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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 made this exactly according to recipe, and they WERE JUST GREAT. I’d actually like to share your recipe on some of my friends blog by refencing to yours if you don’t mind? thanks for the great recipe again.
Excellent recipe! Delicious!
Thank you so much 🙂
tHESE TRULY are the best snickerdoodles! And for good reason. This tried and true recipe has been used for generations. some know it by the name Mrs. Siggs Snickerdoodles. You simply cannot beat this recipe. And, regarding the question of “is there a substitute for cream of tartar”, the answer is yes, of course there is. You can eliminate the Cream of Tartar and the baking soda in this recipe and sub in 1 tablespoon of baking powder (which is a blend of cream of tartar and baking soda). Or, you can sub in white vinegar or lemon juice for the cream of tartar, but the lemon juice will change the overall flavor while the vinegar will not. But they will give your cookies the tang they need. My one and only change is that I bake my snickerdoodles at 375 for 8 minutes. Remove from oven, leave to cool for a few minutes then transfer to cooling rack. Yum!!
Thank you so much for sharing that! I hope that helps others 🙂
The best tasting snickerdoodle ever made! However, they were very flat. Didn’t keep my family from gobbling them up though.
They are my family’s favorite! They aren’t a real puffy cookie, but shouldn’t be paper thin.
Delicious!
Thank you for letting me know 🙂
My family asks for these all the time!! Thank you for sharing!
Mine too!! You are so welcome!
Made these yesterday and the hubby gobbled them up…a sure sign as to just how good THEy are. I believe his words were creamy, gooey, addictive, better than mashed potatoes (his absolute fave food). I guess I will be making them again! Thanks!
LOL!! I love that!! Tell him thank you & thank you for sharing that!
I ran out of sugar ? had jis tenough for the dough itsElf but not enough for tbe topping, i mIxed brown sugar with cinnamon instead. The cookIes came out Just as Good ?
Way to improvise 🙂 So, glad you liked them! Thank you!
This is a great cookie! Thank.
Glad you liked them!! Thank you for letting me know!
Best Snickerdoodle recipe i have ever tried! perfect texture, and so yummy! they are right, do not overbake!
Thank you for saying that!! I am glad you think so 🙂