Delicious Vegan Snickerdoodles (three variants)

So, by no means would I qualify these as a health food. In fact, the amount of raw sugar in the recipe is a little scary, but one thing I learned during my raw food days is that sometimes the joy and tradition of baking far outweighs any negative effect it may have on my health. (This is my experience. Of course, this by no means applies to everyone.) Cooking and baking for me are creative processes, as well as time-honored traditions. They do my psyche good. Last night, I baked these snickerdoodles as Kwok and I decorated the tree and watched Elf in the background.

Julie's Delicious Vegan Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:

•  1/2 cup vegan margarine (Pure for those in the UK, Earthbalance for those in the US)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1.5 cups of raw demerara sugar
• Egg replacer for 2 eggs (I used Orgran for the first time and was very impressed!) (Eggs can also be replaced by flax meal, tofu or bananas)
• 2.75 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons arrow root powder (can substitute cream of tartar)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup (in honor of Elf)
• Optional: soy milk

Variation 1:
 The above (minus soy milk) plus:

• Shavings from one organic orange
• 1/4 teaspoon orange extract
• Optional: orange juice

Variation 2: 
Ingredients (minus soy milk) plus:

• Shavings from one organic orange
• 1/4 teaspoon orange extract
• 1/2 teaspoon chocolate extract
• 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
• Optional: orange juice

Instructions:  

1) Heat oven to 400°F or 190°C.
2) Combine margarine, olive oil, coconut oil, sugar and egg replacer in a large mixing bowl.
3) Add flour, arrow root powder, baking soda, cinnamon and maple syrup. Combine.
4) If mixture is too dry (it might be) add soy milk until reaching a cookie-dough-like consistency.
5) For variations, add additional ingredients, adding orange juice if mixture is too dry.
6) Place on ungreased baking sheet in small dough balls.
7) Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes or until set. 
8) Remove from baking sheet immediately.
9) Allow to cool and enjoy!