You are going to love this easy Snickerdoodle recipe! The buttery cookies are soft and chewy on the inside, crisp around the edges, and covered in cinnamon and sugar.
Snickerdoodles have always been one of my very favorite cookies. I have been baking and eating them since I was a kid. I love them because they are delicious and because of their name, snickerdoodles. Isn’t that such a fun cookie name?
This classic cookie is very popular in the United States and Canada, but not so common in other countries, even though snickerdoodles originated in Germany. Rumor has it that the name is from the German word Schneckennudeln, which means snail noodles, a kind of pastry. Ha! So fun!
So what is the difference between a sugar cookie and a snickerdoodle. They are similar, but there are a few big differences. Snickerdoodles are made with cream of tartar and they also get rolled in a sweet cinnamon sugar mixture before going into the oven. Snickerdoodles are also never frosted and some sugar cookies have frosting. The cinnamon sugar sparkle is the signature look of a snickerdoodle!
Cream of tartar is a key ingredient in a snickerdoodle recipe. It’s a dry, powdery, tartaric acid, that is byproduct of wine production. The acid in cream of tartar gives snickerdoodles their tangy flavor. The cream of tartar also makes snickerdoodles chewy because it prevents the sugar in the cookie dough from crystalizing into crunchiness.
You can find cream of tartar in the spice aisle of any grocery store. Store it in a cool, dry place and it will last for many years. You are going to want to keep it in your pantry so you can make snickerdoodles all the time!
Classic snickerdoodles are made with all-purpose flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Once the cookie dough is made, the cookies also get rolled into a bowl of cinnamon and sugar.
I know some people use shortening in their snickerdoodle recipe, but I prefer all butter. The taste is perfection!!
The ingredients are basic, making them an easy cookie to make whenever you get a cookie craving!
You are going to love this snickerdoodle recipe because it is SO easy! I like to use my stand mixer to make the cookies, but you can use a hand mixer. If you don’t have a mixer, you can even make the cookies the old fashioned way with a spoon and a bowl.
If you want to chill the dough before baking, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for up to 72 hours. Roll the dough into balls and roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Store cooled snickerdoodles in an airtight container on the counter for up to three days. If you want to keep the cookies super soft, put a piece of bread in the container. The bread will get rock hard, but the cookies will stay soft. It’s magic:)
You can also freeze snickerdoodles. Place cooled snickerdoodles in a freezer bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost before freezing.
These are the BEST snickerdoodles because they are crisp around the edges, soft and chewy in the center, and full of cinnamon sugar flavor with a slight tang from the cream of tartar. The snickerdoodles are the perfect texture. They aren’t too puffy and they aren’t too flat, they are just right! Everything about them is perfection!
These are the snickerdoodles of your childhood and if you didn’t eat snickerdoodles growing up, now is your chance! You have to make up for lost time!
Snickerdoodles are popular during the holiday months, we always make several batches for Christmas, but they are good anytime of year. Bake a batch today and enjoy the BEST snickerdoodles. And if you are a chocolate lover, make sure you check out my Chocolate Snickerdoodles, they will surprise you. They are SO good!
You are going to LOVE this easy snickerdoodle cookie recipe. These soft and chewy snickerdoodle cookies are a family favorite, especially during the holiday months.
Yield: 3 dozen cookies
Prep Time:
20 minutesCook Time:
8 minutesTotal Time:
30 minutesFollow twopeasandpod on Instagram and show us what recipes you are making from our blog! Use the hashtag #twopeasandtheirpod! We want to see what you are making in your kitchen!