Soft Snickerdoodle Sugar Cookies (Printable)

Pillowy sugar cookies coated in cinnamon sugar with a unique tang from cream of tartar.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon Sugar Coating

09 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
10 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.
06 - In a small bowl, blend 1/4 cup sugar and ground cinnamon.
07 - Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough, roll into balls, then coat thoroughly with cinnamon sugar mixture.
08 - Place dough balls 2 inches apart on prepared parchment-lined baking sheets.
09 - Bake 9 to 11 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft.
10 - Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're soft and pillowy in the center, with just enough structure to stay together without feeling dense.
  • That tangy cream of tartar flavor is subtle but unmistakable, setting them apart from plain sugar cookies.
  • Twenty-five minutes from start to finish means you can have warm cookies without the all-day commitment.
02 -
  • Underbaking by a minute makes all the difference between cookies that are cakey and cookies that stay soft for days.
  • The cinnamon sugar coating is where the magic lives—use fresh cinnamon if yours has been in the cupboard for years, because old cinnamon tastes like dust.
03 -
  • If you like puffier cookies, substitute half the butter with shortening, which will give you more height and a lighter crumb.
  • Room-temperature ingredients mix more smoothly and create a more uniform dough, so pull everything out of the fridge a few minutes early.
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