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!
Joy
Mine turned out great but were a little to thin and broke quite a lot.
Wilfred
What kind of flour
Victoria Daugherty
AMAZING! Made a double batch because I knew they would be good. Crunchy around the edges and soft in the center. Just delightful!
Debbie
My son-in-law LOVES Snickerdoodle cookies. I made this recipe for my first attempt at Snickerdoodles. HE LOVED THEM. Everyone loved them. Thanks for the recipe. I'll be making these again!!
Ashley
I’m about to bake these and y’all better not be lying down here in the comment section! I’ll be back to update. ????
Angela dunn
Hands down the BEST snickerdoodle recipe EVER.
Susan
Spectacular exactly as written. You really 'nailed it" with the title!
Calynn Perkins
Wow!!! These were better than any snickerdoodle cookie I have ever had! My 3 year old daughter had a blast helping me prep the cookies and covers them with the cinnamon sugar mix! We didn’t refrigerate them and sprinkled extra sugar mix before we baked them. They were soft and delicious cooked at 10 minutes!
Jasmina
Hi! I was wondering if these cookies can be frozen? I'm making these shortly, can't wait to try them!
Shannon
I was craving some snickerdoodles on my way home from work today. I wanted an easy recipe cause I was tired and wanted some COOKIES! I found your recipe and followed it to a "T" Except I used vegan butter instead of regular butter. It turned out better than I thought. My craving has been satisfied! Thank you
Kevin Brooks
Awesome cookies. Although I would cut back
on the cinnamon by 1/2 teaspoon.
celeste
I don't normally leave comments, but you left me no choice. These turned out amazingingly buttery awesome (I had to make up a word they were that good!) this is significant for me as I am trying to learn to bake and these made me look like a pro! thanks for doing the work and letting me get all the credit 🙂
Modern Honey
I am all about making up words too -- buttery awesome is a perfect explanation! Haha! Your comment made me laugh. Thanks Celeste!
Nichole
Great flavor, but I found these to be too sweet. I halved the recipe just to test them. If you are sensitive to too much sugar in your cookies, this may not be for you. Any suggestions on how much to reduce the sugar by without compromising on overall taste and texture?
Katie B
THE. BEST. SNICKERDOODLES. EVER!! Incredible!! Recipe was super easy to follow and the cookies were insanely good! My new favorite cookie!
yousufh@berkeley.edu
Forgive English. Cookies were great!!!!!!
Haven't baked them yet but the dough is so yummy on skin two touch ^___^
I brought themm to my sister's baby they all liked it so good taste thank you modern honey!!!!!!!
Ashley Miller
I made these today, my dough was still wet afterwards, should I add more flour?
celeste
I don't normally post comments but you have given me no choice! This recipe is bakes a delicious light fluffy, buttery, snickerylicious snickerdoodle cookie!! what make this cookie so amazing is that I was able to make it and I am not a baker at all this was my first attempt to make this household favorite and my hubby loved the flavor and my son looked and me and say "Mom all I can say is WOW" so thank you for doing the work and letting me get all the credit. I cant wait to try more of your recipies! thanks a bunch 🙂
Sherry
Celeste, I loved your comment so much, the cookie that makes mom a super hero, way to go. I'm making these cookies today as it's the holiday season. You've inspired me.
Sherry
Thank you ModernHoney for recipe. Looks like you're a miracle worker this holiday season.
Beverly Eastwood
I baked these for a family get together on the 4th of July and there were none left. The kids made ice cream sandwiches out of them. I had to try it that way too and they were delicious!! Thanks for sharing!
Claudia Perry
I made a trial run and had the same problems with the cookie not flattening. And I could really taste the salt. For the second run, I reduced the salt to a half teaspoon and chilled my dough overnight wrapped like a log in wax paper. Slicing the dough gave me perfect oval cookies that were flat.
Taylor
Delicious