Sift the flour and cacao together into a medium bowl to remove any lumps and aerate the mixture. Add the baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon, then whisk everything together until evenly combined. Set this dry mixture aside. I like to sift my dry ingredients early so they're ready to fold in quickly once the wet mixture is prepared—this prevents overmixing the dough.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the plant butter and coconut sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This creates air pockets in the dough that will give the cookies a tender crumb. Add the white chocolate chips and fold them gently into the creamed mixture until evenly distributed throughout.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and pureed beets until well combined and smooth. The egg yolk adds richness and helps bind the dough, while the beets provide both the signature color and subtle earthiness that makes these cookies special.
Pour the beet mixture from Step 3 into the butter and sugar base from Step 2, folding gently until just combined. Then fold in the dry ingredient mixture from Step 1 using a spatula, stirring until no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix—you want a dough that just comes together. I typically fold until I see no more dry flour, then stop immediately to keep the cookies tender rather than tough.
Scoop the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Place the sheet in the freezer for 90 minutes—this resting period allows the flavors to meld and helps the cookies hold their shape during baking without spreading too much.
Preheat your oven to 355°F. Once the dough has chilled, bake the cookies for 13-14 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers still have a slight give when gently pressed. The cookies will continue to set as they cool, so removing them slightly underdone ensures they stay soft and chewy inside.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This initial rest on the sheet lets them firm up enough to move without breaking, while cooling on the rack prevents them from becoming too dense from residual heat.