Best Homemade Snickerdoodle Cookies From Scratch

Name: Best Homemade Snickerdoodle Cookies From Scratch
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 38 min
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter ((softened but not melted)); 1¼ cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs ((at room temperature)); 1½ tsp vanilla extract; 2¾ cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp cornstarch; 2 tsp cream of tartar; 1 tsp baking soda; 1 tsp cinnamon; 2 tbsp granulated sugar; 2 tsp ground cinnamon

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Whip up these luscious Snickerdoodle Cookies from scratch! Infused with a hint of cinnamon, they're ideal for dessert, snacking, or as a classic homemade holiday treat. Plus, they're a breeze to make with everyday ingredients you likely have in your kitchen!

If you are looking for another classic cookie recipe like this. We make these almost as often as we make our Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies or 7-Layer Magic Bars.

Close up of snickerdoodles stacked on top of each other.

A Snickerdoodle is a soft, chewy cookie that is usually made with flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and baking powder. They often have a light coating of cinnamon sugar on the outside. Snickerdoodles are believed to have originated in the United States and have been around since the early 1800s.

Snickerdoodle cookies have become a classic treat worldwide and are enjoyed by people of all ages. If you've never had a homemade Snickerdoodle before, you're in for a real treat! These cookies are soft and tender, with a buttery flavor and a hint of warming cinnamon.

They are made with simple baking ingredients and produce a bakery-style cookie that is soft, chewy, and full of flavor. Serve them as an after-school snack, bring them to a party, or enjoy them through the holiday season!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This easy homemade cookie recipe is made with simple pantry baking ingredients you may already have stocked in your kitchen.
The warm cinnamon flavor adds holiday cheer to these soft and tender snickerdoodles.
These cookies are perfect for gifting, sharing at holiday parties, or enjoying as an after-school snack!
The soft texture and buttery flavor make these the best snickerdoodles!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Unsalted Butter - Softened butter makes up these cookies' oil base, providing their soft texture and buttery flavor.
Granulated Sugar - Sweetens up the base of the cookies.
Eggs - Add a rich texture and help the cookies bind together and set during baking and cooling.
Vanilla Extract - Adds a fragrant note of vanilla flavor throughout the cookies.
All Purpose Flour - Makes up the cookies' dry ingredient base that holds all the ingredients together.
Cornstarch - This ingredient is responsible for giving the cookies their chewy texture.
Cream of Tartar & Baking Soda- This gives the cookies a slightly tangy flavor and helps them rise.
Cinnamon - Gives the base of the cookie dough a light cinnamon flavor.
Coating - A mix of cinnamon and sugar gets mixed together to coat the outside with a sweet cinnamon flavor.

How To Make Homemade Snickerdoodle Cookies From Scratch

Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 350° F and adjust the rack to the middle of the oven. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Assemble the cinnamon sugar coating: Add cinnamon and sugar in a small shallow bowl and whisk until well combined.

Cream the butter and sugar: Add butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl or stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat together until light in color and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined.

Mix the dry ingredients: Whisk together flour, cornstarch, cream of tartar, baking soda and cinnamon until well combined in a large bowl.

Form the cookie dough: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined.

Shape the cookies: Using a cookie scoop or your hands form the cookie dough into 1 tbsp balls. Then, roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture and place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake the cookies: Add the cookie sheets to the oven one sheet at a time for 7-8 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the center is still soft. Cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

Overhead look at snickerdoodle cookies on a cooling rack.

Recipe Tips

Be sure to use softened butter for this recipe. Room-temperature butter will cream together much more easily with sugar and produce a soft cookie dough.
Make sure the eggs are at room temperature as well. This will help them to mix in more evenly with the other ingredients.
Cream of tartar is an acidic ingredient that gives these cookies a slight tang and helps them rise. You can find it in the spice aisle of your grocery store.
Don’t overmix the cookie dough. Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix on low speed until just combined. Overmixing will produce a tough cookie.
Use a cookie scoop to portion out evenly sized-balls of dough. This will help ensure your cookies all bake up evenly!
Bake the cookies one sheet at a time in the oven to prevent over-browning.

Variations

Add a teaspoon of ground ginger or nutmeg to the cinnamon sugar coating for a different flavor.
Instead of all-purpose flour, you could use whole wheat pastry flour for a heartier cookie. This will result in a denser cookie.
Add chocolate chips, raisins, or nuts to the cookie dough for a fun twist.
Make gluten-free soft snickerdoodles by substituting the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.

Snickerdoodles scattered out on a white wood background.

Storing & Freezing

Storing: Baked and cooled cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Freezing: Cookie dough balls can be frozen on a baking sheet for 30 minutes, then transferred to a freezer-safe bag or container, and stored in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to bake, place frozen dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for an extra minute.

FAQ

Why do you need cream of tartar in snickerdoodles?

Cream of tartar is an acidic ingredient that gives these cookies a slight tang and chewy texture and helps them rise.

Should you flatten snickerdoodles before baking?

No, snickerdoodles do not need to be flattened before baking. In fact, it’s best if you don’t because this can result in a flatter, tougher cookie.

Why are my Snickerdoodle cookies so puffy?

You may have used too much flour in the recipe. For best results, use a kitchen scale or scoop the flour into the measuring cup using the spoon and level method so you don’t pack in too much.

Soft cookies stacked on top of each other with one with a bite taken out.

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