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December 15, 2020

The Best Snickerdoodle Cookies

Name: Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter ((softened at room temperature)); 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 2 3/4 cup all purpose flour; 1 1/2 tsp cream of tartar; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 2 Tbsp cinnamon

Snickerdoodle Cookies are a classic cookie loved by both kids and adults. They’re soft, sweet, slightly chewy, and coated with cinnamon sugar. All you need is a mug of Hot Chocolate to dip these into.

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Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe

If you’ve never sunk your teeth into one before, Snickerdoodles are simple cookies covered with cinnamon and sugar. Just like Crinkle Cookies, they are delicious, simple to make, and the perfect addition to a Christmas cookie platter.

Hi there! My name is Natalya and I run the blog Momsdish. If you already follow me, you know I can’t get enough of easy meals that require simple ingredients. This recipe for snickerdoodles encompasses all my favorite things: sweets, straightforward instructions, and easy clean-up.

What are Snickerdoodle Cookies?

Snickerdoodles get dubbed as sugar cookies with a touch of cinnamon. While it’s true that snickerdoodles and traditional sugar cookies have a lot of similar ingredients, there is a major difference between the two: cream of tartar.

Now, you might be thinking that cream of tartar is a weird ingredient to add to a cookie. However, this ingredient is the main reason why snickerdoodles are chewy, have that signature touch of tanginess and a melt-in-your-mouth softness.

Ingredients for the snickerdoodle cookies

How to make the best Snickerdoodle Cookies:

Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add in vanilla extract and eggs and beat until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar.
Add dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Stir to combine.

Pro Tip: Make your very own vanilla extract and use it for this recipe. So amazing and easy, you’ll find yourself never buying it from the store again!

step by step of the dough making for snickerdoodle cookies

How to form Snickerdoodles:

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
Form equal-sized dough balls and roll each one in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Cookie dough rolled into a ball and coated with cinnamon sugar

Baking Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies:

Place cookies on a baking sheet. Press down the center to create an even top.
Bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes until edges are just lightly golden. Let cookies rest and enjoy.

Common Questions

Why are they called “snickerdoodles”?

There is much debate surrounding why these cookies got their wacky name. However, The Joy of Cooking guesses the name was likely derived from the German word “schneckennudel.” This translates directly to “snail noodles”, but the word also refers to a delicious German variation of cinnamon rolls.

Why is there cream of tartar in snickerdoodles?

Cream of tartar prevents the sugar from crystallizing when baking. This results in a soft and chewy cookie versus a crunchy one.

How can you keep Snickerdoodle cookies soft?

Don’t over bake them. Depending on the size, they will need to be in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Pay close attention to when the edges start to turn golden and then immediately pull them out. They might look a little underbaked but will harden as they cool down.

Cookies on top of each other with a broken cookie on top

Storing Snickerdoodle Cookies Cookies

Room Temperature: Keep snickerdoodles in a sealed, air tight container on the counter. They should stay soft for about 2 days and then will start to harden a bit.
Freezing: Freeze your snickerdoodles by placing baked and fully cooled cookies on a baking sheet in one layer. Pop the entire sheet in the freezer and allow cookies to completely freeze. Remove cookies from baking sheet and place in a freezer-safe plastic bag. When you’re ready to eat, allow the cookies to thaw on the counter at room temperature until softened through.

Make-Ahead Tip: You can make the dough a day or two in advance. Keep it covered and refrigerated. Just before serving, roll in cinnamon sugar and bake.

up close snicker doodle cookie coated in cinnamon sugar

More Cookies Recipes

Looking to fill up that holiday tray? Here are some more knock-out cookie recipes:

Christmas Sugar Cookies – Our no-fail festive, decorated cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies – a cross between a cookie and brownie
Snowball Cookies – perfect for a holiday cookie tray
Madeleine Cookies – delicate and impressive cookies
Macaroon Cookies – The coconut lovers cookie

Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe

5 from 13 votes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Snickerdoodle Cookies are a classic cookie loved by both kids and adults. They’re soft, sweet, slightly chewy and coated in cinnamon sugar.

Author: Natalya Drozhzhin

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $3-$5

Keyword: christmas cookies, snickerdoodle cookies

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert

Calories: 150

Servings: 30 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter , (softened at room temperature)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Cinnamon-Sugar Coating

1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp cinnamon

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Combine butter and sugar in the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachement. Beat on medium/high speed until the mixture is fluffy (about 5 minutes).
Add in vanilla extract and eggs. Continue beating until well combined (about 2 minutes).
In a separate bowl whisk together flour, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar.
Add your dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Stir until well combined. Cover dough with plastic wrap and let it rest for 20 minutes in the refrigerator.
In a separate bowl, combine 1/3 cup sguar and 2 Tbsp cinnamon. Form equal-sized dough balls and roll each one generously in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Place cookies on a baking sheet and press down the center slightly to create an even top. Bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes until the edges are lightly golden. Let cookies rest a few minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 150 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 27mg9%

Sodium 46mg2%

Potassium 20mg1%

Carbohydrates 21g7%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 12g13%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 205IU4%

Calcium 10mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclosure

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya is a food blogger who founded Momsdish.com to make cooking easier. Growing up on a farm in Ukraine, Natalya was inspired by the amazing dishes that were prepared using simple ingredients. Natalya is most notably known for making cooking approachable for any person.