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Super soft and full of cinnamon, this snickerdoodle recipe is one we’ve made for decades that is beyond delicious and NO-FAIL!
A Family Favorite
Snickerdoodle cookies are a classic cookie we have made our whole lives. The family is obsessed with them and fortunately you guys are too! With over 3,000 FIVE STAR reviews, this recipe has been made and enjoyed by thousands of you each year and we cannot tell you how happy that makes us.
This easy cookie recipe was first made by mom decades ago. It was also one of the first recipes we ever shared here on Lil’ Luna. Although we haven’t changed the recipe, we have shared more tips and tricks to make sure it’s NO-FAIL and turns out perfect EVERY TIME.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Perfectly sweet. It’s double-dipped in cinnamon + sugar!
- Pantry staples. The ingredients are simple and found in most kitchens!
- Giftable. They make a great addition to Christmas cookie plates.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 10 min
COOK TIME: 10 min
Cookie
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour – How to Measure Flour
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar – creates the signature tangy flavor
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter – just softened!
- This is KEY! When you press in finger into the butter, you want it to barely indent. Too hard, and the dough won’t be just right – too soft and your cookies will be flat.
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 whole eggs – room temperature eggs incorporate the best
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
Cream of Tartar Substitution
Replace the 2 teaspoons cream of tartar AND the 1 teaspoon baking soda with 2 teaspoons of baking powder and ½ teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar.
How to Make SnickerdoodleS
- BATTER. In a medium bowl, stir the 2¾ cup flour, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or use a hand mixer) cream together 1 cup butter (barely softened) and 1½ cups sugar. Add 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla and mix until it is well blended.
- SHAPE. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mix well, and then shape the dough into 1-inch balls (no need to chill).
- COAT. In a small bowl, combine ⅓ cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon. Roll the dough balls into the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
- BAKE. Place on an un-greased pan, and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. Let sit on the cookie sheet for a few additional minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.
To Chill or Not to Chill?
This is the main question we get asked about this snickerdoodle recipe so we decided to test it for you to show the differences. The results speak for themselves!
- CHILLED – the cookie is more poofy, doesn’t have as many cracks on top and does not expand as much.
- CHILLED + FLATTENED – this cookie expanded the most, but became almost too flat
- NOT CHILLED – our preferred method – you can see that the cookie is not too flat, has all the cracks on top and is PERFECT.
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Snickerdoodle Recipe
Ingredients
Snickerdoodle Dough
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, just softened
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, mix flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer, cream together butter (barely softened) and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and blend well.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix well.
- In a small bowl, combine ⅓ cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon.
- Use a small cookie scoop to scoop out dough and roll it into a ball. Roll each ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture – twice.
- Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let sit on the cookie sheet for a few additional minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Cover and store the dough from this snickerdoodle recipe in the fridge for 1-2 days. See How to Freeze Cookie Dough for tips.
Keep cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. Store in a freezer bag, or air-tight container in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Appreciate your sharing of recipes! Great tasty foods 😛
Thank you so much!! I appreciate you stopping by!
YUM! These Snickerdoodles look so delicious and easy to make.
They really are!! I hope you’ll give them a try 🙂 Thank you!
THE best Snickerdoodle cookies I have ever made and tasted! I did not have cream of tartar but they still turned out wonderful! Crisp on the edges and soft centers. Great recipe! Thank you for sharing this 🙂 !
You are so welcome!! I’m so happy to hear that you liked them! They are our favorite! Thanks again!
These cookies (the Snickerdoodles) were the best!!! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
You are so welcome!! Love sharing yummy recipes & these are our favorite! Thank you!
These turned out very good and very beautiful! Will definitely make this my go-to cookie recipe.
Awe, thank you so much!!
This cookie has become my favorite by far. I chilled the dough before scooping, even though it was pretty stiff and it made a thicker cookie. I also doubled the sugar/cinn. for rolling them before baking because I went a bit heavy. Delicious! Thank you for this recipe!
Sorry, forgot to rate!
Perfect!! Thank you so much for letting me know!
Wow! I’m truly amazed! Those cookies were melt in your mouth delish! I halved the recipe and it made 11 cookies because I don’t make them small. Hahaha! I made these for my daughter as a thank you for kitty sitting. She loved them and even my non sugar cookie loving husband said “wow! These are pretty good!”. That was the ultimate seal of approval. Thanks for sharing sugary-cinnamon sweetness with us!
Woohoo!! Thank you for sharing them & giving them a try!
These turned out great! I substituted 2.5 teaspoons of baking powder for the cream of tartar AND baking soda. I also refrigerated the dough overnight. They made about 4.5 dozen smaller sized cookies. Thank you for the recipe!
Perfect! Thank you for letting me know! I’m so glad you liked them!
I JUST made these I had to change the timing to 18min because I’m in a higher elevation cooking with gas. But oh em geez these were amazing!
I’m glad you adjusted the time! Thank you for sharing & I’m so glad you liked them! They are our fav!
I misplaced my copy of our family recipe and my mom didn’t answer the phone. I went to Google to look for a recipe that looks right and I’m pretty sure this is exactly the same as our family recipe! I think the ONLY difference is that there was a little hand written note to use 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup shortening instead of a full cup of butter. I’m not an experienced baker, so I’m not really sure what difference that makes.
I’m glad you found one similar! I hope they taste just like the ones your family made!