These Classic Snickerdoodles are the BEST! Snickerdoodles are tender butter cookies coated in cinnamon sugar. Known for their crisp, sugary edges and soft chewy middles.

Classic Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodle cookies were essential to my early teen baking years.

They are one of the first cookie recipes I ever learned to make – thanks to ‘Home Economics’ or what my daughter’s school now calls “Food Science and Nutrition”. I loved Home Ec! In it, I remember learning how to make soft pretzels, classic snickerdoodles and also how to sew a button and make a pincushion. Nowadays kids learn how to make soup, stir-fry, vinaigrettes and croutons and a little bit of the science behind it and they have an entire separate class for learning to sew buttons etc. and their is even an Advanced Food Science and Nutrition class.

Classic Snickerdoodles

High school classes are so much more fun these days, yet there’s not any amount of money you could pay me to go back.

Classic Snickerdoodles ingredients

To Make These Classics Snickerdoodles You Will Need:

  • softened unsalted butter
  • sugar
  • eggs
  • vanilla
  • flour
  • kosher salt
  • baking powder
  • cream of tartar
  • cinnamon sugar

What is cream of tartar?

It’s actually really interesting. Cream of tartar, or CoT to simplify things, is an acid [tartaric acid] and is the byproduct of –wait for it– winemaking. It’s literally what is left, a residue if you will, on the barrels after wine is made. How exactly someone decided to add it into cookies to make them super soft and tender or into egg whites so they stay firm and all lofty– I’ll never know. Actually, I may just Google it.

butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer

Preheat your oven to 325℉ (or 160℃).

First, place the two sticks of softened butter and 1-1/4 cup of granulated sugar into the bowl of your stand mixer that is fitted with the paddle attachment.

creamed butter and sugar.

Cream on low speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

add in eggs one at a time.

Add one egg at a time, mixing until combined.

add in vanilla extract.

Then measure in the 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.

in a bowl, combine dry ingredients.

In a separate bowl, combine the 2-3/4 cup flour, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt.

gradually add in butter and sugar mixture.

Gradually add the combined dry ingredients to butter and sugar mixture.

cookie dough

Gradually add the flour to the creamed butter and sugar, mixing until just incorporated.

Use a 1-1/2 tablespoon scoop to measure out your cookies. Roll the cookie dough in your hands to make a smooth ball. Place the round cookie dough ball into the bowl with the cinnamon sugar and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over top while rolling the cookie dough to coat. I think the cinnamon sticks better with this method.

Classic Snickerdoodles l SimplyScratch.com #cinnamonsugar #snickerdoodle #cookies #baking

Then place the cinnamon sugar rolled cookie dough onto a silicone lined baking sheet. Bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 1o to 12 minutes. I bake my snickerdoodles for 10 minutes because we like them super soft.

Silicone vs Parchment:

I tested a batch on a parchment lined metal baking sheet and they came out thinner and less “lofty”.

Classic Snickerdoodles on wire rack

Allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Classic Snickerdoodles

It’s the weekend so I made us a few batches to go with our tea or coffee and because the inter-webs need another snickerdoodle recipe, right?

Who doesn’t love Snickerdoodles?

With their tender buttery goodness, crisp cinnamon-sugary edges…so good!

Enjoy! And if you give this Classic Snickerdoodles recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

Classic Snickerdoodles

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Yield: 36 cookies

Snickerdoodles

This Classic Snickerdoodles recipe is the BEST! Snickerdoodles are tender butter cookies coated in cinnamon sugar. Known for their crisp, sugary edges and soft chewy middles.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup softened unsalted butter
  • cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • cups unbleached all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

CINNAMON SUGAR:

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 (heaping) tablespoon cinnamon

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 325℉ (or 160℃).
  • Line a rimmed, metal sheet pan with a silicone mat. (see notes)
  • In the bowl of your mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until light and creamy. About 2 minutes.
  • Add one egg at a time, mixing well after each one. Then add in the vanilla.
  • Whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the batter, mixing until just incorporated.
  • Combine cinnamon and sugar in a bowl.
  • Measure 1-1/2 tablespoons of cookie dough, roll into a ball and coat in the cinnamon sugar. Place the rolled cookie balls 2-inches apart, 12 per pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
  • Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to fully cool.

Notes

Why silicone? Well, I did bake a batch on a parchment lined metal baking sheet and they came out thinner and less "lofty". They tasted the same, but didn't have that signature snickerdoodle appearance.
Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 83kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 51mg, Potassium: 34mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 173IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 3mg, Iron: 1mg