How to Make Snickerdoodle Cookies

Have you ever wondered how to make snickerdoodle cookies that are soft, chewy, and cinnamon-sweet? Well, you need this easy snickerdoodle recipe in your life!

Snickerdoodle Cookies

Snickerdoodle cookies are definitely one of America’s most popular and most baked Christmas cookies. I mean, it’s easy to see why though. These cookies are soft, buttery, chewy, and loaded with cinnamon-sugar flavor.

Snickerdoodles are basically sugar cookies but with two big differences. First, there’s the addition of cream of tartar. This ingredient is a hidden gem in the kitchen and gives the cookies their signature soft (and totally addictive) texture. The second thing is that you roll snickerdoodles in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar, which obviously take them to the next level.

Fortunately, this snickerdoodle recipe is super easy to make and follow. All you have to do is mix the ingredients together using a stand mixer, roll the dough in cinnamon sugar, and bake for about 10 minutes. Yep, your batch of the best snickerdoodle cookies ever will be ready to dive into in no time at all!

Alright, let’s learn how to make snickerdoodle cookies!

Recipe ingredients for snickerdoodle cookies.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs, at room temperature
  • All-purpose flour
  • Cream of tartar
  • Baking soda
  • Salt

Topping

  • Granulated sugar
  • Ground cinnamon

How to Make Snickerdoodle Cookies

Cream butter and sugar using stand mixer.

Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking pad.

Cream butter with sugar for about 2 to 3 minutes, at medium speed using a stand mixer, until it’s light and fluffy.

Add eggs and mix well.

Add eggs one at a time and beat until well incorporated.

Slowly add rest of dry ingredients to cookie dough.

Add and mix dry ingredients in a few batches to avoid a flour storm. Stir with a spatula to make sure you get everything at the bottom of the bowl.

Use cookie scoop to shape dough into balls.

Use a medium cookie scoop (the size of two tablespoons) and scoop out the dough into balls. Roll with your hands until round and smooth.

Roll each ball in the cinnamon and sugar mixture.

In a small bowl, combine the sugar with cinnamon. Roll each cookie dough ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture until completely covered.

Dough balls on cookie sheet.

Then place on a cookie sheet at least 2 inches apart.

Baked snickerdoodle cookies.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The edge of the cookies should be a little crispy.

Snickerdoodle Cookies on wire rack

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Because they’re the softest cookies you’ve ever met, they need time to cool otherwise they might fall apart when warm.

Snickerdoodle cookies.

Then it’s time to enjoy a perfect snickerdoodle cookie (or two or three).

Storage

  • Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • You can also freeze the cookie dough for up to 3 months. You can either freeze the dough altogether before you dip it in the cinnamon-sugar topping. Alternatively, dip the cookies and then individually wrap them before placing them in the freezer, so you can enjoy one snickerdoodle cookie whenever you crave one!
  • Another option is to freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months.

Recipe Notes

  • Don’t skip the cream of tartar! It gives the snickerdoodles their signature tangy flavor and chewy texture. But if you REALLY don’t want to use it and don’t mind not technically having a classic snickerdoodle cookie and more of a sugar cookie, you can substitute the cream of tartar and baking soda for two teaspoons of baking powder instead.
  • If you need more cinnamon in your life, we won’t tell anyone if you add a teaspoon or two of ground cinnamon to your cookie dough.
  • There’s no need to chill the cookie dough. Another reason to love this easy snickerdoodle cookie recipe.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make my snickerdoodle cookies in advance?

Yes, you can definitely make this snickerdoodle recipe ahead of time. First, they’ll last at room temperature for up to 5 days. But you can also prepare the dough and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Let it come to room temperature before rolling the dough balls in the cinnamon sugar and baking.

Here are more delicious cookies recipe to bake soon:

Thumbprint Cookies with Jam or Preserves

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Lemon Blossom Cookies

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Italian Sugar Cookies

Recipe for Snowball Cookies

Batch of snickerdoodle cookies

Snickerdoodle Cookies

Learn how to make snickerdoodle cookies with this easy recipe, which results in soft, chewy, and cinnamon-sweet snickerdoodle cookies.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookies
Servings: 24

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter or 2 sticks, at room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt

Topping

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking pad.
  • Cream butter with sugar for about 2 to 3 minutes at medium speed, using a stand mixer, until it's light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat until well incorporated.
    1 cup unsalted butter, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 2 large eggs
  • Add and mix dry ingredients in a few batches to avoid a flour storm. Stir with a spatula to make sure you get everything at the bottom of the bowl.
    2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp cream of tartar, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt
  • Use a medium cookie scoop (size of 2 tablespoons) and scoop out the dough into balls. Roll with your hands until round and smooth. In a small bowl, combine the sugar with cinnamon. Roll each cookie dough ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture until completely covered, then place on a cookie sheet at least 2 inches apart.
    ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • Bake for 10 to 12 minutes and allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

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126 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I have made the “classic” version for years and they are delicious. Last week, I made these cookies and decided to try something new: I rolled the dough balls in sugar and pumpkin pie spice, instead of cinnamon, and the pumpkin spice lovers in the family simply loved them!

  2. I have also made these using pumpkin pie spice instead of rolling them in cinnamon and the pumpkin spice lovers in the family went crazy for the “new” version.

  3. Snickerdoodles are very sentimental for me. They are my dad’s favorite cookie. They are the first cookies I ever made when I was in early high school. I was a freshman in high school in Foods and Nutrition class and this was one of the first recipes we worked on. I took my little hand written recipe card home and totally wrecked the kitchen LOL but made the most perfect little Snickerdoodle cookies. My dad was so happy and ate almost all of them. I was proud, he was happy, and Mama was even happier because she didn’t like to bake! I made Snickerdoodles almost weekly throughout all of high school! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

  4. Wonderful recipe, thanks. I used to make these often but haven’t in years. This made me want that wonderful cinnamon smell in my kitchen

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