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This is the BEST Snickerdoodle Cookie recipe! They’re easy, soft and chewy and full of cinnamon. These are no fail cookies that need no chill time: Oven to mouth in under 30 minutes!
Snickerdoodle Cookies have always been one of my absolute favorite cookies. Sure, chocolate chip cookies are near and dear to my heart but I’m all about the sugar cookie style cookie recipe. (I’m #teamvanilla too!)
I remember when I was younger, in school, I’d always buy cookies hot from the cafeteria. I’m pretty sure they were Otis Spunkmeyer from the freezer, but they were so good – and my favorite was – you guessed it – SNICKERDOODLE!
These are buttery soft with a chewy cookie texture, a hint of cinnamon and the expected tang from cream of tartar – crispy edges, soft middle – the perfect cookie recipe!
Ingredients Needed
- Butter: make sure it’s softened! I recommend unsalted butter, but if you use salted, omit the salt in the recipe. Learn how to soften butter quickly. Also, don’t use imitation butter or margarine. A snickerdoodle must be made with real butter!
- Sugar: Granulated Sugar is the traditional one for snickerdoodles. For a twist, substitute brown sugar!
- Baking Soda: A full teaspoon helps give the flat look of traditional snickerdoodles.
- Cream of Tartar: the most important part of a snickerdoodle! Cream of Tartar is what gives them that tang or distinct flavor you associate with them. A snickerdoodle without cream of tartar is just a sugar cookie!
- Cinnamon: This is what makes a snickerdoodle a snickerdoodle – use ground cinnamon.
How to make Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Cream your room temperature butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer until it’s nice and fluffy. Mix the egg and vanilla into the creamed butter mixture.
- Add salt, baking soda and cream of tartar. Mix in the flour. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl during mixing. Combine until dough is nice and smooth.
- Scoop cookie dough using a cookie scoop. Roll dough into balls and then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture before placing on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake until they’ve flattened with light golden brown edges and are no longer glossy on top.
Expert Tips
- Do not skip the cream of tartar! Normally you could substitute it with lemon juice but not for snickerdoodle. They need that for the classic flavor.
- If you want a more pillowy thick and soft snickerdoodle, check out my OG Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodle recipe!
BEST Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe
Recipe Video
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
For the coating:
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheet with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large bowl with a hand mixer). Cream until the mixture is fluffy, about one minute.
- Add the egg and vanilla and mix until smooth, then mix in baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Add flour and mix until cookie dough forms.
- Stir together sugar and cinnamon for coating in a small bowl.
- Scoop 2 tablespoon balls of cookie dough and roll between the palms of your hand. Roll in cinnamon sugar and place on cookie sheet, 2” apart.
- Bake for 10-13 minutes or until they are cracked on the tops and just lose the glossy sheen. Err on the side of under baked for best results.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to a month.
Recipe Notes
1-tablespoon cookies: 8-12 minutes
2-tablespoon cookies: 11-15 minutes
Jumbo 1/4 cup cookies: 12-16 minutes
9×13-inch pan: 14-19 minutes
Recipe Nutrition
Other Snickerdoodle Recipes
The best ever Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe is soft and chewy with the perfect amount of cinnamon. These are a cookie to remember!
I’m not sure why but there is a slight bitterness taste too the cookies almost like store bought cookie dough. I don’t know if it’s too much flour in the recipe or too much baking soda but if it weren’t for the bitter after taste these would be delicious! (For reference I made sure to measure my flour correctly by spooning it into my measuring cup rather than scooping so that it was not packed down)
I’m not sure why they’d have that unless you’re tasting the cream of tartar?
Delicious recipe… But the prep time is a joke.😆 10 minutes to mix & roll into approximately 22 balls?? 🙄
These are the best snickerdoodles I have ever made. So glad I doubled the recipe.
Best recipe EVER! I’m in love and I followed it to the T other than baking time of course! After a few repeats I’ll figure out this oven but the whole family LOVED them!
I made these tonight, and they are amazing. Even my wife who does not like snickerdoodle cookies loved them!
So glad you enjoyed them!
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