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These are seriously the best Snickerdoodle Cookies you’ll ever have!! These have the signature soft and chewy icenters with crisp edges, and rolled in plenty of cinnamon and sugar. This is my go-to cookie recipe, especially at Christmas time.
People obsess over these cookies, and I totally understand why. The perfect cookie is so subjective, but these Snickerdoodles have the signature crisp edges with soft centers. These are sweet and buttery and each bite just melts in your mouth.
While Snickerdoodles are a traditional Christmas cookie, this is one of my go-to recipes anytime I need to bring cookies. They’re so easy to make and I always have the ingredients on hand. Over the years, I’ve perfected the method to get the perfect cookie every time.
This base recipe is also very versatile. With this recipe, I’ve created dozens of variations of this cookie. It also freezes great, so you can always have a batch ready to go when friends arrive.
8 Simple Ingredients
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Pure vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Cream of tartar
- Cinnamon
What can be used as a substitute for cream of tartar?
Cream of tartar is what makes this cookie chewy with the signature tanginess because the cream of tartar prevents the sugar from crystalizing. I’ve read that you can use lemon juice or white vinegar, but I have not tried it myself. It’s just something I always keep on hand because I use this base recipe quite often. If you’d like to learn more about cream of tartar substitutes, my friend Dorothy has some tips!
This is seriously the easiest recipe to throw together.
- Beat the butter and sugar
- Add the eggs, vanilla extract
- Combine and add the remaining dry ingredients
- Scoop the dough onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and roll in cinnamon and sugar
- Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 1 hour.
- Bake & Cool
I make a ton of cookies in my kitchen and over the years, I’ve collected a few of my go-to tips.
Start with colder butter. I know most recipes start with room temperature butter, but I always forget. So I slice it into 1 tablespoon size cubes to help to soften quicker. Then I let my mixer do the work to soften the butter while it’s mixing with the sugar. It takes longer to soften in the mixer, but if the butter is too warm, it makes the cookies spread too much.
Pre-scoop the dough and roll it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture prior to refrigerating the dough.
Use a silicone baking mat. This helps prevent the bottom from burning and the added layer also helps the cookies from spreading. Parchment paper will also work but the bottoms of the cookies will be darker.
Bake one tray at a time: Overloading the oven can cause uneven baking, especially if you have hot spots in the oven.
Why Do You Refrigerate the Dough?
Refrigerating the dough allows time for the butter to solidify again, which prevents the cookies from baking like flat pancakes. You need at least 45-60 minutes of chill time.
You can also refrigerate overnight if needed. If your dough has been in the refrigerator for longer than 2 hours, allow them to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before baking.
The dough will harden in the fridge, so I always recommend pre-scooping the dough prior to baking and rolling it in the cinnamon sugar prior to refrigerating so the dough is nice and soft and the coating will stick.
When they’re hot and fresh, use a round cookie cutter, spatula, spoon or knife and press the edges of the cookies towards the center for the perfect shape. This also makes some of those gorgeous ripples along the edges. You have to do this right when they come out of the oven before the edges have fully set.
To freeze the cookie dough, pre-scoop the dough, roll in cinnamon and sugar and then refrigerate for 30 minutes. Transfer dough to an airtight container and freeze. The dough should be thawed but cold prior to baking. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for 1-2 hours on the counter at room temperature.
To freeze baked cookies, cool them completely then transfer to an airtight container and freeze.
Soft and Chewy Snickerdoodles
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 11 minutes
- Yield: 20 Cookies
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
These are the best Snickerdoodle Cookies you’ll ever have!! These have the signature soft and chewy in the centers with crisp edges, and rolled in plenty of cinnamon and sugar. .
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter
- 2 cups (380g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups (420g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the coating
- ¼ cup (47.5g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon (7.5g) cinnamon
Instructions
- In your stand mixer, combine the butter with the sugar and beat on medium speed until well creamed together.
- Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix into the butter and sugar until the eggs are well beaten.
- In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Slowly add into batter and beat on medium low speed until well combined and dough starts to form.
- In a small bowl, combined cinnamon and sugar and stir to combine. Use a large cookie scoop and scoop cookie dough into the cinnamon sugar and roll to coat the cookie.
- Place the cookies on a silicone lined baking sheet. Refrigerate dough for a minimum of 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Place the cookies about 2 inches apart on your baking sheet. If your cookies have been refrigerated longer than 2 hours, allow them to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before baking.
- Bake at 350° F for 10-12 minutes. Allow cookie to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- To freeze the cookie dough, pre-scoop the dough, roll in cinnamon and sugar and then refrigerate for 30 minutes. Transfer dough to an airtight container and freeze. The dough should be thawed but cold prior to baking. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for 1-2 hours on the counter at room temperature.
- To freeze baked cookies, cool them completely then transfer them to an airtight container and freeze.
- Salt: The original recipe did not contain salt, and I don’t use salt when I make this recipe. Some have commented that they thought this recipe needed salt because it’s very sweet. If you’d like to use salt, I’d say 1/2 teaspoon.
- Butter: My butter is usually colder than room temperature. I recommend slicing it into 1 tablespoon size cubes and beating for a few extra minutes.
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Snickerdoodle Cookie, Christmas Cookie, Soft and Chewy Cookie Recipe
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This recipe was soooo good everyone in my family loved them, the only thing is that these were a little doughy on the inside even after cooking for 5 more minutes. Other than that they were amazing!
★★★★★
Thank you Natalie! I am so glad these were a hit. Some people have said they preferred them with more of 20 minute bake time, but it’s a personal preference for sure.
These are the best cookies ever! Definitely recommend if you are trying a new recipe or experimenting! ( I was ) Enjoy! 🍪🥰🤗
★★★★★
Mariana, thank you so much!! I am super happy you found my recipe.
Delicious! I made half the recipe and got 19 regular sized cookies 🙂
★★★★★
Thank you Kelsi! I am so glad you enjoyed these!
Loved these cookies my family enjoyed them so much they asked for them again. One thing I did change was the amount of sugar. I only added 1 cup of sugar and they were perfect. I don’t like overly sweet things so I loved them. Thanks for this recipe. 😊
★★★★★
Thank you so much Linda- I am surprised to hear these still worked with half the sugar but I am so glad to hear this!
These cookies have become my fiancé’s new favorite treat. Simple easy recipe, I used salted butter and let bake for about 15-17 minutes. They were still nice and chewy with crispy edges. Will become the new sweet treat stable in my home.
★★★★★
Chloe this is amazing! Thank you so so much for sharing!
They were really good! I recommend adding the flour little bits at a time if your hand mixing
★★★★★
Thank you so much Grace!
I made these and they taste not done all the way. I put them back in the oven and they still taste like that. What could I have done wrong?
In my oven 11 to 12 minutes is just perfect. Some people have reported that they bake them up to 20 minutes because they prefer a cookie that’s more done in the middle. Your cookie should not be glossy on top but they will be a little under done in the center. I recommend you let them cool completely before you taste them because right out of the oven they’re still gonna be a little Doughy. Let them cool on your cookie sheet. Also if you’re baking them when they’re super cold they’re going to take a little bit longer to bake so if you’ve had them in the refrigerator for longer than an hour you might need to add a couple minutes to the baking time. Maybe around 15. But if you prefer really well done cookie I would let them go a little longer.
Love these snickerdoodles! They turn out perfect every time.
★★★★★
Thank you so much Amber for sharing!