Soft and Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies
The popular cinnamon-sugar soft and chewy sugar cookie recipe. A recipe that has been in the family for over 30 years!
This was one of the first cookie recipes I made as a kid. As I have shared before, I was fully obsessed with cookbooks as a little girl. My Mom collected church cookbooks and I would go straight to the cookie recipes and beg my Mom to let me whip up a batch. I made this snickerdoodle cookie recipe 30 years ago and it is still the best I have ever tasted.
This is such a popular Christmas cookie because I have yet to find anyone who doesn't love snickerdoodle cookies! When I used to teach a cooking school for kids, it was the first cookie I taught them to make because kids love them. Whenever I make these cookies, they disappear so darn fast!
So what makes a perfect snickerdoodle cookie?
A snickerdoodle cookie has to be soft and chewy. No hard hockey puck cookies here! It has to be rolled twice in cinnamon-sugar to ensure that it is completely coated. It also has to have the signature tang from the cream of tartar.
How to make the BEST Snickerdoodle Cookie:
- Start by creaming butter and sugar for 4-5 minutes. This is an important step as the butter coats the sugar crystals and creates a smooth texture. It also whips air into the cookie dough.
- Use Cream of Tartar as a leavening agent. It gives it the signature tangy flavor and chewy texture. A touch of baking soda helps the cookies to rise as well.
- Double roll the cookie balls into a cinnamon-sugar mixture. This helps to make sure the cookies are completely coated in cinnamon-sugar before baking.
- Bake just until the edges begin to become a light golden color. These snickerdoodle cookies need to be soft and chewy so watch carefully. If you want them to be flat, press the balls down in the center before placing in the oven.
- My favorite baking tools for perfect Snickerdoodle cookies -- light-colored baking sheets, parchment paper sheets, KitchenAid mixer.
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Check out some more of my most popular cookie recipes:
Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies
MJ's Top Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lemon Sugar Cookies
Soft Chewy Sugar Cookies
Grandma Geri's Gingersnaps
Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies
Mrs. Claus Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies
The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter (softened)
- 1 ½ cups Sugar
- 2 large Eggs
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
- 2 ¾ cup Flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon Cream of Tartar
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture:
- ¼ cup Sugar
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the eggs and vanilla. Cream for 1-2 minutes longer.
- Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt, just until combined.
- In a small bowl, stir together sugar and cinnamon.
- If time allows, wrap the dough and let refrigerate for 20-30 minutes. Roll into small balls until round and smooth. Drop into the cinnamon-sugar mixture and coat well. Using a spoon, coat for a second time, ensuring the cookie balls are completely covered. *To make flatter snickerdoodles, press down in the center of the ball before placing in the oven. This helps to keep them from puffing up in the middle. *
- Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Let cool for several minutes on baking sheet before removing from the pan.
Video
I hope you love this snickerdoodle cookie recipe and it becomes a staple in your family for years! Happy Baking!
Natalie
My favorite cookie recipe! I am known for being a horrible cool and baker, and I had my entire family and closest friends say these were the best snickerdoodles they’ve ever had. THANK YOU! I followed the recipe exactly and had 24 perfectly fluffy, warm, soft pieces of heaven!
Rasheedah
These cookies were a hit. I had to make them 3 days in a row. They were soft and chewy. Thanks so much for the recipe.
Kazi Ahamed Bashir
It's was awesome! I substitute it for lemon juice and it tasted great!!! Thanks so much for sharing this!
Laura
Awesome cookies!! I will make again!
Rachel
This is the first time I’ve ever commented on a recipe, but these are HANDS DOWN the BEST snickerdoodle cookie I’ve made. I’ve tried a few in the past. These are absolutely PERFECT. Both my son and husband’s favorite cookie is the snickerdoodle and they both agree that these are the best even compared to snickerdoodle cookies bought at a cookie shop in town and any other bakery.
If you want chewy cookies, I suggest the minimum bake time. They will be soft, but I promise will be perfect later.
Also if you like more cinnamon coating, remove from oven a minute early and quickly sprinkled some extra cinnamon sugar mixture and popped it back in for the remaining time for baking.
This will be going in the books and passed down my family. Thank you so much for sharing your recipes as well as other delicious ones as well!!
Pierce Phillips
These turned out awesome! I’ll definitely be using this recipe again. I was worried about how they’d turn out because it’s quite rare to have cream of tartar around my house— so I replaced the cream or tartar with some lemon juice (same measurement) and it worked just the same! Thanks!
Pierce Phillips
These turned out awesome! I needed them for a small gathering today and I was worried because I didn’t have cream or tartar. I substituted it for lemon juice and it tasted great!!! Thanks so much for sharing this!
Carol
Best snickerdoodle recipe by far, my husband said it was the best he ever had!
Faith
Best Snickerdoodles! I made these cookies for Christmas and they were a huge hit. I added a combination of vanilla paste and liquid vanilla extract to the mixture; absalute perfection.
Carol Wagner
I have so many snickerdoodle recipes and by far this is the best. Interesting comparing the recipes. Most called for 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup shortening. They also showed 2tbsp. sugar and 2 tbsp. Cinnamon to roll the balls in. Your quantities are perfect for a pretty cookie. THANK YOU for our now favorite recipe.
Veronica
Made these for Christmas. They are the best. Far more better than local grocery. They are soft and chewy.
Martina
Since finding this recipe, I have made it five times: twice for the "original" Snickerdoodles, and then as a base for Lemon, Orange, and Almond Cookies (one commentator said she had tried lemon extract). I just get to the point of adding the flavoring (vanilla in the original recipe) and then add 2 teaspoons of the other flavored extracts (i.e., lemon, orange, and almond) in lieu of the vanilla. I then skip rolling the alternatively flavored dough balls in something before baking. I have thought of rolling them in just plain sugar, but have resisted the temptation "to add sugar to sugar" as my boyfriend doesn't like overly sweet things. He is especially happy that I don't give in to the temptation! Every flavor has been met with "oohs" and "ahs" as well as with a few queries about "how do you get the cookies to stay so soft?" I plan to keep this recipe for Snickerdoodles and as a base for flavored cookies. As many of my friends are British, they aren't used to such soft cookies and they just love them!
Rita
Can you double the recipe?
Lisa Taylor
Of course!
Beth
Mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm! These are so good! Definitely don't overbake them. When you let them sit on the hot pan after baking they finish baking and come out prefect and chewy. Thanks for sharing this recipe!!
Laura
Couldn't have been more perfect! made 24 good size cookies and cooked for 11 min each. This has been saved!
Aubrey
I made boxes of 5 different types of Christmas cookies this year, including the doodles, and sent boxes out to 14 different people. Without fail, every single one of them raved about the snickerdoodles immediately, to the point that it was hilarious. My mother, who also doesn't like snickerdoodles, says that she loves these and Only these ones. Absolutely fantastic recipe
Kristie B.
I've been making this recipe for years now , it truly is the perfect snickerdoodle. I usually use a fork to help flatten the cookie, but I hate the fork marks especially when I'm gifting them. What does everyone else do to get "picture" perfect?
Thanks
KB
Carrie
I have a foolish question, don’t the cookies flatten out during baking? Also what’s the best way to fatten just in the middle of the dough ball? Please help getting ready to make the dough..
Lisa Taylor
After you roll them into the cinnamon sugar mix, place them on your baking sheet and use two fingers or your palm to lightly flatten them, but not too much.
Amber
This recipe if foolproof. I was amazed by the ease. The cookies turned out wonderful and everyone loved them!
Tara
This is my favorite snickerdoodle recipe! I made them last year and this year, and could not get over how good these were both times.