Soft Chewy Small Batch Snickerdoodle Cookies
A reliable, small-batch recipe for soft, chewy snickerdoodle cookies with a crisp exterior and pillowy center, perfect for quiet moments and simple cravings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (for coating)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for coating)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Set aside.
- In a larger bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until smooth and creamy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed or stirring with a spoon until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
- In a small shallow bowl, mix the 2 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon.
- Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of dough, roll into a ball, and roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing balls about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are set and slightly golden, but centers still look soft.
- Let cookies sit on the hot pan for 5 minutes to set, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Ensure butter is softened, not melted, to maintain texture. Do not overbake; centers should look slightly underdone as they firm up while cooling. Cream of tartar is essential for the signature tang and chew. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For vegan, use vegan butter and a flax egg.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 100
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 2
Keywords: snickerdoodle, small batch cookies, soft chewy cookies, cinnamon sugar cookies, easy baking, comfort food