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!
Mia Bella
cookie dough tastes soo good!
Donna
So easy to make. Soft & full of flavor. Can't eat just one!
Cara
I followed the recipe exactly, turned out so good! One of the best recipes I’ve tried!
Naomi
suggestions for what to do with leftover dough?
Rhonda
I roll the leftover dough into individual balls and either refrigerate them for a day or two, or if I don’t want to use the cookie dough right away, I freeze the individual cookie dough balls. You can store them either on a paper plate and cover with a gallon freezer baggie or in a freezer proof container. Then whenever I want to bake a few cookies, I pull some out and let them thaw if frozen, and then roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture and bake. In fact, I just pulled some out of the freezer tonight and baked! Yum, yum!
K’idiki
I had very good results with this recipe. I didn’t realize I only had 1/2 c of butter, when I began, so I added 1/2 shortening. I also added one drop of almon extract. The best snickerdoodle recipe I’ve ever tried. Thank you!
Jen A.
Out of this world great! It's my first time to try baking snickerdoodles and this recipe just made it my favourite cookie!
Connie
First time making. They were soft and delicious!
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This turned out really well for me! The insides were all soft, and the outside was a crispy golden brown. These were really easy to make, and were gone in seconds!
Janine
Are these with Gluten Free 1:1 flour. Came out awesome!
faith
Really love the recipe but sadly it was not what I was looking for tasted a lot like a mix between a butter cookie and a snikerdoodle
Lorraine
I agree. The addition of vanilla makes it a different snickerdoodle than the recipe I usually use. Good, but I'll go back to my other recipe
Annette Clarke Williams
I made this recipe. It was abit salty. I reaspoon of salt is too much. A bit sweet too. I would make this recipe again but use less salt
Nick Gelvano
Bruh how is it to salty and to sweet
Elmarie
Amazing! I used 50/50 regular flour and bread flour, otherwise exactly as in recipe.
Rocio
He buscado esta receta de galletas americana por mi esposo estadounidense y hornee más de 2 recetas diferentes hasta encontrar esta que para mi es la PERFECTA!!! Gracias!. Si siguen los pasos como indica la receta serán unas galletas perfectas.
Sierra
Such a good recipe! They turn out perfect for me everytime. I love making these for friends and family!!
Roxanne
Best I have ever made. Easy to follow recipe. Thank you for posting this recipe. I will be using it from now on!
Dean
Impossible to stop at 1. So soft, flavorful, and just an all-around amazing cookie. Fun thing is that you can eat the snickerdoodle just plan or add frosting or toppings. Great recipe!
S Clark
I love this recipe! Question though: How do these bake without rolling in cinnamon sugar? Or just sugar? I love the cookie base and skip the cinnamon would make them seasonally versatile.
Tina
Funny, I grew up with snickerdoodles as "dunkers" and an everyday cookie. Way too soft for me to be called a snickerdoodle.
Jaz
These cookies are amazing! Wow! My husband’s favourite cookies are snickerdoodles and I have been trying to find a good recipe! Well I have definitely found one! These get raves every time I take them somewhere social! Thankyou so much!
Kristyn
The first and only snickerdoodle recipe I will ever try! These are so chewy and amazing. I made them because they are my brother's favorite and he wanted them for Christmas - well now they are a favorite of mine too!
Rose
Snickerdoodles are scrumptious. Such a classic cookie. Made the recipe as is and they came out perfectly. I know this is one of those cookies are are even better when they are cooled but it is hard not to grab them straight out of the oven. These are not going to last long!
Demi
This recipe is truly the best! I tried a different recipe before, and I like this better because it is softer and chewier. I agree that much of it has to do with adequately creaming the butter and sugar. I'm not a Snickerdoodle fan, and I only make these for my husband, but this recipe made me a convert!
Janine
I asked my husband what cookies he wanted for a ski trip and he requested snickerdoodles. I made this snickerdoodle recipe and he said they were one of the best cookies I have ever made. I love to cook and have been cooking 38 years for him. Thanks for the great recipe!