*Vegan Snicker doodles

Although I am not vegan, for a number of years I've found myself in awe of the vegan lifestyle. I'm not sure if its the competitive side of me that just strives to succeed and find a great balance in vegan baked goods or its just the attachment to hippie-ism that makes me feel oddly connected by vegan yum yums? In all honestly I do find it challenging to compare the vegan and raw diet to what I'd consider tasty comfort foods, more often than not the texture is lacking, the flavor is off and at the end of the game its not usually a home run but maybe a slightly safe slide into third. 

On this occasion I decided to have a go at one of my childhood favorites, snicker doodles. Although its basically just a sugar cookie rolled in cinnamon sugar the original recipe calls for sour cream, butter and eggs. All good things really, its the combination of these things that result in a beautifully soft and moist cookie with a unique and wonderful flavor. My attempt at twisting the original into a vegan variation turned out rather well I think. I utilized left over banana baby food that was lingering in my cupboard as well as vegetable shortening (butter flavored) and a pinch of cardamom. The texture was not the same as the original but I found that the flavor was extremely reminiscent of real snickerdoodles and the cardamom although optional just made these cookies scream comfort food because as we all know cardamom makes anything delicious! 

8 ounces banana baby food *see note

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup butter flavored vegetable shortening, margarine etc.

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

*pinch of cardamom (1/4-1/2 teaspoon)

2 cups flour

Cinnamon sugar topping:

1/2 cup sugar 

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

In a large bowl combine banana baby food (banana puree), vanilla and crisco or margarine. Stir to combine or cream mixture together with a mixer. Gently stir baking powder, baking soda, salt, cardamom and flour into the creamed mixture. Do not over mix. 

Combine cinnamon sugar mixture in a bowl to combine. Using a tablespoon or cookie disher portion out 1 ounce or about 2 tablespoons worth of dough. Drop into the cinnamon sugar and roll around. Place onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake 12 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. Allow to cool slightly before removing from the baking sheet. 

***If you don't have baby food or have no desire to purchase it you could puree a banana with a little lemon and water, use 8 ounces as directed.