• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Also The Crumbs Please

  • Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Substitutions
  • About
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Substitutions
  • About
  • Subscribe
×

Home » Cookies

How to make Snickerdoodles

Last updated on December 1, 2021 Author: Sabine / Also the Crumbs Please is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you

Jump to Recipe
Stack of cookies on a wooden board with two bitten cookies on top

Learn how to make snickerdoodles from scratch. It's a simple and straightforward recipe that requires just a few ingredients and little prep time. They are heavenly soft and literally melt in your mouth. It's a great recipe to feed a crowd and they disappear within minutes just like my chocolate cookies!

Stack of cookies on a wooden board with two bitten cookies on top

My step-by-step photo and video instructions help you having success with this snickerdoodles recipe every time. It's also suitable for the beginner baker. If you want to master cookie baking, read my how to make cookies guide first to learn about possible challenges in cookie baking and overcome them.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients notes and substitutions
  • Photo tutorial
  • FAQ's
  • Make ahead and freezing instructions
  • More cookie recipes
  • Recipe

Ingredients notes and substitutions

  • Butter and egg - if you want to make vegan snickerdoodles, follow my vegan cookies recipe for vegan butter and egg substitutions.
  • All-purpose flour - you can use your favorite gluten-free flour instead.

Note: Other than the name may suggest, snickerdoodles don't contain peanuts.

Photo tutorial

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt and set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and creamy.

Creamed butter and sugar in a mixing bowl

Then, add the egg and vanilla and mix until well combined.

Egg and vanilla mixed into the creamed butter sugar mixture

Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed just until combined.

Mixed cookie dough in a mixing bowl

Cover and chill in the fridge.

In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Then scoop 12 equal-sized balls of cookie dough...

Scooping cookie dough out of a mixing bowl

and roll them into even balls with your hands.

Rolled ball of cookie dough held in a hand

Roll in the sugar coating mixture to cover them entirely. Then bake.

Rolling a ball of cookie dough in a bowl half full with sugar and cinnamon

FAQ's

Do snickerdoodles need cream of tartar?

Short answer, yes. Cream of tartar is an integral ingredient. It gives the cookies its tangy taste and signature texture. I do not recommend any substitutions on this. If you replaced it with baking powder, you would end up with a puffy, more cake-like sugar cookie. Using only baking soda transforms them into chewy chocolate chip kind of cookies.

Why are my snickerdoodles puffy?

Snickerdoodles are flat cookies and shouldn't be puffy at all unless the recipe is specially designed to create a puffy texture and is clearly stated. This recipe is not supposed to result in puffy snickerdoodles but soft ones with a chewy bite. The most common reasons for a puffy texture are

  • Too much flour - spoon and level the flour correctly how I show it in my chocolate chip cookie post.
  • Inaccurate oven temperature (too hot) - I advise using an oven thermometer for accurate baking results.
  • Tweaked recipe - if you alter the recipe or any ingredients, please keep in mind that the texture and taste will change. Using baking powder instead of cream of tartar, for example, leads to a puffy texture. Also, a different kind of flour, like cake flour, changes the outcome. So stick to the recipe and the ingredients list to get the same results as shown in this post.
A stack of cookies on a wooden board with sugar and cinnamon decoration around it

Why are my snickerdoodles flat?

If you followed the recipe and measured all ingredients correctly but the cookies turned out flatter as shown in the photos, it can be that the chilling time was too short. Give it another hour in the fridge and see if the dough is still sticky. If it's still sticky, add another 1-2 tablespoon (8-17g) flour. It's worth mentioning that all-purpose flour can differ in protein content from brand to brand and country to country and ranges between 10-12 percent.

Higher protein flour absorbs more water than lower protein flour. So, baking with an all-purpose flour with 10 percent protein content will result in a stickier dough than 12 percent protein content. I used all-purpose flour with a protein content of 11 percent. Also, regions with high humidity or a high altitude will increase the amount of flour needed in cookies.

Close up of a stack of snickerdoodles

Make ahead and freezing instructions

  • Prepare the dough in advance and chill for up to 2 days in the fridge. Let it come to room temperature for about 20 minutes until it is a soft and spoonable dough. Then go ahead with the recipe as directed.
  • Prepare and chill the dough as described. Then roll into balls and freeze in freezer bags. Before baking, let them thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours. Then roll in sugar and bake.
  • Wrap baked cookies in plastic wrap and store in freezer bags for up to 3 months. Let thaw at room temperature for 2 hours before serving.

More cookie recipes

Can't get enough cookies? You are in good company! Try some of my favorite recipes. By the way, have you seen my handy list of cookie recipes with chocolate chips?

  • Air Fryer Cookies
  • Brownie Cookies
  • Oatmeal Cookies
  • Pistachio Cookies
  • White Chocolate Cookies
  • Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

Recipe

A stack of cookies on a wooden board with sugar and cinnamon decoration around it

Snickerdoodle Recipe

5 from 3 votes
Author Sabine
Calories: 188kcal
Servings: 12 cookies
Prep 25 minutes minutes
Cook 9 minutes minutes
Chill 2 hours hours
Total 2 hours hours 34 minutes minutes
Print Pin Rate
Learn how to make snickerdoodles from scratch. It's a simple and straightforward recipe that requires just a few ingredients and little prep time. They are heavenly soft and literally melt in your mouth. It's a great recipe to feed a crowd. My step-by-step photo and video instructions help you having success with this recipe every time. It's also suitable for the beginner baker.

Ingredients
 
 

Cookies

  • 1 â…“ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sugar coating

  • 3 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, using an electric mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Then, add the egg and vanilla and mix until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed just until combined, about 30-60 seconds. Cover and chill in the fridge for 2 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Then scoop 12 equal-sized balls (about 2 tablespoons [40g] each) of cookie dough, roll into even balls with your hands, and roll in the sugar coating mixture to cover them entirely.
  • Place the cookies about 3 inches (7.5 cm) apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake one sheet at a time for 8 to 9 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly browned and the centers look puffy, dry, pale, and underbaked. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for about 5-10 minutes (they will continue baking) or until firm enough to move. Then, transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. The cookies will stay fresh and soft in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Video

You can find the video in the post above. If you don't see a video, please check your browser settings.

Nutrition

Calories: 188kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 80mgPotassium: 72mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 259IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword how to make snickerdoodles, snickerdoodles recipe
Did you make this recipe?Leave a feedback and rate this recipe!
« White Chocolate Chip Cookies with Macadamia
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies »
252 shares

About Sabine

Sabine is a professional baker, cookbook author, and award-winning food photographer.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Bitten pretzel burger on a serving board

Hi, Wecome to Also the Crumbs, Please! We are a team of food bloggers, authors and recipe developers. Here on Also The Crumbs Please you will find our collection of recipes, cooking guides and articles.

More about us →


Currently trending

  • Cooked patty on a burger bun with lettuce
    How to Cook Air Fryer Hamburgers (Fresh and Frozen)
  • tiramisu cake decorated with whipped cream and cocoa powder on a cake plate
    Tiramisu Cake Recipe
  • A slice of Black Forest cake on a dessert plate
    Black Forest Cake (Traditional German Recipe)
  • Baked muffins in paper liners on a white serving plate
    How to Make Air Fryer Muffins
  • Stack of oatmeal cookies next to glass of milk
    Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • a dozen filled Linzer cookies in a wooden basket with powdered sugar on top
    Linzer Cookies (Original Austrian Family Recipe)
  • Stack of chocolate cookies on bright background
    Chocolate Cookies made with Cocoa
  • A slice of sacher torte with whipped cream on a dessert plate
    Sacher Torte Recipe

Favorites

  • Raw pizza dough on a pizza peel
    Cold fermented Pizza Dough
  • Fettuccine pasta covered in Alfredo sauce in a large pan
    Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe
  • A prepared cheeseburger on a serving board
    The Best Cheeseburger Recipe
  • Cut raspberry cake slices on a serving plate
    Easy Raspberry Cake Made From Scratch
  • Slices of blueberry bread on a white napkin
    Easy Blueberry Bread (fresh or frozen blueberries)
  • Burger sauce in a small bowl
    The Best Burger Sauce: 6 Ingredient Recipe

Footer


As seen on

collage of logos from brands which featured also the crumbs please

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Copyright © 2023 Also The Crumbs Please

 

Loading Comments...