Nothing beats a delicious cookie, except, perhaps, the cookie dough. It’s soft, creamy, sweet, indulgent, and for many of us, it’s nostalgic, too—especially if you grew up in a home where baking was a regular family activity. Sneaking a few licks of the mixing spoon was risky, but so worth it. But eating raw cookie dough isn’t without its risks (as you likely know already, especially if those sneaky licks were swiftly reprimanded by your mom with shouts of concern about a bad belly). This is largely due to the raw eggs, which, of course, in vegan baking, isn’t a concern. But is it still ok to eat egg-free raw cooking dough? Or should we all be waiting until the time in the oven is up?
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Why shouldn’t you eat raw eggs?
Conventional baking usually includes eggs, which are broken into the mixture raw. When the mixture is cooked, so are the eggs, and this offers an opportunity for any harmful bacteria they may contain to be killed off. This means that when you consume raw eggs, the bacteria may still be present. In eggs, that bacteria is usually salmonella, a type of bacteria that, when eaten, can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, and headache.
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Can you eat egg-free raw cookie dough?
You might think that because vegan cookie dough doesn’t contain eggs, you’re not at risk of contracting a foodborne illness. But this isn’t entirely true. According to the Centers for Disease Control, consuming raw flour is also a salmonella risk.
“Flour doesn’t look like a raw food, but most flour is raw,” it notes. “That means it hasn’t been treated to kill germs that cause food poisoning, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and salmonella. These harmful germs can contaminate grain while it’s still in the field or flour while it’s being made.”
The risk of contracting salmonella from egg-free, raw cookie dough is relatively low, but it’s not impossible. This means that, usually, it’s best to wait until your cookies are done baking before you enjoy them. But it’s not all bad news. Some recipes are safe to eat, like this vegan chickpea cookie dough recipe, for example, which relies on a base of blended chickpeas.
Another way you can enjoy egg-free cookie dough without the risk of harmful bacteria is to buy pre-made versions that are safe to eat.
The demand for edible cookie dough is high. In fact, the global market hit a valuation of more than $12 billion in 2023, and it’s still growing. And the great news is that many of the options are vegan.
Vegan edible cookie dough brands
These plant-based, edible cookie doughs will transport you back to your childhood days of licking the baking spoon clean.
Sweet Loren’s
1 Sweet Loren’s
Sweet Loren’s specialty is vegan, gluten-free cookie dough. If you’re in the mood for baking, check out its pre-cut options, which can be ready to eat in minutes. But if you don’t want to wait around or you just prefer the flavor and texture of cookie dough, good news: you can also eat it straight out of the packet. The brand also offer a tasty, less-sugar option, too!
Find it here
Whoa! Dough
2 Whoa! Dough
Whoa! Dough has its own ready-to-bake vegan and gluten-free cookie dough, which is also safe to eat raw or bake (depending on your mood!). Plus, it has transformed edible cookie dough into bar form, so it’s even easier to eat on the go than ever before.
Find it here
EatPastry
3 EatPastry
EatPastry has been supplying the US with vegan cookie dough since 2008, and it’s still going strong, thank goodness. Its different flavors can be baked into cookies, but if you can’t be bothered with turning on the oven, you can also eat them straight out of the tub.
Find it here
Deux
4 Deux
Deux is all about giving people the indulgent snacks they love, without the animal products. The vegan brand offers chocolate spreads, doughnuts, and, of course, plenty of delicious edible cookie dough flavors including Cinnamon Roll, Gooey S’mores, and classic Chocolate Chip.
Find it here
Bhu Foods
5 Bhu Foods
Cookie dough is a delicious treat, sure. However, according to Bhu Foods, it can also be kind of a nutritious snack. The brand’s edible vegan cookie dough jars are packed with protein, and they’re organic, non-GMO, and low in sugar. Tasty flavors include Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Coconut, and Double Dark Chocolate Chip.
Find it here
Hail Merry
6 Hail Merry
Hail Merry offers a wide range of indulgent, sweet, totally vegan snacks. Its Key Lime Pie Cups offer a bite of wholesome, plant-based goodness, for example, but the edible cookie dough is also not to be missed. Choose from two indulgent flavors: Chocolate Chip and Dark Chocolate.
Find it here
Doughy
7 Doughy
Looking for a cookie dough that you can feel good about? Enjoy a spoonful of this clean label treat. All three varieties (chocolate chip, brownie batter, and peanut butter) are free from gluten, grains, and soy. What’s in it, then? Cashews, maple syrup, salt, baking soda, and vanilla … plus some peanuts, chocolate chips, and cocoa, depending on the flavor. With an ingredient list this healthy, we advocate for daily cookie dough indulgence.
FIND IT HERE
For more on vegan cookies, read:
Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the vegan lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission. In no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
