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These easy Snickerdoodles are soft, chewy and slightly tangy. They come together in about 30 minutes with no need to chill the cookie dough. This classic cookie is coated in cinnamon sugar, delicious and totally addicting!
Table of Contents
- Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodles
- Why You’ll Love This Snickerdoodles Recipe
- What Are Snickerdoodles?
- Recipe Ingredients
- How to Make Snickerdoodles
- Can I Make The Dough In Advance?
- Pro Tips for Success
- How to Store Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Can I Freeze These?
- More Easy Cookie Recipes
- Watch How to Make Snickerdoodles
- Get the Recipe
Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodles
I have been searching for the perfect snickerdoodle recipe for a long time. After much trial and error, I finally got it right. This foolproof recipe makes pillowy-soft snickerdoodle cookies with just the right amount of cinnamon. Thick, but not too thick, they have the perfect hint of a crunch on the outside from their glorious cinnamon sugar coating and just the right amount of chew on the inside. The classic sweetness of the sugar cookie with just a hint of tanginess from the cream of tarter blends wonderfully with the comforting warmth of cinnamon. Gosh, they are so good!
These snickerdoodles are not only delicious but they are quick and easy to prepare. You don’t even have to chill the dough before you bake them. Cookies in less than 30 minutes anyone? I’m in!
Why You’ll Love This Snickerdoodles Recipe
These really are some of the best cookies I have ever tasted. Here are just a few of the reasons I think they are so outstanding.
- No chilling necessary. Unlike many cookie recipes that require you to chill the cookie dough before you bake, this one does not. This makes them so much quicker and easier to make, but they aren’t lacking in any way from not being refrigerated.
- Simple ingredients. This recipe requires only a few simple ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen. It’s the perfect spur-of-the-moment recipe.
- Flavor. These cookies have the sweetness you’d expect from a sugar cookie with a hint of tang from the cream of tarter. Pair that with the perfect amount of cinnamon and you’ve got a 100% crave-able cookie.
- Soft and chewy cookies. These snickerdoodles are the perfect thickness and wonderfully soft and chewy on the inside. Everything you could dream of in a cookie. Plus, they have just the tiniest bit of crunch from the cinnamon sugar coating that envelopes them. The combination is to die for.
What Are Snickerdoodles?
A snickerdoodle is a popular type of sugar cookie. What sets it apart from other sugar cookies? Cream of tarter is added to the dough to give a subtle tang and an addictive chewiness to the finished product. In addition, the dough balls are rolled in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar before they are baked, which gives the cookies a wonderful warmth and an extra boost of sweetness.
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll only need a few basic ingredients to make these easy snickerdoodle cookies. Here they are. For precise measurements, scroll to the recipe card below.
- All-purpose flour – Be sure to measure your flour accurately or you’ll end up with dry cookies. I prefer a food scale, but the spoon and level method works too. Just be sure not to pack your flour into your measuring cup.
- Cream of tartar – Don’t skip this. It brings a wonderful chewiness and a lovely tang to the finished cookies.
- Baking soda – For just the right rise and chewiness.
- Salt – To accent the flavors in the cookies.
- Unsalted butter – The butter must be at room temperature, otherwise, it won’t cream with the sugar properly.
- Sugar – Sugar adds sweetness and helps to make the cookies tender.
- Eggs – Be sure to use large eggs, not medium or extra large.
- Vanilla extract – For flavor.
- Ground cinnamon – For rolling the cookies.
How to Make Snickerdoodles
Here’s a quick look at how to make this chewy snickerdoodle recipe. Make sure to scroll to the recipe card below for more thorough instructions.
- Prep. Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream the butter and sugar. Beat together the butter and 1 1/2 cups of sugar until fluffy and light in color.
- Put it all together. Mix in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla and the dry ingredients.
- Coat the cookies in cinnamon sugar. Whisk together the remaining cinnamon and sugar. Roll the cookie dough into balls and roll each ball in the cinnamon sugar.
- Bake. Arrange the cookie dough balls on the baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes.
- Cool. Allow the cookies to cool for a couple of minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack.
Can I Make The Dough In Advance?
Absolutely! Simply wrap the dough in a tight layer of plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to 48 hours. You can also store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Once you’re ready to bake your cookies, let the dough sit at room temperature until it’s soft enough to scoop. Make dough balls, roll them in cinnamon sugar, arrange them on a baking sheet, and bake.
Pro Tips for Success
Want to be a snickerdoodle cookie master? Follow these simple tips and tricks and you’ll be on your way!
- Use a dark cookie sheet. Did you know that the color of the cookie sheet actually has an effect on how quickly your cookies bake? A dark color will absorb heat more quickly, which helps set the edges without causing the cookies to spread. That’s exactly what you want here, so grab the darkest pan you’ve got!
- Measure correctly. Baking is a science. Even when you are attempting the simplest of recipes, it is crucial to measure correctly, especially when it comes to flour. If you want to achieve the perfect light, chewy texture, check out my tutorial on How to Measure Flour Correctly.
- Cream thoroughly. Creaming the butter properly brings a nice light and fluffy texture to these cookies. Beat the butter and sugar together until the mixture is fluffy and noticeably lighter in color. Otherwise, you will likely end up with overly dense cookies.
- Don’t over-mix. Mix just until everything is incorporated. Over-mixing the batter can cause the glutens in the flour to overdevelop, leaving you with tough, dense cookies.
- Get the temperature right. Most cookies bake at 350°F, but these ones require a higher temperature (400°F) to stop them from spreading too thin. Stick with the instructions in the recipe if you want that classic soft and chewy snickerdoodle texture.
Allow the cookies to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Seal the container and store them at room temperature for up to 1 week. Do not store these in the fridge. They will dry out.
Can I Freeze These?
Yes! There are a couple of ways to go about it.
- Freeze the baked cookies. Once the cookies have cooled to room temperature, seal them in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to enjoy, allow the cookies to thaw at room temperature.
- Freeze the cookie dough. Form the dough into balls and roll them in the cinnamon sugar. Arrange them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and pop them in the freezer for 3-4 hours. Once frozen solid, seal the dough balls in a freezer-safe container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can bake them directly from frozen. Just add an extra minute or two to the cook time.
Cookies are the perfect quick and easy solution to dessert. I’m always on a mission to develop new, easy cookie recipes to share with you. Here are some of my favorites.
- White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Gingersnap Cookies
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Watch How to Make Snickerdoodles
Print
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 45
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
Tender, buttery and slightly tangy sugar cookies are coated in cinnamon sugar and baked to perfection in this classic dessert! Whip up a batch of these Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies and experience blissful comfort with each cozy bite.
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups (358g) all-purpose flour (measured correctly)
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup (168g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups (310g) sugar, plus 3 tbsp for rolling
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare a cookie sheet (I recommend a darker cookie sheet) with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- Combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
- Add the butter and 1 1/2 cups of sugar to a large mixer bowl and cream until light in color and fluffy in texture, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until combined after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, as needed.
- Add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
- Combine the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon in another small bowl.
- Create balls of one tablespoon of cookie dough each.
- Roll each ball of cookie dough in the cinnamon sugar mixture, then set on the prepared cookie sheet with about 2 inches between them.
- Bake for 6-8 minutes.
- Remove cookies from the oven and allow to sit for 2-3 minutes, then move to a cooling rack.
- Store cookies in an airtight container.
Notes
- Makes 40-45 cookies.
- To Make Ahead: Wrap dough in a tight layer of plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. When ready to bake, let dough sit at room temperature until soft enough to scoop.
- To Store: Keep cooled snickerdoodles in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- To Freeze: Freeze cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months, thawing before enjoying. Alternatively, freeze formed and coated dough balls on a lined baking sheet for 3-4 hours, or until frozen solid. Transfer frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe container and store for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, increasing cook time by 1-2 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cookie Ball
- Calories: 86
- Sugar: 6.7 g
- Sodium: 57.7 mg
- Fat: 3.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.9 g
- Protein: 1.1 g
- Cholesterol: 16.4 mg
Keywords: snickerdoodles, snickerdoodle cookies, chewy snickerdoodle recipe
Thanks for sharing, these cookies are wonderful.
★★★★★
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
Way too much flour, the dough was super crumbly and hard to roll. I followed to a T.
The amount of flour is correct and not too much. It sounds like you over measured it, which is very easy to do. Here’s a post on how to measure flour accurately with a couple different options.
My all time favorite cookies!
I haven’t made these cookies yet. The only question that I have is should I sift the flour before I measure it?
I don’t usually sift my flour, but you certainly could. If your flour seems like it needs it, and you don’t use it very often, you may want to.
Ref your recommendation to use a dark baking sheet: I don’t have one. Would a regular “silver” baking sheet alter the baking time and temperature. I’ve made these cookies couple times before (NOT your recipe, though) and they spread a whole lot (using a baking mat on the cookie sheet) and am anxious to try your recipe, hoping for a cookie that doesn’t spread massively. Thoughts?
I do think that the color of the baking sheet makes a difference. You can certainly try it with your lighter baking sheet and see how much of a difference it makes for you. All ovens vary so it’s possible it won’t be as much of an issue. If they do spread too much, you could try adding an extra tablespoon or two of flour and see if that helps without altering the cookie texture too much.
Hi there! I was wondering if you’ve had any success making them bigger than 1 tablespoon dough balls? I like a big cookie, but didn’t know if it would change baking time or if they would spread too much. Thanks!
I haven’t tried it. But you’re correct that they’d need to bake longer and would likely spread more. I’m not sure if that would make them turn out differently or not without testing it. I think these would be ok.
I love Snicker Doodles. So good
Definitely recommend 💯. I love this recipe and have used it multiple times! Thank you. It’s absolutely delicious and perfect for those cold snowy mornings or that midnight snack!
★★★★★
Awesome! So glad to hear that!