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 always soft, chewy, NO-FAIL and turns out perfect EVERY TIME.
What makes this recipe special is the perfect balance of texture and flavor—soft centers, slightly crisp edges, and just the right hint of tang from the cream of tartar. They’re easy to make, bake beautifully, and stay soft for days (if they last that long!).
Why we think you’ll love them:
- Perfectly sweet. Soft, chewy, and perfectly sweet with warm cinnamon flavor.
- Pantry staples. The ingredients are simple and found in most kitchens!
- Giftable + Presentable. They make a great addition to Christmas cookie plates and are perfect for get togethers, showers and more.
- Freezable. Great for freezing—just roll and bake later!
Snickerdoodle Ingredients
Cookie
- All-purpose flour (2¾ cups): The base that gives the cookies structure.
- Cream of tartar (2 teaspoons): Adds that signature tang and chewy texture Snickerdoodles are famous for.
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon): Helps the cookies rise just the right amount.
- Salt (½ teaspoon): Balances the sweetness.
- Unsalted butter (1 cup, just softened): Creates a rich, buttery base.
- 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.
- Sugar (1½ cups): Sweetens and helps create the crackly texture.
- Eggs (2): Add moisture and help the dough bind together. Room temp eggs incorporate best.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Enhances flavor and adds warmth.
- Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- Sugar (⅓ cup):
- Cinnamon (2 tbsp):
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- sugar (1/3 cup): The base of the sweet coating.
- cinnamon (2 tablespoons): Adds warmth and that iconic Snickerdoodle spice.
Pro Tip: 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 until light and fluffy (at least 2 minutes) 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 – TWICE.
BAKE. Place on an un-greased pan or baking sheets (flatten with the bottom of a cup if you like your cookies thinner), 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!
- NOT CHILLED – our preferred method – you can see that the cookie is not too flat, has all the cracks on top and is PERFECT.
- 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
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- BUTTER IS KEY. Make sure you are using real butter for this recipe (no margarine), and make sure it is JUST SOFTENED. If it’s too soft, your cookies will spread too much.
- DON’T SKIP THE CREAM OF TARTAR. It gives the cookie that famous tangy flavor!
- DOUBLE ROLL – Don’t skip rolling the cookie dough balls in the cinnamon-sugar mixture twice – it ensures that sweet goodness is in every bite and gives that beautiful crackly coating we all love.
- DON’T OVER-BAKE – Snickerdoodles might look a little underdone when you pull them out of the oven, but trust me—take them out! They’ll continue cooking on the pan and stay soft and chewy inside.
- CHILL IF NEEDED. If your kitchen is warm or the dough feels sticky, pop it in the fridge for 20 minutes.
Snickerdoodle Recipe
Video
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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
– Your butter was. too soft or melted – it needs to be just softened.
– Your baking soda or cream of tartar is expires – These two ingredients work together to give snickerdoodles their signature soft, puffy texture. If they’re old, they won’t do their job, and your cookies will spread. Check those expiration dates!
– Over-mixing the dough – Once you add the dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Over-mixing can cause thinner cookies.
– Oven temperature is too low – If your oven runs cool, the butter will melt before the cookies have time to set. Use an oven thermometer to make sure it’s at 350 degrees.
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.
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This recipe was first published August 2012.
These were delicious! I tired to eat just one and failed. I used my new Breville Smart Oven Air and baked them on convection at 325 for 9 minutes. Perfect!
LOL!! It’s impossible to just eat one!! Thanks for stopping by!
These are by far the best cookies EVER!! Easy and delicious…Everyone I bake them for loves them! (Not sure why, but the rating won’t let me highlight all 5 stars…sadly because THIS IS A 5 STAR RECIPE!!)
Oh, thank you so much!! And, I agree with you! Thanks again!
My son absolutely loves this recipe! So easy and delicious and moist. Ran short on cinnamon coating so I use 1-1/2 times the amount suggested.
This is our favorite!! I am so glad he likes them!! Thank you for letting me know!!
I followed the recipe exactly and these are fantastic! My yield was 4 dozen cookies and it’s killing me because although I had to sample ONE (for quality control. of course!) the rest are sitting on the counter to be taken to an event tomorrow. I wonder if people who are having issues with the sticky dough are also baking in humid conditions or maybe at a different altitude. Both of those things can affect the dough. Anyway — thank you for this recipe. It’s a keeper!
Yes, they sure can affect that! Thanks so much and that’s why we love them…so easy & so good! I’m glad you like them!
This looks and sound fantastic. Yum!
They are!! I hope you’ll try them! I’d love to know what you think 🙂
I made these cookies yesterday and my three grandsons didn’t stop until they were all gone. They love snickerdoodles but this is my first time making them from scratch. I didn’t exactly get four dozen but I got two and a half dozen. Anyway what matters is they loved them and this grandma is a cookie star.
Thanks so very much.
Haha!! Yes, they are usually gone so fast. Thank you for letting me know!
Wow! These are fantastic!! I didn’t have cream of tartar so I listened to some of the previous comments and used 2 tsp of baking powder i substitution of the cream of tartar AND the baking soda. Everyone loved these – probably the best snicker doodles I’ve had!
Yay!!! Thanks so much for making them and of course, for letting me know! They really are the best!
Great recipe. It could possibly be my oven, but I found that with this recipe, I needed to heat my oven to 375 and bake for 11 minutes.
Yay! Thanks for trying it! Yes, all ovens are different, so you may need to change the time or temp. My oven gets super hot, so I end up cooking things a lot less than directions. Thanks for letting me know!
My great grandma was known for her snickerdoodles. Sadly, no one knows where the recipe is. Did a search and decided to make these this morning. Delicious! The cream of tartar can be adjusted for those who don’t care for it. The first batch I used as directed. Second batch I decreased by about 1/4 tsp. Also, I believe the people having issues with the dough being runny may have used melted butter instead of softened. We keep our house cool in the winter so my butter didn’t soften well. I mixed it with the sugar in a metal bowl and then placed the bowl in the sink with hot water. I was able to melt just enough to make the rest soft and it creamed right up with the sugar. It’s a fairly sticky dough but not difficult to work with. Thank you for the recipe! I’ll definitely be using again (until my great grandma’s recipe is found!)
Thank you so much for sharing what you did! I hope you find your great grandmas recipe!! Nothing like having a family recipe. Thanks again!
Hi,
Can you tell me whether you used all purpose or self-rising flour? Thanks!
I just use regular all purpose flour 🙂 Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!
Thank you!