The Best Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodle Recipe (Easy!)

Is there any cookie more cozy, more comforting, or more universally beloved than a classic, from-scratch Snickerdoodle? That perfect, nostalgic combination of a tender, buttery, soft-baked cookie with a beautiful, crackly, and sweet cinnamon-sugar crust is pure, unadulterated happiness. If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate recipe that guarantees a perfectly soft and chewy result every single time, your search is over.

This isn’t just a recipe; it’s your definitive guide to mastering the art of the perfect snickerdoodle. We’ll show you the simple secrets—including one surprising ingredient that guarantees a wonderfully chewy texture—to creating a cookie that is miles beyond any other. Get ready to fill your home with the incredible aroma of cinnamon and butter and to bake a batch of the best snickerdoodles you’ve ever had.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Comfort Cookie

What makes this Snickerdoodle recipe truly “the best” is its incredible, soft-baked texture and its classic, comforting flavor. This recipe includes a brilliant secret ingredient—a touch of light corn syrup—which is the key to a wonderfully chewy cookie that stays soft and fresh for days. The dough is simple to make, easy to handle, and bakes up into beautiful, puffy cookies with those signature, rustic cracks across the top. It’s a foolproof, crowd-pleasing cookie that is perfect for holiday cookie swaps, after-school snacks, or any time you need a simple, comforting treat.

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	1 hour 30 minutes (includes chilling)
Active Prep Time	20 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy
Servings	About 3-4 dozen cookies

The Essential Ingredients for Perfect Snickerdoodles

This recipe uses a handful of simple pantry staples to create a spectacular result.

• The Soft & Chewy Cookie Dough:
  • Butter & Sugar: The classic foundation. We use the “creaming” method with softened, room temperature butter and granulated sugar to create a light, airy base for our dough.
  • Light Corn Syrup: This is the secret weapon for an unbelievably chewy texture! Corn syrup is a “humectant,” which means it helps the cookies to retain moisture. This is the key to a cookie that stays wonderfully soft and chewy for days after it has been baked.
  • Flour, Leaveners, and Spice: We use all-purpose flour and a combination of both baking powder and baking soda to give the cookies a perfect, puffy lift and a tender crumb. A touch of cinnamon in the dough itself adds a lovely, warm background spice.
• The Signature Cinnamon-Sugar Topping: This is what makes a snickerdoodle a snickerdoodle! A simple but essential mixture of granulated sugar and ground cinnamon is used to coat the outside of each dough ball before baking. This is the secret that creates that beautiful, sparkling, and crackly crust.

Snickerdoodles Without Cream of Tartar?

Yes! Traditionally, the signature tangy flavor and chewy texture of a snickerdoodle comes from the chemical reaction between cream of tartar and baking soda. However, many of us don’t keep cream of tartar in our pantries. This brilliant recipe creates an equally delicious, soft, and chewy snickerdoodle by using a combination of baking powder (which already contains an acid) and baking soda, making it a much more accessible recipe for every home baker.

Step-by-Step to the Best Snickerdoodles

Follow these simple, detailed steps for a perfect, soft, and chewy result every time.

Step 1: Make the Cinnamon-Sugar Topping and the Dough

Step 1: In a small, shallow bowl, stir together the 3 tablespoons of sugar and the 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon for the topping. Set this aside.

Step 2: To make the cookie dough, in a medium bowl, whisk together the 3 1/2 cups of flour, the 1 tablespoon of baking powder, the 2 teaspoons of baking soda, the 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and the 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Step 3: In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the 1 cup of softened butter and the 2 cups of sugar on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Add the 2 large eggs, the 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup, and the 2 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Continue to mix until they are thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Step 5: With the mixer on a low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until the dough is just blended and no dry streaks of flour remain.

Pro Tip: Be careful not to overmix the dough. This is the key to a tender, not tough, cookie.

Step 6: If the dough is very sticky or difficult to handle, cover the bowl and chill the dough for 1 hour. This will make it much easier to roll into neat, uniform balls.

Step 2: Roll, Coat, and Bake to Puffy Perfection

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2: Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, roll balls of the dough that are about the size of a walnut (about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons each).

Step 3: Roll each ball of dough generously in your prepared cinnamon-sugar mixture until it is completely coated.

Step 4: Place the coated dough balls on an un-greased baking sheet, about 2 1/2 inches apart.

Step 5: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The cookies are perfectly done when they have puffed up and the surface has become beautifully and slightly cracked.

Pro Tip: For the perfect soft and chewy texture, be sure not to overbake the cookies. You want to pull them from the oven when the centers still look slightly soft and underdone. They will continue to bake and set up from the residual heat of the hot pan as they cool.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before you transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

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Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

These Snickerdoodles are a fantastic cookie to make ahead of time, and they stay wonderfully soft for days.

• Storing Baked Cookies: The baked cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, and they will stay remarkably soft and chewy.
• Freezing the Dough (Best Method!): For a fresh-baked cookie any time you want, you can freeze the unbaked dough. Roll the dough into balls, coat them in the cinnamon-sugar, and then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the freezer until they are solid. Transfer the frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe, resealable bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can bake them directly from frozen, adding just a minute or two to the baking time.

Creative Recipe Variations

This classic and delicious cookie is a wonderful base for your own creative and cozy twists.

1. Brown Butter Snickerdoodles: For an incredible, deep, nutty, and sophisticated flavor, you can make the cookie dough with brown butter. Simply melt the 1 cup of butter in a light-colored saucepan and cook it until the milk solids turn a toasty brown and it smells nutty. Let the brown butter cool and re-solidify in the refrigerator to a soft, room temperature consistency before you cream it with the sugar.
2. Add a Festive Fall Twist: For a perfect Thanksgiving or fall-themed cookie, you can substitute the 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon in the topping with an equal amount of your favorite pumpkin pie spice blend.
3. Make Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars: If you’re short on time, you can easily turn this recipe into delicious cookie bars. Simply press the entire, un-chilled cookie dough into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle the top of the dough evenly with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake at 350°F for about 25-30 minutes, until the center is set.

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Enjoy The Ultimate Comfort Cookie!

You’ve just created a truly perfect cookie that is the very definition of homemade comfort. These classic, from-scratch Snickerdoodles are a perfect harmony of a soft, chewy, buttery interior and a crisp, crackly, cinnamon-sugar exterior. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new family favorite.

We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious bite!

If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, old-fashioned cookie!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)