The best soft, chewy, and thick Snickerdoodle Recipe, with tender centers and perfectly crisp edges!
author’s note
Soft, Chewy, Perfect Snickerdoodles Every Single Time!
Snickerdoodles have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. They were one of the first recipes I ever shared here because I’ve truly been making them my whole life.
After years of making them for every event and family get-together, I can honestly say I’ve never had a Snickerdoodle better than this version. They’re thick and chewy with the softest center and those crisp cinnamon edges that make them irresistible.
My brother-in-law is a Snickerdoodle superfan, and this is his all-time favorite cookie. He requests a batch every time he visits, and he swears these are the best he’s ever had. I have to agree. This is the recipe I’m proudest to share.
Snickerdoodle Recipe Ingredients
| Ingredient | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Butter | Opt for unsalted for better salt control. |
| Sugar | A mix of white and brown sugar gives the best sweetness. |
| Egg + Egg Yolk | Adds richness and keeps the cookies soft. |
| Vanilla Extract | Boosts overall flavor. |
| Flour | Measure carefully for the right consistency. |
| Cream of Tartar | Gives the classic tang and helps the dough set. |
| Baking Soda | Helps the cookies rise. |
| Cinnamon | Adds warm flavor in both the dough and the coating. |
Quick Tip
My favorite way to bake? Simply use a kitchen scale to measure ingredients in grams. It eliminates guesswork that can come with less precise measuring using cups.
Featured Comment
I rarely review/leave comments, but I felt compelled to with this recipe.
I have searched high and low for THE snickerdoodle recipe. The recipe that creates soft, but slightly crisp and moist, but not underbaked snickerdoodles. This is that recipe. I will never make any other snickerdoodle recipe again!
Thank you for sharing!
– Kate
How To Make This Snickerdoodle Recipe (Tips)
- Butter: Hot butter leads to greasy cookies. Melt it fully, then let it cool to room temp.
- Chill the dough: This keeps the cookies thick with chewy centers.
- Roll tall cookie dough balls: Taller shapes spread into the perfect thickness.
- Generously coat in cinnamon sugar: More coating means better caramelized edges.
- Slightly underbake: Bake on a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. The centers should look soft when you pull them out; they finish cooking on the tray.
- Shape while warm: Press the edges inward with a spatula for perfectly round cookies.
Storage
- Store Snickerdoodle recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
- Freeze dough balls, place them on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a sealed container or freezer bag. Bake straight from the freezer as needed, adding extra a few extra minutes to the baking process.
Variations
Love this Snickerdoodle Recipe? Try my Pumpkin Snickerdoodles or Caramel Snickerdoodles!
More Delicious Cookies:
Snickerdoodle Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Food scale optional, but recommended!
- Sheet pan (15" x 10")
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
Ingredients
- 16 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled to room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar firmly packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-3/4 cups flour see note 1
- 1-1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter, then let cool to room temperature. Ensure it’s not hot to avoid greasy cookies.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, cream of tartar, salt, baking soda, and 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- In a separate bowl, mix melted and cooled butter with granulated and brown sugar until well emulsified. Add whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
- Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined, ensuring there are no streaks of flour. Avoid overmixing. Cover dough tightly and refrigerate 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Stir together cinnamon sugar coating ingredients in a small bowl.
- Portion dough into 45-gram balls (2 packed tablespoons) and shape them into tall balls. Roll dough balls generously in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Return shaped dough balls to the fridge for 15–20 minutes or until they firm up.
- Place dough balls on a sheet pan lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat with ample spacing (about 6 at a time); bake 9–12 minutes. Avoid overbaking; slight under-baking is ideal! After baking, if any cookies have uneven edges, gently press them inward with a metal spatula. Remove tray from oven and let cookies rest on the sheet 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Snickerdoodle Recipe FAQs
Yes, up to 72 hours. Keep covered in the fridge and bake as needed.
No, not for this recipe. The cookies spread too much without it.
Yes. Everything doubles cleanly.
Too much flour or overbaking. Use a scale and watch the bake time closely.
Very tasty! I’m not a fan of gooey, so I let the 2nd batch cook 2 minutes longer…total of 13 mins. They turned out perfect for me…still soft. I have a question though. I like fluffier cookies. How would I do this with this recipe? Baking powder instead of baking soda? I’m not a baker, but this recipe made me look like one! Thank you!,
Hi, I’d just like to say a massive thankyou for such a simple but delicious recipe. No one in my family, including me, has much baking talent. My mother can’t make anything without burning it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen my father touch something sweet in the kitchen and this is pretty much the first time I’ve ever made something which actually tastes good. This flavour just has so many memories for me. Overall, this is the first Snickerdoodle cookie I’ve had in years, and thanks so much for a recipe that even I could pull off.
Ahh Elyse this is so sweet! Thank you sooo much! And i’m so glad to hear you love these snickerdoodle cookies! They are definitely one of our favorite! Thanks!! 🙂
I never really cared for snickerdoodle cookies until I baked yours.
This made my day! I’m so glad you enjoyed! Thanks! 🙂
I feel it’s important to start by saying that I’m not a snickerdoodle fan. My daughter wanted to make these and I found this recipe. Followed the recipe to the “T”, aside from cutting it in half, and these turned out to be the BEST snickerdoodles I’ve ever had! They came out exactly like the pictures, and my kids ooooed and awwwed over them! Fantastic recipe—- But you MUST follow the recipe exactly—— the butter and egg temp, chilling the dough for a full hour, used a convection oven,etc. Baking is science after all, right?
Thanks for sharing!
Shannon thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed these!! Baking is definitely a science! I hope you guys continue to enjoy!
My grandson is Thru hiking the Appalacian Trail – he’s gone over 1200 miles on his way to Maine from Georgia. He just requested snickerdoodles and so I’m sending him yours in the morning!
He’ll pick them up next week so counting on them still being good. How long should I chill the dough?
Wow! That sounds amazing! I’d freeze the cookies after baking them to keep them super fresh if you’re able too 🙂 Also dough chills for 45 minutes to an hour; enjoy!
If I put them in freezer after baking them to keep them super fresh… how should I go about reheating my cookies when I take them out of freezer to ensure freshness ?
I’d just thaw them in the fridge 🙂
WOW…Was looking for the best snickerdoodle cookie recipe! I have def found it! These cookies are crazy good!! Recipe & extra tips are spot on!! These cookies are perfection!! Thank you so much! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some cookies to devour!
Ahh thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed these! They are definitely a favorite at my house!
I just made these last night THANK YOU THEY WE’RE DELICIOUS
So happy to hear that!! Thanks Amelia 🙂
Having made cookies numerous times, I was hesitant about the shape you suggested but wow, what an amazing technique. I used 100% white whole wheat flour and you can’t even tell. Ridiculously delicious and the perfect shape and texture. Would the tall and skinny shape work for other cookie recipes as well( chocolate chip etc.). I have never been able to get my chocolate chip cookies to come out flat and chewy. Thanks so much for this recipe and your great tips!!
You are so welcome! I’m thrilled you loved the texture and taste of these cookies Bella 🙂
Thsee cookies came out in a ball. – a hard round ball. I don’t know what I did wrong,
Did you make any changes to the recipe? It sounds like you may have packed in too much flour or not used enough butter if they didn’t spread. And how long did you chill the dough for (it wasn’t frozen was it)? I’ve made these cookies dozens of times and had many successful reports from readers so I’d love to help troubleshoot these with you!
Can this dough be rolled out to do cookie cutters ?
Unfortunately this dough wouldn’t hold the shape. Here’s my favorite cut out cookie dough recipe: https://axis-framework.live/no-chill-best-ever-sugar-cookies-2-secret-ingredients/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Never been a huge fan, but I make them at the holidays because everyone loves them. These are the best and now one of my favorites! The tips are spot on. Thanks!!
So happy to hear that! Thanks Kristine 🙂
My hubby and I are both diabetic, so the only change I made was using the stevia/cane sugar mix. Awesome!
Tried three other recipes before finding yours. Perfection! Followed recipe exactly except went with more of a ‘pyramid’ shape on the second batch and got a rounder final cookie. Seriously, just beyond delicious!
So, so happy to hear this! Thanks Karen 🙂