Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodles

These soft and chewy snickerdoodles are easy to make and packed with cinnamon-sugar flavor! Make in one bowl, no mixer required!

Cinnamon snickerdoodle cookies on metal cooling rack

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What makes these the best chewy snickerdoodles?

Soft & chewy! These cookies have a soft and chewy consistency that is reminiscent of your local grocery bakery cookies - just be sure not to overbake them!
Quick & easy! These snickerdoodles come together quickly, using melted butter (i.e. no softening butter) and mixing by hand (no mixer required!).
Cinnamon flavor! The cinnamon-sugar coating adds the perfect cinnamon snickerdoodle flavor!

Cinnamon snickerdoodle cookie with bite to show soft texture

Tips & Ingredient Notes

Melted butter: Use melted butter, not margarine to avoid a greasy cookie. The melted butter gives these a chewier texture and helps them spread into flatter cookies (which I love!).
Cream of tartar: Cream of tartar is what makes a "true snickerdoodle" and gives the cookies a tangier flavor and chewier texture. I only use a small amount of cream of tartar in these (as too much makes them a bit dry & cakey), but if you don't have it, you can substitute with ¼ teaspoon baking powder.
Scoop em' big! Scoop into 3-tablespoon balls (I use this cookie scoop) to get perfectly circled bakery-style cookies and to ensure you get an even bake across your cookies. Trust me, a bigger scoop of dough makes these the best snickerdoodles!
Don't overbake! Bake the cookies for 10-11 minutes, and remove when just getting brown.
Use a light metal pan: If you're trying to achieve soft & chewy cookies, you need to use a light metal pan vs. a dark metal pan. The light pan will allow them to bake slower and spread more, while a dark metal pan will bake them faster and result in puffier cookies.

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How to Make these Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies:

This is just an overview showing step-by-step photos, click here to jump down to full recipe card with exact instructions.

Step 1: Make Dough

Melt butter: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter for 20-30 seconds until it is fully melted. You don't want it piping hot, so if it is, stir and allow it to cool for 1-2 minutes.
Mix dough: Pour butter in a large mixing bowl, then add granulated sugar and brown sugar. Stir with a spatula (not an electric mixer) until combined. Mix in egg and vanilla extract. Next, mix in baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Add in the flour and mix until it all disappears in the dough.
Make Cinnamon Sugar for Rolling: Lastly, create your cookie's topping. Using a small bowl or paper plate (you will be rolling your dough balls in the mixture), mix together the ground cinnamon and white granulated sugar to create your cookie's topping.

Glass bowl with snickerdoodle cookie dough with 2-tablespoon cookie scoop

Step 2: Scoop & Roll

Scoop cookie dough out into 3 tablespoon-sized balls (I use this cookie scoop), then roll into balls. Roll the cookie balls into the cinnamon sugar topping mixture, evenly coating the dough, then place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (I love that Reynolds has these pre-cut parchment sheets available!).

Metal baking pan with scoops of cookie dough and bowl of cinnamon sugar to roll cookies in

Step 3: Bake

Bake at 350°F for 10-11 minutes, or until edges look set and the center no longer looks wet. Your cookies may look slightly underdone but let them cool on the hot pan and they will continue baking on the hot pan. It's important not to overbake these cookies or they will lose their chewy texture.

Allow them to cool, then enjoy!

Storage & Freezing

Storage: After allowing the cookies to cool, store in an airtight container. For optimal texture, they are best enjoyed within the first 2 days of baking.

Freezing: If making these cookies ahead of time, wrap the cookies in plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Allow to defrost before enjoying.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does cream of tartar do in snickerdoodles?

Cream of tartar is what makes a "true snickerdoodle" and gives the cookies a tangier flavor and chewier texture. I only use a small amount of cream of tartar in these (as too much makes them a bit dry & cakey), but if you don't have it, you can substitute it with ¼ teaspoon baking powder.

How do you make snickerdoodles flat & chewy??

The melted butter & minimal leavening in the dough help make them flat and chewy. The key, though, is to make sure your oven is at 350°F. using an internal oven thermometer (my oven runs hot and anything over 350°F. makes these puff up more!).

Why are my snickerdoodles so puffy??

If your first tray of cookies puff up, you can flatten the dough balls a bit before baking the next tray. Some main culprits to your cookies baking too puffy are:

- You overmeasured the flour: Be sure to use the spoon & level method when measuring flour; you do not want to pack it in. Too much flour can prevent the cookies from spreading properly.
- Your oven is too hot: I know this sounds silly...but ovens lie! Make sure your oven is at 350°F. using an internal oven thermometer (my oven runs hot and anything over 350°F. makes these puff up more!).
- You baked too long: Overbaking your snickerdoodles can cause them to puff up and be too crunchy. The key is to slightly underbake and then allow them to finish baking with the residual heat of the hot pan.

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Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodles

These soft and chewy snickerdoodles are easy to make and packed with cinnamon-sugar flavor! Make in one-bowl, no mixer required!

4.95 from 84 votes

Print Rate

Total Time: 15

Servings: 9 large cookies

By: Melissa Rose

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick) You will be melting this
½ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg room temperature (you can put in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cream of tartar see notes below for substitution
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Cinnamon Sugar for Rolling

3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter (½ cup, i.e. 1 stick) for 30-60 seconds or until fully melted (you don't want any lumps).
Add in granulated sugar (¼ cup) and light brown sugar (½ cup) and use a spatula to stir until combined (*do not use a mixer!). Add in egg (1 large) and vanilla extract (2 teaspoons), then mix. Next, mix in baking soda (½ teaspoon), cream of tartar (½ teaspoon), and salt (¼ teaspoon). Add in all-purpose flour (1 ½ cups) and mix just until all the flour disappears into the dough.
In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar (3 tablespoons) and cinnamon (1 tablespoon).
Scoop dough into 3-tablespoon-sized scoops (I use this stainless steel cookie scoop!), roll into balls, then coat in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Place on a light metal pan with parchment paper (the light metal will help them spread; dark metal pans will likely result in a puffier cookie).
Bake at 350 for 10-11 minutes. Do not overbake. The cookies will continue to bake on the hot pan, allowing them to firm up without overbaking.
*If your cookies puff up a bit, immediately tap the pan on the counter a few times to help them deflate. You want to do this immediately after removing from the oven. You can also flatten the tops of the dough balls for the next pan to help them spread.
Allow to cool, then enjoy!

Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.

Notes

Yield: Recipe makes about 9-10 cookies using a 3-tablespoon sized scoop or 6 giant cookies using a 4 tablespoon sized scoop.

Cream of Tartar: this gives them a chewy texture & tangy flavor but if you don't have it, you can replace it with ¼ teaspoon of baking powder or 1 teaspoon of cornstarch.

Storing: These have the best texture when enjoyed within 3 days but they can be in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.

Freezing: Freeze in an airtight container for 1-2 months. For ultimate freshness, wrap each cookie in plastic wrap then place in an airtight container.

Nutrition is auto-calculated and just an estimate.

Nutrition

Comments

4.95 from 84 votes (42 ratings without comment)

Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodles

Save this Recipe!

What makes these the best chewy snickerdoodles?

Tips & Ingredient Notes

How to Make these Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies:

Step 1: Make Dough

Step 2: Scoop & Roll

Step 3: Bake

Storage & Freezing

Frequently Asked Questions:

Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodles

Ingredients

Cinnamon Sugar for Rolling

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition

Comments

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