Description
This soft and chewy snickerdoodle recipe is a nostalgic cinnamon-sugar cookie favorite perfected over 30 years. Made with cream of tartar for its signature tang, this easy snickerdoodle cookie recipe delivers bakery-style results without any chill time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar + 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon for coating
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper for even baking
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar for 4 to 5 minutes until light and fluffy
- Add eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract until fully incorporated
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt until well blended
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined for best snickerdoodle texture
- Form dough into 1-inch balls and roll each one twice in the cinnamon-sugar coating
- Place coated dough balls on baking sheets about 2 inches apart
- Bake for 9–10 minutes until the edges are just golden but centers are still soft
- Let cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack
- Enjoy this classic snickerdoodle recipe warm or store in an airtight container for up to 5 days
Notes
- For a deeper flavor, try browning the butter before creaming it into the sugar
- Add cinnamon baking chips for extra spice in every bite
- If you’re out of cream of tartar, substitute with 2 tsp lemon juice or vinegar and reduce baking soda accordingly
- Store baked snickerdoodles in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days
- You can freeze unbaked cookie dough balls for up to 3 months—just thaw and bake as directed
- Make sure not to overbake to maintain that signature soft and chewy texture
- Rolling the dough balls twice in cinnamon sugar gives the cookie its classic crust and spice balance
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Holiday Baking, Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: snickerdoodle recipe, best snickerdoodle cookies, chewy snickerdoodle cookie recipe, soft cinnamon sugar cookies, holiday cookie recipe, homemade snickerdoodle, classic cookie recipe