Mexican Hot Chocolate Snickerdoodles (Vegan)

I was searching for a birthday treat recipe when I stumbled on this gem.  I've made them twice in the last couple of weeks.  It is normally really hard to find a crowd pleasing, chewy, easy-to-make cookie, especially a vegan recipe, but this is definitely one!
Be careful if you don't like spicy foods.  These cookies are great and kid-friendly if you leave the cayenne out.  However, I suggest taking the risk and leaving it in, just don't feed them to kids!  You won't even taste the spice right away.  It is just a wave of warmth on the finish- perfect for warming you up on a cold day!

 

Mexican Hot Chocolate Snickerdoodles (Vegan)

By: IsaChandra from the Post Punk Kitchen

Yield: 24 cookies

Ingredients: 

For the topping:

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the cookies:

1/2 cup canola oil

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

3 tablespoons almond milk (Or your preferred non-dairy milk)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon chocolate extract (or more vanilla extract if you have no chocolate)

1 2/3 cups flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

 1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix the topping ingredients together on a flat plate. Set aside.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, use a fork to vigorously mix together oil,  sugar, syrup, and milk. Mix in extracts.
4. Sift in remaining ingredients, stirring as you add them. Once all ingredients are added mix until you’ve got a pliable dough.
5. Roll dough into walnut sized balls. Pat into the sugar topping to flatten into roughly 2 inch discs. Transfer to baking sheet, sugar side up, at least 2 inches apart (they do spread). This should be easy as the the bottom of the cookies should just stick to your fingers so you can just flip them over onto the baking sheet. 
6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, they should be a bit spread and crackly on top. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Flatten the dough into the sugar mixture.

Perfect and beautiful chewy cookies!