Try this classic snickerdoodle recipe when you want a sugar cookie with extra oomph. Flavored with a generous amount of cinnamon, this classic cookie is a favorite around the holidays. But they’re so quick and easy to throw together that you could easily make them whenever the mood for cookies strikes!
One of my favorite things about my chewy snickerdoodle recipe is that you don’t need to refrigerate the dough, which cuts down the prep time drastically. In fact, you can have a batch of these sweet, buttery cookies ready in 20 minutes! For more easy cookie recipes, try my easy oatmeal raisin cookies, almond butter cookies, and Andes mint cookies.
What You Need to Make this Recipe
Cream of tartar — cream of tartar is a vital ingredient for soft, chewy cookies. And, when combined with baking soda, it helps the snickerdoodle cookies puff up. Cream of tartar also gives this classic snickerdoodle recipe the hint of tang that these cookies are known for.
Cinnamon — you need cinnamon for the cookie dough, and to create a delicious cinnamon-sugar coating.
Butter — soften 1 cup of unsalted butter. If you only have salted butter on hand, reduce the amount of salt in the dough by ½ teaspoon (so you’ll only use ¼ teaspoon of salt).
Sugar — you only need granulated sugar (regular white sugar) for these cookies.
Eggs — take the eggs out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you start baking to bring them up to room temperature.
How To Make Snickerdoodles
1. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl.
2. In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment), beat the sugar and softened butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. This will take about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well before adding the second egg. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the vanilla extract.
3. Set the mixer to low speed and gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Beat until just combined. Scrape the sides down and incorporate any remaining dry bits.
4. In a small bowl, mix granulated sugar and ground cinnamon together to make the cinnamon-sugar coating for the cookies.
5. Use a cookie scoop (I used a #40 scoop) or tablespoon to portion out the cookie dough into 1½ tablespoon-sized balls.
6. Roll the dough between your palms to create smooth balls, then coat them in cinnamon sugar. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the cookie dough balls on the baking sheets 2 inches apart so they have plenty of room to spread. Bake at 375°F for 9 to 10 minutes, or until puffed and just starting to wrinkle around the edges. Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Why is Cream of Tartar in Snickerdoodles?
Cream of tartar is an important ingredient for the best snickerdoodle recipe. While this may seem like an odd ingredient to add to cookies, it’s what makes these cookies unique! Without it, your cookies won’t have the snickerdoodle’s signature tangy flavor, nor will they be as chewy as they should be.
Cream of tartar also reacts with the baking soda to help the cookies rise, creating that classic snickerdoodle fluffy interior and crinkly surface on the outside.
Do I Need to Chill the Cookie Dough?
No, you do not need to chill snickerdoodle cookie dough! This snickerdoodle cookie recipe is so easy and comes together so fast.
How to Store
Snickerdoodles will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for about 5 days.
Pro Tips For Making Soft Snickerdoodles
- Weigh the flour. Adding too much flour is a common mistake and yields dry, floury cookies. The easiest way to use the correct amount of flour is by using a kitchen scale. If you don’t have one, fluff the flour with a spoon in its container, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off. Don’t scoop directly from the flour container, as you will likely scoop too much.
- For a less puffy, chewy texture: Substitute one of the eggs for just an egg yolk and replace ¾ cup of the granulated sugar with ¾ cup (165g) light brown sugar.
- How to manage too-sticky dough: The dough will be soft when rolling it between your palms, but it shouldn’t stick to your hands. If the dough is too sticky, you can chill it for 20 minutes and then scoop and roll into balls. Or, scoop it directly into the cinnamon sugar, coat, and roll each one into a smooth ball.
- Don’t overbake the cookies. The centers should still appear slightly shiny. If you bake them for too long, they will become crisp and dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough and baked cookies. Baked cookies can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature for about an hour before enjoying.
To freeze snickerdoodle dough balls, roll them into balls but skip coating them in cinnamon sugar. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer the cookie dough balls to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. The next time you’re in the mood for snickerdoodle cookies, simply thaw the dough balls for about 20 minutes at room temperature. Then, roll them in cinnamon sugar and bake! You’ll likely need to add a minute or two to the baking time to account for the colder dough.
In a pinch, you can use 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or replace the baking soda and cream of tartar with 2 teaspoons of baking powder.
Look for the cookies to puff and start to wrinkle around the edges. As they cool, they will slightly collapse, creating their signature crackly top and have a soft center.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this snickerdoodle recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Snickerdoodle Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Electric hand or stand mixer
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour (330g)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened (226g)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon-Sugar Coating:
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar (67g)
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two ungreased baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs on at a time beating well between each addition. Scrape down the bowl and mix in the vanilla
- With the mixer on low speed, gradually add in the flour mixture and beat just until combined. Scrape the down down and mix in any remaining dry areas.
For the Coating:
- In a small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon together.
- Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion out the cookie dough into 1½ tablespoons sized balls. Roll the dough in the palms of your hands to create smooth balls, then coat them in cinnamon sugar. Place the dough balls on the cookie sheets 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9 to 10 minutes or until puffed and just starting to wrinkle around the edges. Let the cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Weigh the flour. Adding too much flour is a common mistake and yields dry, floury cookies. The easiest way to use the correct amount of flour is by using a kitchen scale. If you don’t have one, fluff the flour with a spoon in its container, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off. Don’t scoop directly from the flour container, as you will likely scoop too much.
- For a less puffy, chewy texture: Substitute one of the eggs for just an egg yolk and replace ¾ cup of the granulated sugar with ¾ cup (165g) light brown sugar.
- How to manage too-sticky dough: The dough will be soft when rolling it between your palms, but it shouldn’t stick to your hands. If the dough is too sticky, you can chill it for 20 minutes and then scoop and roll into balls. Or, scoop it directly into the cinnamon sugar, coat, and roll each one into a smooth ball.
- Don’t overbake the cookies. The centers should still appear slightly shiny. If you bake them for too long, they will become crisp and dry.
Anne says
First time making. Best recipe ever. Good Fall cookie ❤️!
Asher says
I subbed in vegetable oil for most of the butter, tripled the cinnamon and I didn’t have tartar sauce, but the cookies still came out great! Absolutely delicious, thank you for the recipe.
sharon J seta says
Can you please confirm the yield for this recipe, on the cover it says 48 cookies but on the recipe, it says 30? Thank you
Sarah Ward (Executive Editor, Preppy Kitchen) says
Hi Sharon! The recipe card yield is 30 cookies, which is correct.
Jeanne says
Can’t wait to try these! Can this cookie dough keep in the fridge a day or two before baking if I don’t have space to freeze them?
Sarah Ward (Executive Editor, Preppy Kitchen) says
Yes! I recommend going ahead and shaping the dough balls, then covering and chilling. That way, all you have to do is coat in sugar and bake when you’re ready!
Melinda says
Great recipe! I tried another that just had way too much cream of tartar. These are perfect. I tend to half recipes and this made 13 with my scoop. I also add a tad bit more cinnamon to the flour mix and a little more flour since I’m baking just over 5k” at 380 and it takes about 15 minutes for me.
Lynn Calverley says
The cookies were delicious and so quick and easy to make! Quick question, what would cause the cookies to dome and not flatten?
Love all your recipes and your YouTube videos!!
Thanks, Lynn
Sarah Ward (Executive Editor, Preppy Kitchen) says
Hi Lynn! It’s possible too much flour was added or your baking soda was older. Too much flour will make the cookie dough dry so it doesn’t spread as much. Baking soda also contributes to spread, and if it’s older it may not have been as reactive. If you experience that again, you can gently flatten your dough balls before baking to encourage them to spread. Hope this helps!
PrudyJ says
Excellent cookies. Very easy to make. I appreciate your concise directions on all of your recipes. Thank you!
Mary says
Dear John~ These snickerdoodles are absolutely perfect in every way! I’ve made many snickerdoodle recipes in my life and none of them ever passed the “first try test”- I never craved them enough to want to make them again. Love snickerdoodles but I didn’t like the “next day texture”- these are soft, moist, with a slightly crisp edge. Such a nice texture- I can’t stop eating them! LOL! This cookie has such a basic goodness, that I don’t even want to roll them in sugar cinnamon, but scoop them out with a #40/ 2″ scoop, slightly flatten with palm, and just sprinkle the top with coarse sugar/ cinnamon mixture. Thank you so much for a recipe so good that you want to pass it on to as many people as you can! 🙂