The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe - Cookies for Days (2024)

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I have been on the hunt for the best snickerdoodle recipe. I kept coming up empty, so I decided to create it. Hello, favorite snickerdoodles!

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The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe - Cookies for Days (1)

Why this is the Best Snickerdoodle Recipe

When it comes to snickerdoodle cookies, I am *extremely* picky. To me, the best snickerdoodle cookie is one that is soft and ultra chewy. The base of the cookie should be able to stand on its own, but is absolutely amplified by the deliciously cinnamony-sugar coating on the outside. They should have a nice golden crisp on the exterior and a little bit of spread to keep them from being too poofy.

If this is also your definition of the best snickerdoodle recipe, then consider it your lucky day because that is the exact cookie this recipe will give you. This may sound presumptuous, but you’re going to want to go ahead and just double this recipe (they freeze great!)

What is a Snickerdoodle?

A Snickerdoodle is a classic American cookie characterized by its soft, chewy interior, a tangy undertone, and a slightly crisp exterior coated in cinnamon sugar.

The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe - Cookies for Days (2)

Best Snickerdoodle ingredients

Cookie Base

  • Salted butter softened – I always, always use salted butter. If you don’t have any on hand, you can use unsalted and add an extra pinch of salt to the dough.
  • Margarine softened – For the margarine, you want to buy the cheap, store brand sticks of margarine. No spreadable tub, no imperial or blue bonnet! If you can’t find any other margarine, you can just sub butter and use all butter. The cookies won’t spread quite as much but they will still be tasty. For more info on why I’m specific about my margarine, check out my post on Butter vs. Margarine!
  • Granulated sugar – The base of this cookie is a sugar cookie base, so we don’t need brown sugar here.
  • Egg
  • Light corn syrup – This is what makes these cookies ultra chewy.
  • vanilla extract
  • All purpose flour
  • baking soda – The soda helps promote spreading and browning on the edges.
  • salt

Cinnamon- Sugar Mixture

  • Granulated sugar
  • Cinnamon
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How to make the Best Snickerdoodles

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer, cream together the butter, margarine and granulated sugar until light in color and fluffy in texture (approximately 2 minutes).
  3. Scrape the sides and add the egg, corn syrup and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
  4. Add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms.
  5. Portion out the dough into desired size. For small cookies, use 1 1/2 tbsp of dough or a #40 scoop. For larger cookies, use 3 tbsp of dough or a #24 scoop.
  6. In a small bowl, combine the ingredients in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
  7. Roll each cookie dough ball into the cinnamon and sugar mixture and arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
  8. Bake at 350° F for 9-11 minutes or until the cookies have spread and the centers no longer look glossy. Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 5-10 minutes.
The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe - Cookies for Days (4)

Best Snickerdoodle Recipe variations

One of my favorite things to add is toffee. If this sounds like something you need to try, check out my toffee doodle recipeand thank me later!

How to store the Best Snickerdoodle

Once cooled, store your cookies in an airtight container on the counter for 3-5 days! These cookies also freeze really well and can be stored in a resealable freezer bag for up to 3 months!

The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe FAQs

Sugar Cookie vs Snickerdoodle

For a long time I wondered if there was even a difference between sugar cookies and snickerdoodles and if I could just roll sugar cookie dough in cinnamon sugar. While you definitely can do that, you will be missing out on some of the textbook yumminess of a classic snickerdoodle. Snickerdoodles contain an ingredient called Cream of Tartar that give your cookie a subtle tang. Additionally, they usually have a nice crisp edge without sacrificing the soft interior. If you opt for a sugar cookie dough, you’ll miss the tang and the exterior texture – which is a huge shame in my book.

What is the purpose of rolling the dough in cinnamon sugar?

The delicious cinnamon-sugar coating is the textbook feature of a delicious snickerdoodle. You can use this base recipe for a yummy sugar cookie if you’d like though!

Why don’t my snickerdoodles crack?

Cracks on the surface of snickerdoodles are a signature look. If yours aren’t cracking, your oven may not be hot enough or your ingredients may not be fresh enough!

Are snickerdoodles supposed to be undercooked?

I always recommend slightly underbaking your cookies and then letting them finish baking through cooling on the pan. This will ensure you don’t overbake your cookies and end up with a dry, hard cookie!

Why are my snickerdoodles flat and crispy?

Boo! Crispy snickerdoodles are NOT where it’s at. Double check your oven temperature is correct – an oven that isn’t hot enough can cause the butter to melt from the dough too quickly and over-spread.

Then, ensure you are not overbaking your cookie. You want to remove snickerdoodles before the edges start to turn golden to ensure they stay nice and chewy.

Finally, check the expiration dates on your ingredients! You’ll be amazed by how using fresh ingredients can help your cookies rise & puff up just like they’re intended to.

The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe - Cookies for Days (5)

More Amazing Recipes like this Best Snickerdoodle Recipe!

  • Butterscotch Cookies
  • Salted Caramel Cookies
  • Almond Joy Cookies

The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe - Cookies for Days (6)

The Best Snickerdoodle Recipe

I have been on the hunt for the best snickerdoodle recipe. I kept coming up empty, so I decided to create it. Hello, favorite snickerdoodles!

3 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Servings: 32 small cookies

Calories: 78kcal

Ingredients

Cookie Base

  • 1/2 cup salted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup margarine*, softened Buy the cheap, store brand sticks of margarine. No spreadable tub, no imperial or blue bonnet! If you can’t find any other margarine, you can just sub butter and use all butter. The cookies won’t spread quite as much but they will still be tasty.
  • 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp light corn syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp (heaping) cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

  • Cream together the butter, margarine and granulated sugar until light in color and fluffy in texture.

  • Scrape the sides and add the egg, corn syrup and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.

  • Add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms.

  • Portion out the dough into desired size. For small cookies, use 1 1/2 tbsp of dough or a #40 scoop. For larger cookies, use 3 tbsp of dough or a #24 scoop.

  • In a small bowl, combine the ingredients in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

  • Roll each cookie dough ball into the cinnamon and sugar mixture and arrange on the prepared baking sheet.

  • Bake at 350° F for 10 – 13 minutes or until the cookies have spread and the centers no longer look glossy. Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 5-10 minutes.

Find Cookies for Days on Instagram!Follow @cookiesfordaaays for new recipes daily!

Nutrition

Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

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The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe - Cookies for Days (2024)

FAQs

Can I refrigerate snickerdoodle cookie dough overnight? ›

Yes! Prepare the snickerdoodle cookie dough, scoop it, roll it in sugar, and refrigerate it overnight. Cookie dough that's been in the fridge for longer than 2 hours should sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before baking, to take the chill off.

Why don't my snickerdoodles crack? ›

If yours aren't cracking, your oven may not be hot enough or your ingredients may not be fresh enough! Are snickerdoodles supposed to be undercooked? I always recommend slightly underbaking your cookies and then letting them finish baking through cooling on the pan.

Why do my snickerdoodle cookies get hard? ›

Snickerdoodles might turn out hard if they are overbaked or if the dough is too dry. Be sure to keep an eye on them as they bake – when the edges are set but the centers are still soft and puffy, they are done. Also, make sure you're not adding too much flour.

Why did my snickerdoodle cookies not flatten? ›

Too Much Flour

This may seem counterintuitive—after all, isn't flour a key ingredient in baking? Yes, but if you add too much flour, your cookies won't spread as they bake. Too much flour causes the dough to become dry and crumbly, which prevents it from flattening out during baking.

What can you substitute for cream of tartar in snickerdoodles? ›

You can either replace cream of tartar with baking powder at a 1:1.5 ratio (1 teaspoon cream of tartar : 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder), or you can replace cream of tartar with the combination of baking soda and either lemon juice or vinegar (as with this recipe).

Can I bake cookies straight from the fridge? ›

The cookie baked from room temperature, being thinner, has a more uniform texture, while the one baked straight from the fridge. is thick enough to accommodate a softer interior. and crispier exterior. No contest. Generally speaking, you should chill your cookie dough before baking it.

How to tell when snickerdoodles are done? ›

How do you know when the cookies are baked? The snickerdoodle cookies will only take about 10 to 12 minutes to bake, so be sure to keep your eye on them! It's best to rotate the cookies after about 6 minutes so that the cook evenly. The cookies are done when the edges are just set and the centres are soft and cracked.

Why are my snickerdoodles spreading so much? ›

Too-warm butter will melt and spread in the oven before your cookies set. So, if your recipe calls for room-temperature butter, it needs to be exactly that: room temperature. “It should not be melty or warm to the touch,” says Dawn. “Room-temperature butter is pliable but cool to the touch.

How do you thicken snickerdoodle cookie dough? ›

Soft – Dough that's “soft” or “runny” can be thickened by adding one or two tablespoons of flour to your mix. This will help keep your batch from “Spreading” and coming out of the oven looking like flat, not-so-cookie-like puddles.

Why is my snickerdoodle sour? ›

If your snickerdoodles are too sour, you may have added too much cream of tartar. It does give the cookies a subtle sour-tangy flavor, but it should not be over-powering and should balance nicely with the cinnamon and sugar.

Why are they called snickerdoodles? ›

The Joy of Cooking claims that “snickerdoodle” comes from “Schneckennudel,” a German word that literally means “snail noodles.” Schneckennudels don't have anything to do with snails or noodles, though—they're actually delicious-looking German cinnamon rolls.

Why are my snickerdoodles runny? ›

Why is My Dough Runny? Kind of like how crumbly dough is usually because there's too much of the dry ingredients, runny cookie dough comes from having too much of the liquid ingredients.

What does cream of tartar do in cookies? ›

What Does Cream of Tartar Do in Cookies? Cream of tartar makes cookies chewy, as it precludes the sugar in the dough from crystalizing, which would lead to crispiness (ie: the opposite of chewiness).

What does adding cream of tartar do to cookies? ›

What Does Cream of Tartar Do in Cookies? Cream of tartar makes cookies chewy, as it precludes the sugar in the dough from crystalizing, which would lead to crispiness (ie: the opposite of chewiness).

Does cream of tartar help cookies rise? ›

When combined with baking soda, it becomes a leavening agent (the stuff that makes baked goods puff up in the oven) by producing carbon dioxide gas. If you ever run out of baking powder, you can substitute 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar for 1 teaspoon baking powder.

What happens if you add too much cream of tartar? ›

“Too much cream of tartar will impart a metallic, tin-like taste,” Molly warns.

What happens if you leave out cream of tartar in cookies? ›

Cream of tartar prevents the sugar in cookies from crystallizing which would create a crunchier cookie. Cream of tartar is also used with baking soda to become a leavening agent, which makes baked goods puff up while in the oven due to the production of carbon dioxide gas.

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