Easy Snickerdoodle Recipe

Easy Snickerdoodle Recipe

Get ready to bake our favorite Easy Snickerdoodle Recipe, a classic favorite. Soft, chewy centers with a touch of tang, rolled in cinnamon-sugar goodness. Just mix simple ingredients like butter, sugar, and eggs, roll into balls, and bake to perfection.

Always irresistible, whether it’s a special occasion or a cozy evening at home.

Homemade cookies hold a special place in our hearts, representing the care and love that goes into baking. Our mom is a master cookie baker, and we’ve shared some of her recipes here before: Monster Cookies,  Mom’s Choc-Oat-Chip Cookies, and Peanut Butter Blossoms.

Key Ingredients in our Easy Snickerdoodle Recipe

Each of these ingredients plays a crucial role in creating the distinct flavor, texture, and appearance of snickerdoodles. The combination of simple components is what makes these cookies a beloved classic.

• Butter: Butter provides richness, flavor, and moisture to the snickerdoodle dough. It helps create the soft and chewy texture that snickerdoodles are known for.
• Granulated Sugar: Sugar not only sweetens the cookies but also contributes to their texture. In combination with the cream of tartar, sugar helps create a slightly crispy exterior while keeping the inside soft.
• Eggs: Eggs add moisture and act as a binding agent. They also contribute to the structure and texture of the cookies.
• All-Purpose Flour: Flour is the main dry ingredient that forms the structure of the cookies. It’s important not to overmix the dough once flour is added to avoid creating tough cookies.
• Cream of Tartar: Cream of tartar is an acid that reacts with baking soda, producing carbon dioxide gas. This reaction gives snickerdoodles their characteristic tangy flavor and helps the cookies rise and become light.
• Baking Soda: Baking soda, when combined with cream of tartar, acts as a leavening agent. It helps the cookies rise and creates a soft and chewy texture.
• Salt: Salt enhances the flavor of the cookies, balancing the sweetness and adding depth to the overall taste.
• Cinnamon-Sugar Coating: This mixture of ground cinnamon and granulated sugar is rolled onto the cookie dough before baking. It provides the signature flavor and appearance of snickerdoodles, with the cinnamon adding warmth and the sugar creating a slightly crispy exterior.

Cream of Tartar and Snickerdoodle Cookies

Can I substitute Cream of Tartar?

Cream of tartar contributes to the unique flavor and texture of snickerdoodles. If you don’t have it, a last-resort substitute is to use baking powder, but keep in mind that this will alter the taste and texture.

The Important Role of Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar plays a crucial role in snickerdoodles for two main reasons:

1. Leavening Agent: Cream of tartar, when combined with baking soda, acts as a leavening agent. When exposed to heat, it releases carbon dioxide gas, which causes the dough to rise and expand. This creates the characteristic puffy and soft texture that snickerdoodles are known for.
2. Distinctive Flavor: Cream of tartar significantly contributes to the unique taste of snickerdoodles. The slightly tangy flavor it imparts balances out the sweetness of the cookie and the cinnamon-sugar coating, creating a well-rounded and enjoyable flavor profile.

Incorporating cream of tartar into the snickerdoodle recipe ensures that the cookies rise properly and develop their iconic taste. While some recipes might suggest alternatives like baking powder, using cream of tartar provides the authentic snickerdoodle experience that many people cherish.

Troubleshooting

Let’s take the mystery out of making truly epic Snickerdoodle Cookies by troubleshooting some of the most common problem home bakers come across in the making of this recipe.

1. Cookies Spreading Too Much:

• Cause: Dough temperature is too warm or butter is too soft.
• Solution: Chill the dough in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before baking. Ensure your baking sheet is cool before placing the dough on it.

2. Cookies Too Thick or Dry:

• Cause: Too much flour or overmixing the dough.
• Solution: Carefully measure the flour using the spoon-and-level method. Mix the dough until just combined to avoiding overmixing.

3. Cookies Too Thin or Crispy:

• Cause: Overbaking.
• Solution: Reduce the baking time by a minute or two and monitor closely towards the end of baking. The edges should be slightly golden but the centers should still be slightly soft.

4. Cookies Lacking Flavor or Tanginess:

• Cause: Insufficient cream of tartar.
• Solution: Make sure you’re using the recommended amount of cream of tartar in the recipe. This is key to the cookies’ tangy flavor.

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5. Cinnamon-Sugar Coating Falling Off or Dissolving:

• Cause: The cookie dough is too wet.
• Solution: Mix in additional flour 1 tablespoon at a time until the issue resolves.

6. Cookies are Too Chewy or Tough:

• Cause: Overmixing the dough or overbaking.
• Solution: Mix the dough until just combined. Avoid overworking the dough. Also, ensure you’re baking for the recommended time and watching for the desired level of doneness.

7. Cookies Have Uneven Texture or Appearance:

• Cause: Inconsistent dough ball sizes.
• Solution: Use a cookie scoop or your hands to ensure consistent dough ball sizes. This will help the cookies bake evenly.

8. Cookies are Pale and Undercooked:

• Cause: Myth – because they’re supposed to be pale and may appear undercooked!
• Solution: Bake test cookies, one cookie at a time to gauge true done-ness. Snickerdoodles aren’t meant to be golden brown. And they might actually be perfectly baked all the way through even if they appear too light or underbaked. Bake one cookie and let it cool completely before checking for doneness. If truly underbaked, add 1-2 minutes on to the baking time.

9. Cookies Have a Bitter Aftertaste:

• Cause: Excessive baking soda or baking powder (usually as a result of trying to replace cream of tartar).
• Solution: Double-check your measurements and ensure you’re using the correct amount of baking soda and cream of tartar as specified in the recipe.

Easy Snickerdoodle Recipe Variations

These creative snickerdoodle twists bring a delicious twist to the classic – they might just outshine the original!

If you try one of these variations (or even just the original recipe) we’d love to see! Tag us on instagram @keats_eats so that we can share it to our stories.

• Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodles: Fold in a cup of chocolate chips into the snickerdoodle dough before shaping and rolling. The combination of cinnamon and chocolate is divine.
• Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles: Add a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to the dough for a fall-inspired twist. You can also swap some of the butter with canned pumpkin for extra moisture and flavor. Another option that won’t drastically alter the texture is to add a package of pumpkin-flavored instant pudding mix to the dough (no adjustments to measurements needed– just add the mix).
• Nutty Snickerdoodles: Mix in chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds to the dough before baking. The crunch and richness of the nuts complement the cinnamon-sugar coating.
• Maple Cinnamon Snickerdoodles: Replace some of the granulated sugar with maple syrup in the dough for a delightful maple-cinnamon flavor combination.
• Coffee Infused Snickerdoodles: Dissolve a teaspoon of instant coffee granules in a teaspoon of warm water and add it to the dough. This adds a subtle coffee undertone that pairs well with cinnamon.
• Caramel Drizzle Snickerdoodles: After baking, drizzle melted caramel sauce over the cooled cookies for an indulgent caramel-cinnamon treat.
• Gingerbread Snickerdoodles: Substitute half of the sugar in the recipe with brown sugar. Also: incorporate ground ginger, cloves, and nutmeg into the dough for a snickerdoodle with a gingerbread-inspired flavor profile.
• Chocolate Swirl Snickerdoodles: Divide the dough in half, mix cocoa powder into one half, and then swirl the chocolate dough with the classic dough before shaping and rolling. You could also opt to replace the cinnamon with cocoa powder in the sugar coating used for rolling the dough.

How to Make our Easy Snickerdoodle Recipe

Continue to Content

Easy Snickerdoodle Recipe

Yield: 24

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 9 minutes

Total Time: 9 minutes

An easy Snickerdoodle Recipe that offers a twist on a classic favorite with simple steps.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar + 1 tablespoon cinnamon for rolling

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Beat together the butter and sugars until smooth and creamy. Add the egg and eg yolk one at a time, mixing in between additions.

Mix in the vanilla and ground cinnamon.

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Add mixture to the mixing bowl with butter and sugar.

Mix until dough forms (it may be crumbly at first, but be patient, the dough will form!).

Scoop out two tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball, then roll in the cinnamon sugar.

Place dough on ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Press each cookie dough ball down slightly with the bottom of a glass.

Bake for 9 minutes. Let cool on cookie sheet.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 170Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 105mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 2g

Looking to indulge in some baking magic? Our Easy Snickerdoodle Recipe is your go-to for whipping up these classic treats with a delightful twist. With simple steps that cater to beginners and busy bakers alike, these homemade cookie variations promise a memorable culinary experience. Whether you’re a novice in the kitchen or a seasoned pro, our recipe will guide you through crafting these irresistible snickerdoodles with ease.

Baking these cinnamon sugar cookies is a delightful adventure that showcases the magic of traditional flavors in a contemporary light. Our easy-to-follow steps and time-saving baking tips ensure that even beginners can master the art of creating these popular cookie favorites. From basic cookie ingredients to quick and easy dessert ideas, our recipe empowers you to experiment with different snickerdoodle variations, turning them into a canvas for your creativity.

Dive into the world of cookie twists and variations, exploring the spectrum from classic to innovative as you bake your way to scrumptious perfection. With our beginner-friendly baking techniques, you’ll be crafting these delectable snickerdoodles in no time, savoring every moment as you infuse your kitchen with the warmth of cinnamon-spiced bliss.

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