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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.
I just made this recipe. I haven’t made snickerdoodles since the 1960’s but thought this recipe looked good. OMG! Sooooo good. They melt in your mouth. I’m making them for gifts. How hard will it be to part with them? Wah=wah!
Yay!! Love to hear that! Aren’t they so good?! I am so glad you liked them 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!
This is my last attempt at baking today. Nothing is going quite as planned and there have been injuries in the process. Ugh. These are important. If I cannot get this right, I have to buy store bought. I cooked professionally for 12 years. Today I feel like a noob 🙁
Do you people use plain or self raising flour to make these? I’m just confused as it just states flour.
I use all-purpose flour 🙂 Hope you like them!
Is the ratio of cinnamon to sugar correct? 1 T sugar to 3 T of cinnamon seems a bit strong on the cinnamon. I made these with 3 T sugar and 3 tsp cinnamon because I was reluctant to try your proportions. Excellent cookies, btw!!
I use your recipe everytime I make snickerdoodles but I always have to make a double batch because a single batch just goes to quick around my house. Everyone just loves them.
Thank you so much & I agree…never enough with one batch!
These snickerdoodle cookies are fantastic! And so easy to make! Thanks so much. It’s a keeper!
Yay!! I am so glad!! That makes me so happy to hear. Thank you for letting me know!
This recipe was so fun and easy to make, considering I already had all the ingredients! I halved the recipe (since 48 cookies is a lot) and I don’t have an electric mixer, so I mixed everything by hand, but the cookies turned out great and I received so many compliments from my friends. Thank you, will be making more soon!
Yay!! Thank you for letting me know! I am so glad you liked them 🙂
These cookies look amazing! I simply love everything that’s made with cinnamon. They look crunchy on the picture, but I like that they are actually soft! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
You are so welcome!! These are our favorite! I love cinnamon too!
This cookies were so easy to make. The texture was perfect. I did 8 minutes cook time. They turned out delicious, soft and chewy. I didn’t have cream of tartar so I used lemon juice. I’ll definitely be making these again in the future.
I am so glad you liked them! I am glad you found a way to improvise 🙂 Thank you!
After reading many of the comments, I was scared that the dough would be too wet and my cousins wedding would be littered with store bought snickerdoodles. THANK EVERYTHING THAT IS HOLY!!! Not only did these turn out, they turned out perfectly!! I had to triple the batch, then make one more single batch, because my husband, kids, mother, and I all ate so many as I was baking, there weren’t enough for my cousins wedding!!! These are amazing cookies, they turned out perfect!!! I always forget they are my favorite, until I have them. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
LOL…love to hear that!!! Aren’t they the best?! Thank you so much for letting me know.