We live behind a neighborhood elementary school. In a few days, our street will clog with parents and eager students; we’ll begin to hear the excited shrieks that accompany afternoon play. I’ll open up my back door to watch the kindergardeners interact in what will be the first of many social playgrounds. I’ll remind it won’t be long before Lucy joins them.
Growing up, I looked forward to the occasional sweet treat in my lunchbox. On most days, my mom wisely sent us to school with fresh fruit, but occasionally we’d find a cookie or a blondie. A special treat that brightened up my seven-year-old self. Unlike most children, I didn’t find much appeal in chocolate. I’d always take a slice of apple pie, a sugar cookie, or a date bar over a brownie or a chocolate chip cookie. And so my mom often packed treats laced with cinnamon…and I so fell hard and early for the ubiquitous baking spice.
When I think about the perfect back to school treat, these snickerdoodles easily come to mind. They’re a classic cookie–soft, chewy, and simple–and they hint to fall with their heavy helping of cinnamon. I’ve tried many snickerdoodle recipes over the years, but this is my favorite. These cookies bake up well in the oven, lending to big and beautiful cracks in the otherwise cinnamon coated surface. They won’t grow hard after they cool, and you’ll find they’ll keep well for several days.
So if you have a little one returning to school soon, make these cookies. And even if you don’t…they’re well worth an afternoon.
Chewy Snickerdoodles
1 3/4 cup sugar, divided
1 tablespoon roasted cinnamon
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tarter
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
2 large eggs
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a shallow bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cream of tarter, baking soda and salt.
In the bowl of your stand mixer, beat butter, shortening, and remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add in eggs, one at a time, mixing until incorporated. Reduce mixer to low and slowly add flour mixture until combined.
Working with two tablespoons of dough, roll into ball. Then roll ball in cinnamon sugar mixture to coat and set on prepared baking sheets. Repeat and space balls two inches apart.
Bake cookies one sheet at a time until the edges are just set but the centers are still soft and puffy, about ten minutes. The cookies will look almost raw. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for ten minutes, then transfer to write rack. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.
What heavenly and addictive snicker doodles, they look delicious 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Ohh, my friends and I were just chatting about snickerdoodles today! Gorgeous, and yes–the very perfect school snack.
You guys will be in such a convenient location when Lucy is old enough for school! So nice to be able to just walk over together. 🙂 Snickerdoodles are definitely one of those classic cookies that I could eat anytime. So good!
I would have loved to have come home to a plate of these Snickerdoodles! I was very much grown up by the time I first tried these cookies!
I love a good chewy snickerdoodle! This looks so yummy!
I haven’t made Snickerdoodles in forever, which is a complete shame because I LOVE them. Thanks for the reminder of a really great treat! 🙂
Those look worth going back to school for, Monet – yum!
Monet,
I don’t make Snickerdoodles much, but this is a great reminder to bake a batch of them. I’m addicted to cinnamon, and eat it everyday on my oatmeal. Your Snickerdoodles are so inviting. I’ll be making these soon.
I am drooling over these photos! These cookies are totally irresistible!
awww how sweet!
I have so many childhood memories associated with snickerdoodles, so they def. speak comfort to me too. Yours look wonderful 🙂
I don’t have a little one going off to school so I’ll just have to make some for an afternoon snack for myself! These look so good Monet! Happy weekend friend!
You can’t beat a good snickerdoodle! Yours look amazing!
Chewy cookies are the best! Your snickerdoodles look awesome, Monet, and I must bake a batch too.
Snickerdoodles are my favorite cookie ever! After school snacks are the best, my little one won’t be going to school until next year….but I’m not too eager for her to go just yet. But at least we have our snack lined up =)
I’ve never had a snickerdoodle. I honestly cannot believe it. But these look beautiful and so perfect in thickness and size. I will definitely give them a try, and hopefully they’ll turn out as wonderfully as yours!
These snickerdoodles look fantastic, and I love the sound of the roasted cinnamon – that must make these extra special! Chewy cookies are the best, too. 🙂
Wow, damn delicious snickerdoodles!!!
the photgraph is truelly seducing me…
I’ve never been much into chocolate either…give me a cinnamony cookie like the snickerdoodle (my favorite) and I’ll be the happiest!
I can never get enough cinnamon either! Love snickerdoodles too. My mom used to send little notes in my lunch box. They always made my day <3
I haven’t had a snickerdoodle in yeeears but I always liked them with the cherry in the middle. These look delicious!
Snickerdoodles are my favorite cookie! Love, love them. THey would most defnitely be in my lunch box today.
Velva
P.S. Hope you had a great summer.
Back to school or not, these are hands down my favorite cookie, yet I’ve NEVER made them myself! The shame.
My youngest loves snickerdoodles! I may need to send him back to school with a batch when he comes home next week!
I love cinnamon and chewy snickerdoodles are the best! I would have loved to open my lunch box to this, they look fantastic 🙂
We don’t have snickerdoodles in the UK and I have always been curious, I will have to try this recipe to see what I have been missing out on!
We lived across from the school growing up. It was a great place to live!
Snickerdoodles are one of the best cookies, because not only are they fun to say, but I love that they are coated with cinnamon and sugar, so you taste it as soon as you bite in! They are also usually so soft and tender, which is exactly how I like my cookies!
Aw these cookies are so sweet! I just love anything with cinnamon!
I made some snicker doodles last week and my kids ate them up faster than I could get them out of the oven. They are their favorite cookie. I haven’t seen roasted cinnamon before, but it sounds amazing! I need that in my life 😀
Growing up my Grandma would make me Snickerdoodles! My Sister and Cousins each had other favorites, that she made for them. Snickerdoodles still today are near and dear to my heart. I made sure to get her recipe, so now I can always enjoy her amazing cookies. I live to far away to enjoy her cookies:-). Your recipe looks fantastic!!! Hugs, Terra
I’d gone my entire life without ever eating a snickerdoodle. I was introduced to them back in 1998 and fell, hard! They’re delicious! It’s hard to explain that lush vanilla flavour, combined with the sugar cinnamon taste and texture. If you say this is your favourite recipe, Monet, then I have to try it! Printing it out and hopefully they’ll be in my life (and mouth) soon!