Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Cream of Tartar – State of Dinner Recipes (2024)

Published: by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

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These Snickerdoodle cookies are made without cream of tartar, but they are still the best you'll ever have! Soft and thick, with just the right cinnamon flavor!

Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Cream of Tartar – State of Dinner Recipes (1)
Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love This Recipe
  • What is Cream of Tartar?
  • Is it still a Snickerdoodle without Cream of Tartar?
  • Key Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Cookie Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Reviews

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Soft Texture - The baking powder makes soft snickerdoodle cookies. They aren't quite as thick as Half Moon cookies, but they still rise tall and are the absolute perfect texture!

Amazing Flavor - Without the overpowering tangy flavor of cream of tartar the delicious taste of butter and cinnamon really shines!

Pantry Ingredients - You probably have all of the ingredients in your kitchen already, so you don't even have to go to the grocery store!

I love to include snickerdoodles on a cookie tray with caramel brownie cookies and lemon butter cookies!

What is Cream of Tartar?

Cream of tartar is also known as potassium bitartrate. It is a white powdery acid that forms during the process of fermenting wine. When combined with eggs or cream it holds the protein molecules in place. This helps to stiffen egg whites for meringue and also stabilizes whipped cream.

Another common use for cream of tartar is as a leavening agent in baked goods. The acid activates the baking soda, releasing carbon dioxide, which causes baked goods to rise. This combination was used to make baking powder in the 1800s and is still used in some brands today.

Cream of tartar is an ingredient in classic snickerdoodles. It gives the cookies their tangy flavor which many say separates the cookie from regular sugar cookies.

Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Cream of Tartar – State of Dinner Recipes (2)

Is it still a Snickerdoodle without Cream of Tartar?

There is an argument that cream of tartar is a required ingredient for traditional snickerdoodles. However, Stella Parks from Serious Eats reports that the original Snickerdoodles had baking powder.

As a matter of fact, one of the earliest known snickerdoodle recipes was from 1891, when Cleveland Baking Powder published the recipe in an advertisement for their brand of baking powder.

The problem was that baking powder was not a household product like today. It was expensive and hard to come by. So the recipe was adapted for the everyday baker to use baking soda and cream of tartar.

Today, of course, baking powder is a pantry staple, but not everyone keeps cream of tartar on hand. Isn't it funny how things change?

Key Ingredients

Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Cream of Tartar – State of Dinner Recipes (3)

See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full list of ingredients, including measurements.

All Purpose Flour - This standard baking flour helps create a chewy and delicious cookie.

Butter - My original recipe called for a ½ cup of butter and a half cup of shortening, but the flavor is so much better with all butter! And with a few other recipe adjustments, the cookies are just as thick! Use room temperature butter for the best cookies.

Baking Powder - I love what baking powder does to these cookies! It makes them nice and thick while still having a chewy texture like traditional snickerdoodle cookies.

Vanilla Extract - High-quality pure vanilla extract makes a big difference in the flavor.

Instructions

1. Cream the Butter and Sugar

  • You can use a hand mixer or the paddle attachment with a stand mixer.
  • Start your mixer on low speed, then as the sugar mixes into the butter, increase it to high speed.
  • Beat together for at least 2 full minutes. This allows the sugar to completely dissolve into the butter, providing a more even flavor throughout the cookie.
  • It also adds some air into the dough, producing a lighter and fluffier cookie.
  • Add the eggs and vanilla and beat an additional minute or two.

2. Mix in Dry Ingredients

  • Mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients on low speed.
  • Scrape the sides with a rubber spatula so that all of the ingredients are incorporated.
  • Turn your mixer off as soon as the flour is completely mixed in. Over-mixing will result in a dry cookie.

3. Roll in Sugar

  • Stir the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.
  • The ratio of cinnamon and sugar in this recipe gives a hint of sweetness and lots of cinnamon flavor.
  • Make that each ball of dough is thoroughly coated in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

4. Bake

  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • Bake the cookies until they are just starting to brown on the outside.
  • They will continue to bake while they sit at room temperature on the pan.
  • Slightly under-baking gives you chewy cookies.
  • After cooling for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet, transfer them to a wire rack and cool completely.
Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Cream of Tartar – State of Dinner Recipes (4)

The result of these steps is a soft, thick center, slightly crispy outside, buttery, sweet, cinnamon goodness! The perfect cookie!

Expert Tips

  • Cream the butter and sugar for several minutes. This allows the sugar to completely dissolve into the butter, providing a more even flavor throughout the cookie. It also adds some air into the dough, producing a lighter and fluffier cookie. If you find yourself with dense and flat cookies, this is a step you want to pay careful attention to!
  • Refrigerate your dough. You have probably heard this tip for chocolate chip cookie dough, but it holds true for all cookie dough! It is best to chill your dough for 24 hours, though even 30 minutes makes a difference. This chills the fat in the cookie, which slows down the spread in the oven and results in a thicker cookie.
  • Another benefit of chilling the dough is that the dough dries out a little. This sounds like it would be a bad thing, but it is actually precisely what you want! As the dough dries the flavor is concentrated, producing a more robust flavor.
  • Bake at a high temperature to create a nice rise out of the cookie dough.
  • Do not overbake. Remove from the oven when the edges are just starting to brown but the center is still a little bit gooey. The cookies will continue to bake as they cool on the baking sheet.
  • Use parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Cream of Tartar – State of Dinner Recipes (5)

Recipe FAQs

Why are my snickerdoodles without cream of tartar flat?

If your baking powder is old then it will not work to make your cookies rise. Replace your baking powder and try again! Another important element in baking a thick Snickerdoodle is the high temperature. If you bake lower than 400°F then your cookies may be flat.

How do I store Snickerdoodles?

Store your Snickerdoodle cookies at room temperature in an airtight container. These cookies keep longer than many other cookies. When stored properly they will be good for up to 7 days. If they begin to harden you can place a slice of bread in the container, and the moisture will help soften the cookies once again.

Can I freeze Snickerdoodle dough?

Yes. When freezing I recommend that you go ahead and portion cookie dough balls. Place them on a tray lined with parchment paper and freeze them for about 2 hours. Then transfer them to a freezer bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. You can bake the frozen dough without thawing, though they may need an additional minute or two of baking time.

More Cookie Recipes

  • Brown Butter Toffeedoodle Cookie Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
  • Lemon Butter Cookies
  • Marshmallow Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Salted Caramel Brownie Cookies (Girl Scouts Adventureful Copycat)

Recipe

Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Cream of Tartar – State of Dinner Recipes (10)

Snickerdoodle Cookies (Without Cream of Tartar)

Recipe by: Erin

These Snickerdoodle cookies are made without cream of tartar, but they are still the best you'll ever have! Soft and thick, with just the right cinnamon flavor!

5 from 15 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Total Time 18 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 36 cookies

Calories 122 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (223 grams) butter, softened (226 grams)
  • 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar (300 grams)
  • 2 (2) eggs room temperature
  • 2 teaspooons (2 ml) vanilla extract
  • 2 ¾ cups (358 grams) all-purpose flour (358 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons (8 grams) baking powder
  • ½ teaspoons (3 grams) table salt

Cinnamon Sugar

  • ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar (50 grams)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons (12 grams) ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Cream together butter and sugar in a large bowl, using an electric mixer. Start the mixer on low speed and gradually increase to high speed. Beat at least 2 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy.

    1 cup butter, softened, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar

  • Add eggs and vanilla, and beat an additional 1-2 minutes.

    2 eggs, 2 teaspooons vanilla extract

  • Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add to butter mixture and mix together on low until flour is incorporated. Do not overbeat at this step. Refrigerate dough for 24 hours, if possible, or at least 30 minutes.

    2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoons table salt

  • When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Portion 1 ½ tablespoon dough balls. Then roll the cookie dough balls into cinnamon sugar mixture, making sure dough is completely covered.

    ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon

  • Bake for 7-9 minutes. The cookies should just begin to have a small amount of brown on the edges, but will still look slightly wet in the center. You don't want to overcook or you will end up with crispy cookies. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

Storage:Store your baked cookies in airtight container at room temperature. They will keep for up to 7 days.

Freezing:Portion the cookie into balls (without cinnamon sugar) and place on a parchment lined tray. Freeze for at least 2 hours. Then transfer to a storage container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, roll in cinnamon sugar. The cookies may take an additional couple of minutes to bake fully if they are cooked from frozen.

For traditional snickerdoodles, replace the baking powder with 2 teaspoons cream of tartar and 1 teaspoon baking soda.

Equipment

Nutrition

Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 17mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 172IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional facts provided are only estimates. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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This recipe was originally posted as The Actual Best Snickerdoodle Cookies in June 2020. It was updated in October 2022 changing the recipe to one that does not include cream of tartar or baking soda. See the recipe notes for the ingredient portions from the original recipe.

Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Cream of Tartar – State of Dinner Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I substitute for cream of tartar in snickerdoodles? ›

You can either replace cream of tartar with baking powder at a 1:1.5 ratio (1 teaspoon cream of tartar : 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder), or you can replace cream of tartar with the combination of baking soda and either lemon juice or vinegar (as with this recipe).

Does cream of tartar keep cookies soft? ›

What Does Cream of Tartar Do in Cookies? Cream of tartar makes cookies chewy, as it precludes the sugar in the dough from crystalizing, which would lead to crispiness (ie: the opposite of chewiness).

Why didn't my snickerdoodles flatten out? ›

If your oven is too hot or too cold, it may influence whether or not your cookies spread properly. If you didn't preheat your oven to the correct temperature before placing your tray of cookies in the oven, it will be too cold and your cookies won't have enough time to spread.

Can you skip cream of tartar in cookies? ›

Baking Powder

Baking powder is a good cream of tartar substitute for cookies because it is synergistic with baking soda. You'll need 1.5x the amount of baking powder substitute for the cream of tartar called for in the recipe. Baking powder is a great cream of tartar replacement because it doesn't impart any flavor.

What happens if I don't use cream of tartar in a recipe? ›

It isn't always necessary to include cream of tartar in a recipe. If a recipe calls for cream of tartar, it's there to maintain a specific texture. A frosting without crystalized sugar is a lot creamier, and any batter or meringue with stabilized egg whites yields a fluffier end result, The Spruce Eats explains.

Is cream of tartar necessary? ›

The bottom line: For smooth, stiff beaten egg whites that keep their shape, don't skip the cream of tartar. If you don't have cream of tartar, substituting 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar per egg white works almost as well. To avoid meringues that weep, don't skip the cream of tartar...

Is cream of tartar important in a recipe? ›

The most common recipes that call for cream of tartar are those that call for egg whites to be whipped, like angel food cake, genoise cake, meringue, and macarons. Jampel says that is because cream of tartar works as an egg white stabilizer that increases both the volume and shelf life of the meringue.

Why do my snickerdoodle cookies get hard? ›

Snickerdoodles might turn out hard if they are overbaked or if the dough is too dry. Be sure to keep an eye on them as they bake – when the edges are set but the centers are still soft and puffy, they are done. Also, make sure you're not adding too much flour.

What is the secret to soft cookies? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

How do you make cookies stay soft and chewy? ›

Keep Them Sealed

The key to keeping cookies fresh and soft is to seal them in an airtight container, like a resealable freezer bag. And here's a nifty little trick: add a piece of bread to the bag.

How do you soften snickerdoodles? ›

Simply lay the bread at the bottom of the container and pile your cookies on top of it, seal the lid, and wait a few hours. The cookies will soak up all the moisture from the bread and by the next morning, they will taste as good as the day they came out of the oven gooey.

Why does snickerdoodle dough need to be refrigerated? ›

Refrigerating snickerdoodle dough lets the butter resolidify and prevents the cookies from flattening out in the oven. I recommend giving the dough at least 45-60 minutes of chilling time in the fridge before baking.

Can I substitute baking powder for cream of tartar in cookies? ›

If you have baking powder, technically you have cream of tartar, too! Baking powder is 2 parts cream of tartar and 1 part baking soda, so for every 2 parts cream of tartar, use 3 parts baking powder. For example, if you have 3 teaspoons of baking soda, it can replace 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar.

Can I use baking soda instead of cream of tartar? ›

A: While both baking soda and cream of tartar are leavening agents, they serve different purposes and cannot be used as direct substitutes for each other.

Can I substitute cornstarch for cream of tartar? ›

No. Cornstarch is a starch used for thickening, while cream of tartar is an acid used for leavening, stabilizing, and preventing crystallization. They play totally different roles in baking and are not considered substitutes for one another.

What can I use if I don't have baking powder or cream of tartar? ›

If you don't have any cream of tartar, you can also substitute one teaspoon of baking powder with a mixture of ¼ tsp of baking soda plus ½ tsp of either vinegar or lemon juice. For liquid acids, such as vinegar or lemon juice, mix it in with the wet ingredients.

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