Snickerdoodle cookies are a classic favorite known for their soft centers, lightly crisp edges, and signature cinnamon-sugar coating. These soft snickerdoodle cookies get their unique flavor from cream of tartar, which gives them their slightly tangy taste and chewy texture.
This traditional snickerdoodle recipe uses a combination of butter and shortening so the cookies stay soft while still baking up with beautifully golden edges. Each dough ball is rolled in a cinnamon-sugar mixture before baking, creating the classic crackled surface and warm cinnamon flavor that makes snickerdoodles so recognizable.
What Is a Snickerdoodle?
A snickerdoodle is a classic cinnamon-sugar cookie known for its soft center, slightly crisp edges, and signature tangy flavor. Unlike regular sugar cookies, traditional snickerdoodles use cream of tartar in the dough, which gives them their unique taste and chewy texture.
The cookie dough is rolled in a cinnamon-sugar mixture before baking, creating the crackled surface and warm cinnamon flavor that make snickerdoodles so recognizable.
Snickerdoodles have been a favorite homemade cookie for generations and are especially popular during the holiday baking season.
Why These Snickerdoodle Cookies Work
- Cream of tartar gives snickerdoodles their classic tangy flavor and chewy texture.
- Butter and shortening work together to create cookies that stay soft but still have lightly crisp edges.
- Rolling the dough in cinnamon sugar before baking creates the signature crackled surface.
- The slightly higher baking temperature helps the cookies spread just enough while keeping the centers soft.
Ingredients
Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup shortening
1½ cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
2¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and shortening together until smooth.
- Add the granulated sugar and mix until the mixture becomes light and creamy.
- Beat in the eggs until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- In a small bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for the coating.
- Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it into a smooth ball. Roll the dough ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until fully coated.
- Place the cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are still soft.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and gently press the tops with the back of a spoon.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
If desired, sprinkle a little extra cinnamon sugar over the tops while the cookies are still warm.
Helpful Tips
Use softened butter so the dough mixes smoothly.
Do not overbake the cookies. The centers should still look soft when they come out of the oven.
Rolling the dough generously in cinnamon sugar creates the classic snickerdoodle flavor.
If you enjoy classic cookie recipes, you may also like these Soft Frosted Cut Out Sugar Cookies with Buttercream.
Storage
Store snickerdoodle cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
For longer storage, freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
FAQ's
Cream of tartar gives snickerdoodles their slightly tangy flavor and helps create their chewy texture.
Yes. You can use all butter instead, but the cookies may spread more and be slightly crispier.
Flat cookies can happen if the butter is too warm or if too little flour was used.
Another holiday favorite are Hot Cocoa Cookies with Mini Marshmallows, which are perfect for winter cookie trays.
Looking for more cookie ideas? Browse our Favorite Cookie Recipes collection for more homemade favorites.
📖 Recipe
Snickerdoodle Cookies
Ingredients
Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough
- ½ cup unsalted butter - softened
- ½ cup shortening
- 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- 3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F
- In a large bowl, combine the softened butter and the shortening. Beat together well.
- Beat in the sugar and eggs until creamy and smooth.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
- Beat the dry mixture into the large bowl of wet ingredients.
- In a small bowl, mix together the 3 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and the 4 tablespoon of granulated sugar.
- Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it into a smooth ball. Roll the dough ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until fully coated.
- Place the rolled cookies onto an ungreased cookie sheet and space the cookies about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
- Bake for about 9 minutes. The edges should be brown, and the centers should be soft.
- Remove from the oven and use the back of a spoon to press down lightly on the tops of the cookies.
- Allow cooling for a few minutes before cooling completely on a wire rack.
- Top with additional cinnamon-sugar mixture if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
Kate says
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I will try these cookies this Christmas Season. 🙂