Soft, buttery, and chewy, these is the Best Snickerdoodle Recipe you’ll find! No one will be able to resist these classic cookies and they’re super easy to make too.
If you’re looking for more easy cookie recipes that always receive rave reviews, try these kitchen sink cookies or these monster cookies. They’ll be a hit with kids and adults alike!
Why You’ll Love This Snickerdoodle Recipe
Calling this snickerdoodle recipe “the best” is a bold claim, I know. But, I have developed and tested these cookies so many times over the course of so many years, and I think they’re worthy of the title! Here’s why:
- Soft and chewy. These snickerdoodle cookies are super soft, with just a tiny bit of golden brown crispness to them on the bottom. Words cannot describe how perfect the texture is!
- Cozy and comforting. If you’re having a bad day, these sweet cinnamon-sugar cookies are the best pick-me-up! (And they’ll make your kitchen smell fantastic, which is always a bonus.)
- So quick and easy. It only takes 15 minutes total to prepare and bake these cookies. That’s it!
- Great for all occasions. Need an easy dessert for a bake sale? Or another option for your Christmas cookie platter? These snickerdoodle cookies are just the thing in both cases!
(Also, should you need more cookie recipes for the holidays in particular, check out these easy butter cookies or these Linzer cookies!)
What Are Snickerdoodles?
Snickerdoodle cookies are similar to sugar cookies, but technically they are not the same thing. What’s the biggest difference? Cream of tartar. This little known ingredient prevents the cookies from developing sugar crystals like regular sugar cookies, which means that snickerdoodles have a soft, pillowy, and totally addictive texture.
Another difference between these snickerdoodles and sugar cookies is that the former are rolled in cinnamon-sugar before baking. (Of course, you could also roll sugar cookies in cinnamon sugar, and it would be delicious!)
For classic sugar cookie recipes, try my easy sugar cookies, brown sugar cookies, and soft sugar cookies.
Recipe Ingredients
Let’s talk snickerdoodle recipe essentials! If you’re looking for the exact ingredient amounts or the full set of directions, check out the recipe card below.
- Butter: Feel free to use either unsalted butter or salted butter. Make sure that whichever kind you choose is at room temperature before you start.
- Sugar: This recipe calls for both granulated sugar and light brown sugar. The extra richness the brown sugar gives these cookies is what helps set them apart. Brown sugar adds a little moisture, as well as a deeper flavor.
- Large Eggs: You will use one whole egg and one egg yolk.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract works best.
- Baking Soda: To help the cookies rise while baking.
- Cream of Tartar: There are lots of different cream of tartar substitutes if you need them!
- Salt: Kosher salt is my go-to for this recipe.
- Ground Cinnamon: For both the cookies and the cinnamon-sugar coating.
- Flour: I like to stick with all-purpose flour for these cookies.
How to Make Snickerdoodles
This snickerdoodle cookie recipe is super simple. Here’s an overview of the steps. Scroll down to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- Make the dough. Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add in the egg, egg yolk, vanilla, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and cinnamon. Mix for one minute then reduce the speed to low and add the flour. Mix until just combined.
- Form the cookies. Stir together the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Using a medium (2-tablespoon) cookie scoop, portion out the dough and roll it into a ball. Then roll each cookie dough ball into the cinnamon sugar mixture until coated.
- Bake. Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway through. Cool on the baking sheet for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips for Success
Some of you will agree with my tips, especially if you’ve made this snickerdoodle recipe before – you already know they’re magic. But some of you might disagree… and that’s ok! This is what I’ve learned over the years when it comes to making the best snickerdoodles:
- Cream of tartar can be optional. I don’t necessarily think you have to use cream of tartar to have a good snickerdoodle (gasp, I know). I do use it in my recipe to keep things traditional, but, if you find yourself fresh out of it, check out those substitutes linked above in the ingredients section!
- Don’t chill the cookie dough. You don’t need to chill the dough as you normally would with snickerdoodles because of the lower oven temperature!
- Use extra cinnamon. I use cinnamon in the dough as well as in the coating. You can leave it out if you want, but the best part of a snickerdoodle is the buttery, cinnamon-ness and, in this case, more is more!
- Don’t forget the extra egg yolk. Adding one egg plus a yolk gives the cookie dough a little extra moisture and a lot of richness. You could omit the yolk and add a few tablespoons less of flour, or you could certainly add 2 whole eggs, and have a slightly thinner cookie, but the extra yolk is where the magic happens!
Frequently Asked Questions
As mentioned above, cream of tartar is what gives the cookies their ultra-soft, chewy texture. It also adds the classic tangy taste that snickerdoodles are known for.
It could be that too much flour was added to the cookie dough. Be sure to weigh your flour or spoon it into the measuring cup so that you can avoid this. Also make sure to watch the bake time closely so that the cookies don’t over-bake and dry out.
I bake my snickerdoodles for EXACTLY 11 minutes every single time at 325°F with perfect results. But, I know all ovens are different, so I wrote 10-12 minutes in the recipe card just in case. You want the edges to be lightly golden and the center to seem ALMOST done… you might think it’s not done, but once it cools completely it will be soft and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
How to Store Snickerdoodles
- Room temperature. Once they have cooled completely, snickerdoodles are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Fridge. If you want them to keep for a little bit longer, you can try storing the container in the fridge. They should last about 5 days.
- Freezer. When freezing baked snickerdoodles, keep them in an airtight container or tightly-sealed plastic bag. Freeze them for up to 3 months – remember to let your cookies thaw in the fridge when you’re ready to enjoy them again!
Yes! If you want to make a double batch to have on-demand snickerdoodle cookies in the future, you totally can.
Just follow the recipe up until the cookie dough is rolled in cinnamon sugar. After you roll each cookie ball in the cinnamon-sugar, place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze the dough until firm. (Usually this takes about 4-6 hours.) You can then move the frozen cookie dough to a freezer-safe Ziploc bag and store them for up to 3 months.
The great thing about this trick is that you can make single-serve snickerdoodle cookies! When you feel the snickerdoodle craving, simply pop a couple frozen dough balls onto a lined baking sheet and bake at 325F for 12-14 minutes.
More Snickerdoodle Recipes
Can’t get enough of this classic cinnamon-sugar combination? Try out some more snickerdoodle-themed recipes, then!
- Stuffed Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Cobbler
- Snickerdoodle Krispie Treats
- Soft Snickerdoodle Muffins
- Snickerdoodle Apple Bread
Perfect Snickerdoodles
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 20 1x
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This is the BEST most PERFECT snickerdoodle cookie recipe ever! These cookies are super soft and buttery, and loaded with cinnamon and sugar. Plus, it’s not necessary to chill the dough, so they can be made really quickly!
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 egg, plus 1 yolk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 3/4 cup flour
For the Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with a parchment paper and set aside.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix the butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add in the egg, the yolk, vanilla, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and cinnamon and mix for 1 minute, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Turn mixer to low and add in flour, mixing until just combined.
- In a separate small bowl make your Cinnamon Sugar by mixing together cinnamon and sugar, stirring until evenly combined.
- Using a medium (2- tablespoon) cookie scoop portion out the dough and roll into a ball. Then roll each cookie dough ball into the cinnamon sugar mixture until coated.
- Place on prepared baking sheet about 2- inches apart. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes, turning cookie sheet halfway through baking.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3-4 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- I bake my Snickerdoodles for exactly 11 minutes every time I make this recipe with perfect results, but I know ovens vary, so bake only until the edges are slightly golden. The tops may seem slightly undercooked, but they will firm up perfectly when they cool. If you prefer a crisper cookie, bake for 2 additional minutes.
- To store. Keep leftover snickerdoodles in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- To freeze. Keep your cookies in an airtight container or tightly-sealed plastic bag. Freeze them for up to 3 months – remember to let your cookies thaw in the fridge when you’re ready to enjoy them again!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 207
- Sugar: 13.7 g
- Sodium: 131.1 mg
- Fat: 9.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 27.3 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Cholesterol: 43 mg
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We love these cookies so much. They are simple, we always have the ingredients on hand, and everyone tells me how good they are every time I make them. I follow the recipe exactly and the only thing I do differently is just give the dough a tiny pat when I put them on the baking sheet so they aren’t totally round balls when I put them in the oven. They come out perfect shape, size, and texture. So good!
I just made these and the dough seemed really soft and sticky but since it said it didn’t need to be chilled, I didn’t and my cookies spread out super flat and were not cooked after 20 minutes in the oven. I triple checked the recipe to make sure I didn’t miss anything and I definitely made it according to the directions. I really think the dough should be chilled.
It sounds more like a problem with your oven temp, or perhaps your butter. If your oven runs cool that would explain the long baking time, which also allowed the butter to melt too much b4 being absorbed, which made them super flat. Some butter contains more water also, which could cause more spreading, but this def sounds like an oven temp problem.
My husband made this recipe and they spread to 1 gigantic sheet cookie. Think dough needs to chill in fridge 1st.
I made the cookies and they were delicious, but they did not spread out. I don’t know what I did wrong.
The cookies were very good, the best flavor snickerdoodle I ever had, but mine did not spread out like I expected. I don’t know what I did wrong.
I have never made snickerdoodles before and thought I’d give this recipe a try. They turned out fantastic! Really soft and chewy. Not flat or melted at all. I followed the recipe to a T, but if I can change one thing it would be the ratio of sugar and cinnamon to roll them in. Next time I am going use 1/4 cup sugar and 2T cinnamon. I felt like mine were rolled in too much sugar. I like a more cinnamon flavor on the outside. Otherwise, these are excellent!
Just made them. They are perfect! I cooked them 14 minutes, used my medium cookie scoop. Made 28 cookies.
Great recipe. My husband has been wishing for chewy snickerdoodles for ages. These were perfect. He loves them and so do I! Thank you!
So glad you both enjoyed!
I’ve been making this recipe for several years and in fact I’m baking a batch right now. This is a keeper. Happy Thanksgiving and cheers to a fantastic cookie recipe.
Great recipe, turned out beautifully, but when I went to print it out, it printed out Way more than the recipe copy. (Like a huge marker for the video) A lot of recipes do that, but it’s really irritating. this one printed out three pages. So I had to input copy from scratch, which is a big time suck. I do thank you for the recipe; you are talented.!
Thanks for your feedback. I will look into getting that fixed, it shouldn’t be happening!