Name: Snickerdoodle Cookie
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 23 min
Yield: 48 Cookies
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter; 1/2 cup vegetable shortening; 1 cup sugar; 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed; 2 eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla; 2 teaspoons cream of tartar; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 3/4 cups flour; cinnamon sugar for rolling

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This snickerdoodle cookie recipe has everything you want: crisp edges, a soft snickerdoodle center, and a delicious coating of cinnamon sugar. Snickerdoodle cookies are always delicious, but I've been tweaking my family's recipe, and I really think this is the best snickerdoodle cookie I've ever had.

Stack of snickerdoodle cookies next to two sticks of cinnamon on a white marble surface.

This is an easy snickerdoodle recipe, too--no long chill times, just mix and bake!

Stack of snickerdoodle pumpkin whoopie pies surrounded by pumpkins.

They taste amazing just on their own, or turned into a sandwich cookie with a delicious frosting center.

Snickerdoodle cookies next to cinnamon sticks on white marble.

What do Snickerdoodle Cookies taste like?

Snickerdoodles are a soft, chewy sugar cookie coated in a layer of cinnamon sugar before baking. They typically have a slightly crackled appearance, and have a slightly tangy flavor thanks to the cream of tartar in the recipe.

Snickerdoodles are such a homey kind of cookie, and a real crowd-pleaser. I'm sure there are snickerdoodle haters out there somewhere, but I haven't met one yet.

Ingredients for snickerdoodle cookie recipe on white marble table.

Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups flour
cinnamon sugar for rolling

Batter for snickerdoodle cookie recipe in a silver mixing bowl.

Cream together the butter, shortening, and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well.

Add the salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar and mix well. Add the flour and mix just until combined to make a nice cookie dough, but do not over-beat.

Snickerdoodle cookie dough being rolled into balls for the snickerdoodle cookie recipe.

Scoop out the dough, and roll into balls.

Snickerdoodle cookie dough balls being rolled in cinnamon sugar for the snickerdoodle cookie recipe.

Roll the dough balls in cinnamon sugar, and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. These cookies do spread a bit, so space them a couple inches apart.

Pan of baked snickerdoodle cookies next to cinnamon sticks.

Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes (do not overbake!)

What does Cream of Tartar do in Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipes?

Cream of tartar is an acidic salt product that helps to stabilize egg whites (it's a vital ingredient in royal icing) and, in cookies like snickerdoodles, the acid reacts with the base baking soda to create carbon dioxide gas and give more rise to the cookies.

The cream of tartar also gives snickerdoodles a unique, slight tang that contrasts deliciously with the sweet cinnamon sugar coating.

Stack of snickerdoodle cookies next to cinnamon sticks on white marble.

The snickerdoodles I used to make were very tasty, but didn't have the perfect chewy and soft texture that I love so much. I experimented with different fats, different sugars, and baking time to get these snickerdoodles just right.

Row of snickerdoodles made with the best snickerdoodle cookie recipe.

My family agrees that I nailed it with this one! Snickerdoodle perfection.

Pumpkin snickerdoodle whoopie pie cookies stacked and surrounded by pumpkins.

And if you want to turn these snickerdoodles into something even more decadent and amazing, try filling them with my pumpkin pie buttercream frosting, and turn them into Snickerdoodle Whoope Pies.