Best Soft Snickerdoodle Cookie with Cinnamon Sugar Twist

Why Snickerdoodles Are a Year-Round Favorite

These cookies are a holiday staple for sure, especially around Christmas, but honestly, they are just as perfect any time of the year. Whether you're enjoying them with your morning coffee or afternoon tea, taking them to a bake sale, or sharing with a neighbor, snickerdoodles always hit the spot.

A Cookie Person’s Best Friend

I’m definitely a cookie person. One thing I love is making a big batch and freezing some for later. There was a time when my freezer was packed with different kinds of cookies, and it felt like a little treasure trove. Knowing I had fresh-baked cookies waiting made my belly happy on so many lazy days.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• All-purpose flour
  This gives the cookies structure and that soft, tender bite. You could use bread flour, but it has more protein, which can make your cookies tougher and chewier, not what we’re going for here.

• Cream of tartar
  This isn’t just tradition. It’s science. Cream of tartar helps activate the baking soda and gives snickerdoodles their signature tang and soft texture. Without it, they’re just cinnamon cookies.

• Baking soda
  Baking soda works with the cream of tartar to help these cookies puff slightly and spread just the right amount. Baking powder already has acid in it and would throw off the balance.

• Cinnamon
  Not all cinnamon is created equal. I’ve been using Korintje cinnamon from Frontier Co-op, and it’s so aromatic, warm, sweet, and smooth without being sharp. Saigon cinnamon is bolder and spicy, and Ceylon is softer and more floral. Use what you like, but a good cinnamon really makes a difference here.

• Butter
  Always butter, never margarine. Butter gives these cookies that rich flavor and soft bite. Want to bump it up even more? Try using a European-style butter. It has a higher fat content, which means more flavor.

• Granulated sugar & brown sugar
  White sugar gives crisp edges, and brown sugar adds moisture and just a little chew. The molasses in brown sugar also gives a deeper flavor that plays really well with cinnamon.

• Egg & vanilla extract
  The egg brings it all together, literally. And for the vanilla, go for the real stuff. Imitation vanilla just doesn’t have the depth or warmth that pure extract gives. A little goes a long way.

• Nutmeg (in the sugar coating)
  Just a pinch warms everything up. It doesn’t overpower, but it brings out the cinnamon and gives these cookies a little something that folks can’t quite put their finger on, in a good way.

Tools You’ll Need

Before you get started, gather these kitchen basics to make things easier (and a little more fun). Snickerdoodles don’t require anything fancy, but a few helpful tools go a long way:

• Baking Sheet
  A sturdy baking sheet is key. If it’s too thin, the bottoms might brown too quickly. I like to line mine with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

• Mixer (Hand or Stand)
  You’ll need a mixer to cream the butter and sugars properly. A stand mixer is great, but a hand mixer gets the job done just fine too.

• Mixing Bowl
  One medium or large bowl will be enough if you're using a stand mixer. If not, you might want two—one for dry and one for wet ingredients.

• Cookie Scoop or Ice Cream Scoop
  This helps portion the dough evenly, so your cookies bake at the same rate. Plus, it keeps your hands cleaner.

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
  Accuracy matters, especially with baking soda and cream of tartar. Dry measuring cups for the flour and sugar, and measuring spoons for the rest.

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Watch the Snickerdoodles Come to Life

Sometimes it helps to see it all in action. In this video, I walk you through every step of making these soft, cinnamon-sugar coated snickerdoodles.

More Sweet to Love

Whether you're baking a batch to share or sneaking one straight from the freezer, these snickerdoodles are the kind of cookie that never goes out of style. Bake a few, freeze some for later, and enjoy them whenever the craving hits. And if you're in the mood to keep the sweet going, don't miss my Ultimate S’mores Bar. It's a cozy and fun way to build your own dessert moment at home. You can check it out right here and save it for your next gathering or a night in.