tooth, you’ll fall in love with this easy, delicious recipe.

We love the combination of lemon and poppy seeds. The tartness of fresh lemon zest pairs so well with the nutty crunch of poppy seeds. And when you add a soft, buttery cookie base, it’s pure deliciousness.

Like our vegan lemon cookies, these vegan lemon poppy seed cookies are simple to make, full of flavor, and have the perfect balance of softness and chew. Plus, they’re finished off with a deliciously tangy lemon glaze that takes them to the next level.

These cookies are perfect for any occasion—whether it’s a casual snack, a dessert for guests, or a treat for yourself. They taste just like sunshine and are sure to brighten up any day!

And if you’re, like us, a lover of lemon desserts, you’ll love our vegan lemon poppy seed cake, vegan lemon bars, vegan lemon pie and vegan lemon cupcakes!

Ingredients for vegan lemon poppy seed cookies

Ingredients needed for Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

Ingredient notes

  • All purpose flour – should be measured correctly. If you accidentally over-measure your flour in this recipe, the dough will be too thick. So either weigh it out on a food scale, or use the spoon and level method. Spoon it into your measuring cup (don’t scoop it, and don’t pack it into the cup) and then level it off with a knife.
  • Soy milk – you can substitute the soy milk for a different non-dairy milk.
  • Lemon glaze – When you’re making the glaze, the tablespoons of lemon juice should be filled to just before the top, not to the top. The glaze should be completely opaque. If you glaze your first cookie and realize that the glaze is just running off the cookie completely, then your glaze is too thin. Add a bit more powdered sugar. 
Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed cookies with lemon glaze.

How to make vegan lemon poppy seed cookies

You will find full instructions and measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is a summary of the process to go along with the process photos.

  • Line two baking trays with parchment paper and set aside.
  • To the bowl of your stand mixer, add the vegan butter and white sugar and cream them together.
Add vegan butter and white sugar to a stand mixer bowl and mix until combined.
  • Add in the lemon zest and lemon extract and mix in well.
Add the lemon zest and lemon extract and mix until well combined.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, add the flour, baking soda, salt and poppy seeds and mix together.
Add all dry ingredients to a separate bowl and mix.
  • Then add the dry ingredients in with the wet ingredients and mix in by hand (don’t use the electric mixer for this part). Mix until crumbly.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix by hand until combined.
  • Add in the soy milk and mix in very well. It will seem like it is too dry to form a dough, but get in there with your hands until it does. Only add more soy milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, if you absolutely have to.
Add the soy milk and mix into thick cookies dough.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  • Break off pieces of dough, roll them into balls and place them onto your lined baking tray. Aim to get 20 balls, 10 balls per tray.
Roll dough into balls and place onto parchment lined cookie tray.
  • Flatten the balls either with a fork or by placing a square of parchment paper over a ball and flattening with the base of a glass.
  • Place into the oven to bake for 12 minutes. When they’re done they will be lightly browned on top but still very soft in the middle. Allow to cool on the tray and they will firm up as they cool. While the cookies cool, prepare your glaze.
Flatten cookie ball with a fork and bake.
  • Prepare your lemon glaze by adding the powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon extract to a mixing bowl and mix with a spoon or small whisk until combined.
Add powdered sugar to a bowl and add the lemon juice and lemon extract.
  • When the cookies are completely cool, spread the glaze over half the cookie with a teaspoon. Sprinkle the cookie with poppy seeds and lemon zest immediately after you’ve glazed it. Repeat with the rest of the cookies.
Spread the glaze on half of the cookies and top with lemon zest and poppy seeds.
  • Place the trays of cookies in the fridge to set. Allow the glaze to set completely before serving.
Glazed vegan lemon poppy seed cookies on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Bakers Tips

Flatten the cookies before baking. These vegan lemon poppy seed cookies don’t spread like our vegan funfetti cookies while baking. Flatten the balls either with a fork or by placing a square of parchment paper over a ball and flattening with the base of a glass.

Spread the cookies over two trays. 10 cookies per tray. This prevents them from baking together and needing to be separated.

Bake the cookies one tray at a time. It’s best to first bake one tray of cookies. Once that’s finished, you can then move on to baking the second tray of cookies. It is not recommended to bake both trays at once, as this may cause them to bake unevenly.

Vegan lemon poppy seed cookies stacked with one cookie balancing on its side.

Storing and freeze

Storing. Keep your vegan lemon poppy seed cookies stored in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy them within a week. 

Freezing. They are freezer friendly for three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

Vegan lemon poppy seed cookies stacked on top of each other.
Vegan lemon poppy seed cookies broken up and stacked on top of each other.

Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!

Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed cookies stacked on a grey plate served with sprinkles of poppy seeds and lemon wedges.

Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

These vegan lemon poppy seed cookies are the best! Perfectly soft and buttery cookies made with fresh lemon zest, nutty poppy seeds and topped with a delicious tangy lemon glaze.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Baking, Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine: Vegan

Diet: Vegan

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

Servings: 20 cookies

Calories: 139kcal

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Instructions

  • Line two baking trays with parchment paper and set aside.

  • To the bowl of your stand mixer, add the vegan butter and white sugar and cream them together.

  • Add in the lemon zest and lemon extract and mix in well.

  • In a separate mixing bowl, add the flour, baking soda, salt and poppy seeds and mix together.

  • Then add the dry ingredients in with the wet ingredients and mix in by hand (don’t use the electric mixer for this part). Mix until crumbly.

  • Add in the soy milk and mix in very well. It will seem like it is too dry to form a dough, but get in there with your hands until it does. Only add more soy milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, if you absolutely have to.

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

  • Break off pieces of dough, roll them into balls and place them onto your lined baking tray. Aim to get 20 balls, 10 balls per tray.

  • Flatten the balls either with a fork or by placing a square of parchment paper over a ball and flattening with the base of a glass.

  • Place into the oven to bake for 12 minutes. When they are done they will be lightly browned on top but still very soft in the middle. Allow to cool on the tray and they will firm up as they cool. While the cookies cool, prepare your glaze.

  • Prepare your lemon glaze by adding the powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon extract to a mixing bowl and mix with a spoon or small whisk until combined.

  • When the cookies are completely cool, spread the glaze over half the cookie with a teaspoon. Sprinkle the cookie with poppy seeds and lemon zest immediately after you’ve glazed it. Repeat with the rest of the cookies.

  • Place the cookies in the fridge to set. Allow the glaze to set completely before serving.

Notes

    • All purpose flour – should be measured correctly. If you accidentally over-measure your flour in this recipe, the dough will be too thick. So either weigh it out on a food scale, or use the spoon and level method. Spoon it into your measuring cup (don’t scoop it, and don’t pack it into the cup) and then level it off with a knife.
    • Soy milk – you can substitute the soy milk for a different non-dairy milk.
    • Lemon glaze – When you’re making the glaze, the tablespoons of lemon juice should be filled to just before the top, not to the top. The glaze should be completely opaque. If you glaze your first cookie and realize that the glaze is just running off the cookie completely, then your glaze is too thin. Add a bit more powdered sugar. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 122mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @lovingitvegan on Instagram and hashtag #lovingitvegan


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