Do you smell the cinnamon baking in the oven? Maybe not yet but you will when you bake these Snickerdoodle cookies! Easy recipe for everyone to make. Most ingredients you have in your pantry like sugar, flour, eggs, butter or vegetable oil, and ground cinnamon. However, there is a secret ingredient…. Cream of Tarter. ( This makes the cookie soft and chewy).

What is Cream of Tarter?

Cream of Tarter is found in the baking aisle and used to help stabilize egg whites, to give lift to cakes like Angel food or whipping meringues. In the recipe for snickerdoodles, it helps enhance the flavor and texture of the cinnamon sugar cookie. It is made of tartaric acid, a by product of the wine making process. You can do more research on cream of tarter but lets just say it is necessary ingredient for these cookies.

In addition, “Cream of tartar can also be used to activate baking soda, leavening baked goods. In fact, some baking powder is made using cream of tartar. To make your own baking powder, combine cream of tartar and baking soda at a ratio of 2:1 (for example, 1 teaspoon cream of tartar + 1/2 teaspoon baking soda).” As a side note, if you mix white vinegar with cream of tartar into a paste, it will clean up stainless steel, copper, brass, and porcelain. Who knew this secret ingredient can do all these things.

How did Snickerdoodle Get it’s Name?

Snicker-doodles as they are called can be crisp or soft depending on the ingredients used. Sometimes called sugar cookies, Snicker-doodles have a cracked surface caused by rolling the raw dough into a mixture of sugar and ground cinnamon. Some recipes call for butter or oil, sugar, flour, eggs, and cream of tarter as the leaven.  The cookie name Snicker-doodle may have come from Germany called “schneckennudelin” or “snail dumpling” but no matter where they are from we are thankful for this delicious cookie. These are also called double cinnamon sugar cookies. I prefer Snickerdoodles.

How to Make Snickerdoodle Cookies!

Preheat oven to 400.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.

In large mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugar until thick and creamy. You an substitute shortening for butter if you prefer. Mix until the butter or shortening is well incorporated with the sugar. Add eggs and vanilla beat until mixed.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, sift together flour, cream of tarter, baking soda and salt together. Spoon blended flour mixture into cookie dough.  Beat dough to blend but do not over beat.

Mix together coating, granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in small bowl, set aside. Roll dough into 1” balls, roll into cinnamon and sugar coating.  Place balls on baking sheet 2” apart.  Bake at 400 for 8-10 minutes.

Note: These cookies will crack on the top of the cookie, they are supposed to do that. If you want to enhance the cinnamon flavor to the cookie dough, add a 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the flour mix.

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More Ideas You Might Like to Try:

Caramel Walnut Lattice Cookies -tap on photo for recipe.