Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe (2024)

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Posted by Aimee 37 comments
Published: Feb 01, 2011 Last Updated: Mar 15, 2024

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ClassicSnickerdoodle Cookies that are soft and chewy and packed with cinnamon sugar flavor! You’ll love this family favorite recipe that we’ve been enjoying for nearly 40 years!

Love cookies? Be sure to try our peanut butter cookies for a delicious twist. Our readers love them! Or give these oatmeal raisin cookies a try, one of my favorites!

Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe (1)

What Makes a Perfect Snickerdoodle Cookie

Soft and chewy cookies in my mind, are the absolute perfect.

These soft chocolate chip cookies stay soft for DAYS, and I wanted that same chewy soft texture in today’s easy cookie recipe.

Snickerdoodles remind me so much of childhood. A buttery cookie dusted with a hint of cinnamon, these have remained one of my favorite cookies.

  • The Snickerdoodles recipe below is my go-to recipe from my mom and the one I ate growing up.
  • No need to chill the dough. One of the best parts of today’s cookie, no chilling required!
  • This recipe is easy enough for kids to help with and produces delicious cinnamon sugar cookies each and every time. A good Snickerdoodle cookie is sweet but not rich.
  • Aside from all of that, the word “snickerdoodle” is just really fun to say. Go ahead, try it.

Snickerdoodles.You can’t help but smile, right?For the NEXT LEVEL of snickerdoodles, try our cinnamon cookies, packed with white chocolate chips and pecans!

Snickerdoodle Ingredients

Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe (2)
  • Baking soda and cream of tartar. You’ll notice today’s snickerdoodle cookie recipe is missing baking powder. The cream of tarter gives it that tangy flavor while still allowing it to rise into a chewy texture.
  • Butter. I choose unsalted butter in 99.9% of my baking and cooking. This allows me to control the kosher salt in a recipe.
  • Eggs. Binds the cookie dough together and gives a soft texture.
  • No need to chill the dough. One of the best parts of today’s cookie, no chilling required!

How to Make Snickerdoodles

These easy snickerdoodle cookies start with a very simple dough.

After beating softened butter with eggs and sugar, add the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and kosher salt.

Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe (3)

Aimee’s Best Tip

The baking soda is key for achieving that chewy texture that spreads just enough! Do not try to substitute the baking soda with baking powder. The texture won’t turn out right.

Now comes the most important part of making Snickerdoodles! The cinnamon sugar topping.

Before baking, you dip each ball of cookie dough into cinnamon sugar. When you pull them out of the oven, you’ll have chewy buttery cookies with a crisp and slightly crinkly cinnamon exterior.

PRO TIP: Make it in a 13×9. Use our snickerdoodle bars recipe as a guide to bake these classic cookies in a 13×9 instead! So easy.

Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe (4)

Why buy frozen snickerdoodle cookie dough when you can save yourself some money and prep your own?

Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe (5)

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Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe (10)

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Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe

4.64 from 103 votes

By: Aimee

ClassicSnickerdoodle Cookie Recipe. You'll love this easy cookie recipe with that timeless taste. It's what childhood is about!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

For the topping

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat, set aside.

  • In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, and eggs with a hand or stand mixer. Do this for a couple minutes until light and fluffy.

  • In a separate bowl whisk together flour,salt, cream of tartar, and baking soda. Add this mixture into the sugar and butter mixture. Beat again until dough forms.

  • In a small bowl mix together cinnamon sugar coating. Using your hands or a small cookie scoop form ½ inch round balls of dough. Roll each ball around in the cinnamon sugar coating it generously.

  • Place dough balls two inches apart on your baking sheet.

  • Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly golden and no longer doughy. Let cool on a cooling rack for five minutes and enjoy!

Notes

  • Be sure to get a nice coating of cinnamon sugar on each cookie dough ball.
  • Can you freeze snickerdoodle cookies? Yes! Divide the dough into balls using a small scoop, dip into the cinnamon sugar then place on a baking sheet. Stick the baking sheet in the freezer for 1 hour, just until frozen. Immediately transfer the frozen cookie dough to an airtight container to avoid freezer burn!
  • What can I substitute for cream of tartar? Swap the cream of tartar and baking soda for 2 teaspoons of baking powder instead!
  • How do I get fluffier cookies instead of flat? Slightly underbaking the cookies will help, and if you must, refrigerate the cookie dough if your butter was TOO soft.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 96kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 18mg, Sodium: 41mg, Sugar: 8g

Course: Cookies

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

This is the only Snickerdoodle Cookie recipe you will ever need!Perfect as an afternoon snack, a dessert or a lunchbox treat, Snickerdoodles are the classic childhood cookie.

Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are snickerdoodle cookies made of? ›

Snickerdoodles are known for their soft and chewy texture, along with a sweet, cinnamon-sugar coating. The primary ingredients in Snickerdoodle cookies include butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt, all rolled into a cinnamon sugar mixture.

How to tell if snickerdoodle cookies are done? ›

How do you know when the cookies are baked? The snickerdoodle cookies will only take about 10 to 12 minutes to bake, so be sure to keep your eye on them! It's best to rotate the cookies after about 6 minutes so that the cook evenly. The cookies are done when the edges are just set and the centres are soft and cracked.

Why did my snickerdoodle cookies not flatten? ›

One of the most common reasons why cookies didn't spread out in the oven is because you added too much flour. Cookies rely on the perfect ratio of butter to flour in order to spread just the right amount when baked. It's very easy to over measure flour when using cup measurements.

Why do snickerdoodles get hard? ›

Snickerdoodles might turn out hard if they are overbaked or if the dough is too dry. Be sure to keep an eye on them as they bake – when the edges are set but the centers are still soft and puffy, they are done. Also, make sure you're not adding too much flour.

Why do my snickerdoodles taste like flour? ›

Improper flour measurement is the #1 cause of your cookie dough being too dry or the cookies tasting like flour.

What happens if you add too much cream of tartar? ›

Keep in mind that more cream of tartar doesn't necessarily mean a better, more stable result. “Too much cream of tartar will impart a metallic, tin-like taste,” Molly warns.

What happens if you leave out cream of tartar in cookies? ›

Cream of tartar prevents the sugar in cookies from crystallizing which would create a crunchier cookie. Cream of tartar is also used with baking soda to become a leavening agent, which makes baked goods puff up while in the oven due to the production of carbon dioxide gas.

How do you thicken snickerdoodle cookie dough? ›

Soft – Dough that's “soft” or “runny” can be thickened by adding one or two tablespoons of flour to your mix. This will help keep your batch from “Spreading” and coming out of the oven looking like flat, not-so-cookie-like puddles.

Do snickerdoodle cookies go bad? ›

A: Yes they do have an expiration date printed on the box.

Why don t my snickerdoodles crack? ›

If yours aren't cracking, your oven may not be hot enough or your ingredients may not be fresh enough! Are snickerdoodles supposed to be undercooked? I always recommend slightly underbaking your cookies and then letting them finish baking through cooling on the pan.

Why are my snickerdoodles raw? ›

If the cookie tastes raw or doughy, it needs more time in the oven. Flavour development: Cookies often develop more flavour as they cool down. If the taste is slightly lacking, allow them to cool entirely before finalising.

Why does snickerdoodle dough need to be refrigerated? ›

Refrigerating snickerdoodle dough lets the butter resolidify and prevents the cookies from flattening out in the oven. I recommend giving the dough at least 45-60 minutes of chilling time in the fridge before baking.

Is snickerdoodle cookie dough supposed to be sticky? ›

The snickerdoodle dough can be sticky and tough to handle. I like to grease my hands with cooking spray so they are easier to handle. Refrigerate. Also, after you have rolled one tray of snickerdoodles, place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes.

Why is my snickerdoodle dough too dry? ›

There are a few things you can do to add liquid to your cookie dough if it is too dry and crumbly. One option is to add milk, water, or another liquid until the dough is the right consistency. You can also try adding melted butter or shortening. If your dough is still too dry, you may need to add more flour.

What is the difference between a sugar cookie and a snickerdoodle? ›

Snickerdoodles are often referred to as "sugar cookies". However, traditional sugar cookies are often rolled in white sugar whereas snickerdoodles are rolled in a mixture of white sugar and cinnamon. Cream of tartar is added for its signature texture as another main difference.

Why is a cookie called a snickerdoodle? ›

The Joy of Cooking claims that “snickerdoodle” comes from “Schneckennudel,” a German word that literally means “snail noodles.” Schneckennudels don't have anything to do with snails or noodles, though—they're actually delicious-looking German cinnamon rolls.

Are my snickerdoodles raw? ›

Here are some signs to look out for: Colour: Raw or undercooked cookies tend to have a pale appearance, lacking that golden or slightly browned hue that indicates they're fully baked. Watch for cookies that still have a doughy or unbaked look. Texture: Touch the surface of the cookies gently.

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