Gluten-Free Vegan Cinnamon Shortbread

During the week of Christmas, I make a habit of consuming an alarming quantity of shortbread. It’s an addiction. Which is why I only make it once (okay, maybe twice) a year. The recipe is super simple, and totally satisfies my yearning for shortbread without the dairy or gluten. I love cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate, but feel free to swap other ingredients: maybe lemon and lavender and honey? Or pistachios and dried cherries? Please, please, please try this recipe, because it is really rare to find a cookie (or any food, that is) that can be made vegan and gluten-free without a ton of complicated changes and risky substitutions. And just a side note: I highly recommend the original recipe if you are not vegan and can find organic, pastured butter!

Gluten-Free Vegan Cinnamon Shortbread

Adapted from Here

1 cup coconut oil, or Earth Balance if you prefer, softened in hot water (it’s ok if it’s partially melted)
2 cups gluten-free flour (include ½ tsp xanthan gum if it isn’t in the flour)
2/3 cup coconut sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract or ½ tsp vanilla bean paste
2 oz vegan dark chocolate, chopped
2-3 tbsp raw cane sugar

Preheat oven to 300°F and line a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat oil with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth or by hand with a spatula. Beat in vanilla, then reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture; mix just to combine (dough will be crumbly).

Scrape dough into prepared baking dish; use a piece of parchment to press dough into an even layer. Sprinkle with half of the raw sugar. Bake for about 30 minutes, until firm and golden around the edges. Immediately score (make shallow cuts in dough) into triangles. Cool completely in dish on a rack, then carefully lift shortbread out of dish and place on a cutting board; slice with a sharp knife. Drizzle with melted chocolate and top with remaining sugar. Once chocolate has hardened, store at room temperature in an airtight container.