Everybody loves sinking their teeth into a thick, super soft Snickerdoodle cookie with big cinnamon flavor and a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture. This is the best Snickerdoodle recipe ever, and lucky for us, it's easy to make, well-equipped with a simple list of ingredients and easy-to-follow directions.
In addition to the easiest method for making perfect cinnamon-sugar dusted cookies from scratch, we'll also cover an easy (yet optional) step you can take to spruce up that cinnamon-sugar topping to make your cookies extra sparkly, discover why cream of tartar can take a hike, how to go about making super soft and chewy cookies, plus a few pro tips for storing and freezing your cookies.
Need more cookie inspiration? Bookmark our easy, Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe for next time! They're perfect for holiday baking and decorating!
THE BEST SNICKERDOODLES EVER
The first Snickerdoodle recipe we tested came from a holiday baking magazine. The cookie wasn't terrible, but it baked up flat, had a hint of a metallic taste to it, was a lit-tle too sweet for our liking, and most definitely lacked in salt. After making one adjustment after another and we determined a Snickerdoodle recipe without cream of tartar would rid of the metallic taste. We also adjusted the sugar slightly and incorporated the creaming of butter and sugar.
Taking just a few extra moments to cream the butter and the sugar made for a chewy cookie, thick and soft in texture. They were beautiful, buttery and sweet, and dusted with the perfect touch of cinnamon sugar; perfect cookie for holiday baking and gift-giving.
SNICKERDOODLES WITHOUT CREAM OF TARTAR (AND WHY)
Cream of Tartar is most often used as a leavener in baking recipes to help stabilize egg whites. Why a standard drop cookie like this one would require the use of cream of tartar is completely beyond me. We aren't whipping any eggs whites here, folk. Creaming butter and sugar? Yes. But, egg whites? No. Rest assured, if you're using this recipe, your cookies are going to be just fine without cream of tartar.
INGREDIENTS
This cookie dough comes together quickly and easily and doesn't require too many ingredients, and the ingredients can be broken in up into three simple categories: the dry ingredients, the wet ingredients, and the topping.
WHAT'S IN THE DRY MIX?
You will always find flour, a leavener such as baking powder or baking soda (this recipe calls for baking soda), and salt amongst the dry ingredients.
ONE SUGAR, AND ONE SUGAR ONLY.
As mentioned earlier, the flavor of these cookies is very reminiscent of a sugar cookie, and their ingredient list is also very similar including the omission of brown sugar. Unlike most drop cookies, most Snickerdoodle recipes omit the combination of both brown sugar and granulated sugar and rather call for only granulated sugar.
The granulated sugar and the room temperature butter are creamed together before any other wet ingredients are added to the mix.
THE CINNAMON-SUGAR TOPPING
The topping is what makes these cookies so very magical and perfect for Christmas baking. It is a simple mixture of granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. We use the same mix on these Snickerdoodle Blondies and on top of our Cinnamon Donut Muffins!
For an extra special touch and a little more sparkle, add a tablespoon of sparkling decorative sugar to the mix, however, this is completely optional and not at all necessary.
HOW TO MAKE SNICKERDOODLES WITHOUT CREAM OF TARTAR
The best Snickerdoodle Cookies have a buttery, vanilla flavor similar to a sugar cookie, however, they are typically chewier, fluffier, and come dusted with a topping of cinnamon-sugar.
- For the topping, mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl and set aside.
- Mix dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Then, add eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until the dough forms.
- Scoop the cookies and roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Bake at 375°F for 14 minutes.
FOR SOFT AND CHEWY COOKIES, DO THIS...
If you want a soft and chewy cookie, you'll need to take the time to properly cream the butter and the sugar. Then, you'll add the rest of the wet ingredients to the mix: the eggs, the lemon juice, and the vanilla.
After the wet ingredients are well incorporated, the dry ingredients get mixed in on low. It is important that the dry ingredients are mixed at a low speed, and you should stop mixing as soon as the mixture comes together. This helps to prevent gluten strands from overdeveloping and ultimately causing your cookie to be tough and helping your cookies to stay soft and chewy. Also, it keeps flour from flying all over your kitchen. So there's that as well.
Once the dough has come together, you'll scoop out your dough balls, give them a good roll in your cinnamon-sugar mixture, and pop them in the oven. In just a few minutes you'll be gladly welcoming the sweet smell of cinnamon into the air and the best-ever, soft and chewy Snickerdoodle cookies into your kitchen...and very likely into your heart.
WHY ARE YOUR COOKIES FLAT?
If your cookies are falling flat, not creaming the butter and the sugar is very likely the culprit. To cream butter and sugar, you must first begin with room temperature butter, meaning the butter is soft to the touch, but not melty. The butter and sugar are mixed together on medium-high to high speed until light and fluffy.
If you're wondering if you've reached the "light and fluffy" stage, you probably haven't. The mixture will be pale yellow and almost doubled in volume when properly creamed, and it will likely take you around 3 minutes to get there.
HOW TO STORE SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES
Once your cookies have baked and cooled, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature and they will stay fresh for up to 4-5 days. If you'd like to preserve your cookies farther out than this, simply place them in a freezer-safe zip top bag, taking care to press out any excess air from the bag for up to 2 months. You could also freeze them in a freezer-safe, airtight storage container, just be sure the container fits the cookies snugly, and there is not a ton of room for air to circulate around them.
You can also freeze the cookie dough balls before or after rolling them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture for up to 2 months. To do this, place them in a snug, freezer-safe, airtight container, and separate each layer of cookie dough with a sheet of wax paper. When it comes time to bake them, simply follow the recipe as directed, adding 1-2 minutes more to the bake time.
6 MORE CLASSIC COOKIES YOU'LL LOVE:
- The Easiest Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Drop Cookies with Chocolate Chips
- The Best Chewy M&M Cookies
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Ginger Molasses Cookies
- Cowboy Cookies
Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup + 1 ½ cup granulated sugar, separated
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 cup room-temperature unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° and have ready a baking sheet lined with either parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a small bowl, combine ⅓ cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside until ready to use.
- Add 1 ½ cup granulated sugar and the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. If you do not have a stand mixer, use a large mixing bowl and a handheld mixer. Mix on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, followed by the lemon juice and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until incorporated.
- Scoop out heaping tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball. Roll the top in the sugar-cinnamon mixture and place on the baking sheet at least 2" apart. Bake for 14 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
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Linda says
I've been hunting for the best snickerdoodle cookies and I think I found the winner! Love the buttery texture (and not too soft) and of course freshly baked cookie smell.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
I love a good Snickerdoodle cookie and these look incredible! I could do with one right now! Might have to make some with the children tomorrow
Kelly Anthony says
So fun! Thank you, Bintu!
Lauren Vavala @ DeliciousLittleBites says
These are exactly how I love my cookies! Adding these to my Christmas cookie list!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Lauren! So glad they made the list 😉
Luci Petlack says
These do look like perfect snickerdoodles!! I've mixed cardamom into my sugar topping mix as well, but not everyone is as in love with cardamom as I am!
Kelly Anthony says
That's a fun suggestion!
Erin Penrod says
Doing that tonight cuz it sounds AMAZING
Sandi says
The kids love snickerdoodle cookies. I am always trying to perfect our recipe. Can't wait to see how these end up.
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Sandi!!
Amanda says
I'm a huge believer that homemade cookies should be soft and chewy. These looks perfect for the holidays and will definitely be on my cookie baking list. Thanks for sharing!
Erin says
So funny! I had no idea that snickerdoodles were a Christmas cookie! This was the first cookie we made in home ec in middle school. 🙂 So, therefore, I never made them again. I’m totally making these this Christmas!
Kelly Anthony says
Ha! Thank you, Erin 😉
Tuyet says
I have tried 2 other snickerdoodle recipes, and i have to say yours is by far the best. I read your instructions carefully, and they made the world of a difference how the cookies came out. My family loves the cookies. Another keeper. BTW, the cookies taste better without the cream of tartar. Thank you!
Kelly Anthony says
Tuyet! That is so special to know! Thank you so much for telling me 🙂 We've been using this recipe in my kitchen for a long time. I love knowing it will be a keeper in yours! Thank you!!
Jill says
This cookie did not work for me whatsoever. Followed the directions completely and it came out more like a cake batter than cookie dough. Baked and were horrible 🙁 Not sure what went wrong.
Kelly Anthony says
Hey Jill! Are you sure you used 2 and 3/4 cup of flour? Not just 2 cups? I've forgotten that extra 3/4 cup before (when making these in a hurry -- yikes) and it made the batter very thin. Another thing that could cause your batter to be wonky is to use melty butter rather than actual room temperature butter. Lastly, something that could have caused your cookies not to set up properly is baking at the wrong temperature. These should be baked at 375°. I hope this helps with your troubleshooting!
Elaine Benoit says
The snickerdoodle was the first cookie that I made all by myself from scratch. So it has a tender spot in my heart! Your snickerdoodles look outstanding. I love high soft cookies and these are perfect!
Paula Montenegro says
This cookie took me by surprise too and then it became a favorite. I will definitely try your recipe! I don't have cream of tartar lying around anymore, so that's settled.
Nicoletta says
Love how fluffy these snickerdoodle cookies are! Creaming the butter and sugar makes a big difference. Thanks for your tips!
Aleta says
These looks so delicious! I love your helpful tips and appreciate you removing the cream of tartar. I always use so much making playdough for my kids that I always seem to run out so fast, plus it's just so expensive where I live!
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen says
I do love a snickerdoodle and these look so buttery! The texture is spot on, adding this to my 'too make' list!
Eva says
I have never tasted a snickerdoodle before but from your description it sounds like something I'd love. I mean, I love white sugar, butter and cinnamon! Definitely going to try these on a colder day.
Vanessa says
These look absolutely amazing! And I'm relieved to know that you can make it without cream of tartar. I almost never have it in my pantry, but my daughter is always randomly asking to make these, as they are her favorite cookie! I'll try your recipe next time.
Amanda Mason says
I love snickerdoodles and these look and sound amazing! Have you made these with gluten free flour? I'm so excited to make a gluten free version! All these tips and helpful info is fabulous! Makes for a great article! You're an expert!
Elena says
These look like perfect snickerdoodles! I love soft baked cookies and these snickerdoodles look like they could become my new go-to cookies to make! I can't believe they take under 30 minutes to make! I will surely give this recipe a try. I bet my family will love these babies!
Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life says
Snickerdoodles are one of my all-time favorite cookies! And with your in-depth troubleshooting tips and tricks, I'm sure making these would be a breeze.
Karyl Henry says
Oh man Snickerdoodles was the second cookie I learned to make as a kid! This brings back so many memories, and now I'm ready to make a big batch of them!! Yours look absolutely perfect
Saima says
I’m convinced! I have never tasted snickerdoodle cookies but they look out of this world. The cinnamon dusting looks heavenly! Would love to make this recipe especially with all your helpful tips to get it right!
Lisa Huff says
Loving how thick and fluffy these are! Way better than the flat ones I usually make!
Raia Todd says
Snickerdoodles are a family tradition at Christmas. These look so fluffy and perfect, I can't wait to try them!
Traci says
Yayyyy! I've found a new, reliable cookie recipe for my collection. Thanks for another winner! 🙂
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Snickerdoodles are my absolute fave and these are perfect!!
Andrea says
I plan to delete all my other Snickerdoodle recipes. This is the only one I need. So, so good!
Kelly Anthony says
That is SO awesome! Thank you, Andrea! 🙂