This post was originally published in Nov 2013, and pictures were added Dec 2016. These snickerdoodles were and will continue to be classics. The pictures you see here were taken during summer 2016, and you can see Yosemite in the background (though it’s not Tunnel Vision or anywhere well-known; kind of forgot about the cookies at those stops). If you're up (or down; isn't it weird how people can agree/show their willingness to do something by saying that they are "down," but that originally the phrase was that they are "up" to do it?) to play around in the kitchen, try using powdered sugar instead of granulated in the coating. I did it this past time, and found the cookies to have crisper exteriors, though who knows if it was from the powdered sugar or something else. Confounding factors? Maybe.
These snickerdoodles are pretty darn amazing. I’ve made them countless times. They have always turned out perfectly. Sometimes my butter is too cold. Sometimes I set the oven to the wrong temperature. It doesn’t matter. The cookies are buttery. They are crisp and crunchy on the outside from the cinnamon-sugar, and have a tender crumb on the inside, not unlike a good French fry. I have never made another snickerdoodle recipe, and I don’t plan to.
If you are feeling down and uninspired, bake up a batch of snickerdoodles. They work anytime of the year, especially if you have a yearning for spice and cinnamon. They're comforting and soothing and perfect for fall and winter.

- 2 sticks unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
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Mix the butter, sugar and eggs until well combined. Add the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda nad salt; mix just until combined.
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Shape into 1” balls (I like portioning the dough out with a cookie scoop, and then rolling the bits into balls).
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Mix together the 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon in a shallow, wide bowl. Roll the dough balls in the cinnamon sugar. Place a couple inches apart on a silicone baking mat or parchment lined baking sheet.
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Bake at 400F for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cookies are set and light golden brown around the edges. Cool for a few minutes on the pan, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Christine @ Yum and in Love says
I love those recipes that turn out great even when you don't do things perfectly- these snickerdoodles look heavenly!
Heather says
same! or sometimes i just pass it off as intentional 😂 ie the time i made caramel frosting but the caramel recrystallized so i said i stirred in caramel bits.
Ruby & Cake says
I have never tasted a snickerdoodle! I love the name though it sounds like a pet name haha. They look delicious and the scenery in the photos is amazing 🙂
Heather says
i've been eating snickerdoodles my whole life so i never thought of the name as pet appropriate, but it makes sense to me; labradoodle, snickerdoodle, same thing! (;
Brian @asiatetheoyster.com says
I discovered them about a year ago and they are delicious but they have a very misleading name! At least in my opinion...they have nothing to do with snickers :/
Heather says
never thought of them including snickers, but i could see how disappointing that would be! snickerdoodles are delicious but a little bit more... homely than a snickers filled cookie 😉
Danielle @FollowMyGut says
I love the comparison of these cookies to fries because I absolutely LOVE fries!!! If they're as good as you say and they sound foolproof then I wanna try them out myself! Do you make any other cookies as well??
Heather says
i make all sorts of cookies! i probably make these, chocolate chip (my biggest things: chop the chocolate yourself so you get irregular bits of chocolate melting everywhere, and chill the dough overnight if you have time!) and sugar cookies (with oil and butter so they get super buttery and crumbly) the most though.