Snickerdoodles Cookie Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipe ListCookiesSnickerdoodles Cookie Recipe

Posted by Aimee 37 comments
Published: Sep 02, 2020 Last Updated: Oct 16, 2023

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

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!

Snickerdoodles Cookie Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • What Makes a Perfect Cookie
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • Aimee’s Best Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Easy Desserts:
  • Snickerdoodles Cookie Recipe Recipe

What Makes a Perfect 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.

Over the years I’ve also incorporated the cinnamon sugar element of Snickerdoodles into other treats, like Snickerdoodle cheesecake bars, Snickerdoodle Biscotti andSnickerdoodle Cookie Dough Truffles.

  • 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!

Ingredient Notes

Snickerdoodles Cookie 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!

Step by Step Instructions

These 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.

Snickerdoodles Cookie 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.

Snickerdoodles Cookie Recipe (4)

Recipe FAQs

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.

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

Snickerdoodles Cookie Recipe (5)

More Easy Desserts:

  • Doubletree Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Pudding Cookies
  • Caramel Cracker Bars
  • Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies
  • Shortbread Cookies
  • Chai Cookies
  • Iced Oatmeal Cookies

Easy Cookie Recipes

See all Cookies recipes

Cookies

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Cookies

Coconut Shortbread Cookies

Cookies

Maple Bacon Cookies

Breakfast and Brunch

Eggnog Biscotti

Snickerdoodles Cookie Recipe (10)

SavePinPrint

Snickerdoodles Cookie Recipe

4.65 from 101 votes

By: Aimee

ClassicSnickerdoodle Cookies. 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.

Snickerdoodles Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to tell when snickerdoodles are done baking? ›

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.

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.

Why do my snickerdoodle cookies 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.

How do you tell if a cookie is baked enough? ›

If it feels set and springs back slightly, it is likely done. Avoid pressing too hard, as this can deflate the cookie. Light Cracking – Look for light cracks on the surface of the cookies. If you see them, the cookies have been baked long enough and are ready to be taken out of the oven.

Why do my snickerdoodle cookies go flat? ›

If your cookies repeatedly turn out flat, no matter the recipe, chances are your oven is too hot. Here's what's happening. The butter melts super quickly in a too-hot oven before the other ingredients have firmed up into a cookie structure. Therefore, as the butter spreads so does the whole liquidy cookie.

Why are my snickerdoodles spreading so much? ›

Too-warm butter will melt and spread in the oven before your cookies set. So, if your recipe calls for room-temperature butter, it needs to be exactly that: room temperature. “It should not be melty or warm to the touch,” says Dawn. “Room-temperature butter is pliable but cool to the touch.

Why did my snickerdoodle cookies not flatten? ›

Too Much Flour

This may seem counterintuitive—after all, isn't flour a key ingredient in baking? Yes, but if you add too much flour, your cookies won't spread as they bake. Too much flour causes the dough to become dry and crumbly, which prevents it from flattening out during baking.

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 did my snickerdoodles crack? ›

Almost all recipes call for a combination of cream of tartar and baking soda (an acid and a base); the idea is that when they bake the reaction of these two ingredients will cause the cookies to puff up and then collapse, creating those cinnamon-y cracks on top.

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 is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

Light corn syrup is another ingredient that you can add to cookie dough that will help it stay softer longer. The corn syrup you buy at the grocery store is not the high-fructose corn syrup that soft drinks are made with; it's a sugar that is liquid at room temperature and helps other sugars say liquid at high heat.

Why is my snickerdoodle sour? ›

If your snickerdoodles are too sour, you may have added too much cream of tartar. It does give the cookies a subtle sour-tangy flavor, but it should not be over-powering and should balance nicely with the cinnamon and sugar.

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.

Are snickerdoodles supposed to be soft when they come out of the oven? ›

Don't use shortening here; you'll miss the flavor of butter. Slightly under-baking the snickerdoodles also guarantees a softer cookie. Take them out of the oven after about 10-11 minutes. This will keep the interior of the cookie soft and chewy.

Are snickerdoodles supposed to be undercooked? ›

Are snickerdoodles supposed to be undercooked? I always recommend slightly underbaking your cookies and then letting them finish baking through cooling on the pan. This will ensure you don't overbake your cookies and end up with a dry, hard cookie!

How can you tell when a baked product is done baking? ›

That's why we rely on all these signs together:
  1. The edges of the cake pull away from the sides of the pan.
  2. It smells fragrant.
  3. The top and edges are golden brown (or look matte for chocolate cake).
  4. A toothpick or paring knife comes out clean.
  5. The cake springs back when pressed gently.
Jul 1, 2019

How do you tell if something is baked all the way? ›

TESTING WITH A TOOTHPICK. This is likely a technique you are familiar with if you have enjoyed baking other things like cakes and cupcakes. Inserting a toothpick into the center of a baked good is a tried and true method to test for doneness. If the toothpick comes out clean, your bread is likely fully baked.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Trent Wehner

Last Updated:

Views: 5736

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Trent Wehner

Birthday: 1993-03-14

Address: 872 Kevin Squares, New Codyville, AK 01785-0416

Phone: +18698800304764

Job: Senior Farming Developer

Hobby: Paintball, Calligraphy, Hunting, Flying disc, Lapidary, Rafting, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.