Real German Snickerdoodles Recipe

Buttery, pillowy-soft and so deliciously good with hints of cinnamon spice, these are the best snickerdoodles! Check out the tips and tricks to make these yummy cookies perfectly every time!

These snickerdoodles are probably my favorite cookies of all time! Ask my family! Every time, I find these cookies – whether in cafes or coffee shops, bakeries or somewhere, I make sure to buy at least a piece or 2. My son shares my love for these cookies so I often buy one for him as well.

It must be all that buttery flavor enhanced with cinnamon spice that truly tickles my tastebuds that I could eat half a dozen of these yummy cookies if I am not careful! I love shortbread with all that yummy buttery taste so I guess that’s why I love snickerdoodles!

Besides, they always pair so well with either coffee or English breakfast tea so that is a huge bonus indeed!

When I found this recipe for Real German Snickerdoodles Recipe in a local cookbook (Hamden Chamber of Commerce Cookbook) which I bought from Goodwill, I was immediately inspired to make it. After all, it prominently titled the recipe – THE REAL GERMAN SNICKERDOODLES! I told myself, I better test it to see if it’s any good!

Besides, since it’s almost the holiday season, I thought I wanted to test a batch that, if successful, would be my Christmas giveaway. So I set off to make these snickerdoodles and give the recipe a try to make sure it works well. It looked very easy and totally doable on paper.

I’m happy to report that it worked perfectly!

I made some very minor adjustments which I would jot down below as part of the tips so when you bake these snickerdoodles they come out as lovely as the ones I made.

The taste is spot on! It’s so yummy and again full of buttery goodness perfectly complimented by the cinnamon spice.

Most of all they didn’t spread too much nor came out too flat. They were like cute little baby cookies – just about 2 inches in size so they’re the perfect nibbles!

Once you bite it, it’s pillowy soft with just a little crunch but not hard at all! For me they’re perfect!

Here are the tips and tricks you can use so you can make these Snickerdoodles perfectly each time!

  1. Use the right oven temperature. The original recipe called for 400 F but it made the cookies a little hard and dark in the bottom. They still tasted good but wasn’t my preference. So for the next batch I made, I lowered the temperature and the cookies came out perfectly baked. I tried baking at both 375F and 350F. I personally prefer baking the cookies at 350F because I like them softer and just slightly chewy. 
  2. Make sure to chill the dough in the fridge for about an hour. This will prevent the cookies from spreading or flattening too much.
  3. Do not over cream the butter and sugar. Just mix until the mixture looks light and fluffy looking. About a couple of minutes or so in the electric mixer should do it. 
  4. Make sure your baking soda and cream of tartar are not expired or your cookies may not rise properly.
  5. You can adjust the amount of cinnamon if you like the cookies with a more prominent cinnamon taste but I stay with this measurement 3 tbsp sugar to 2 tsp cinnamon. 
  6. Do not overbake. Just bake the cookies until set but not hard. The bottom shouldn’t brown much with the tint mostly coming from the cinnamon spice. Trust me, even after a day your cookies would stay tender and delicious if not overbaked.
  7. Use only butter. This is my taste preference but you can also halve the butter with either margarine or shortening if you like. For me, all-butter makes it yummier but that’s my personal preference. 
  8. To achieve a more crackly look for your snickerdoodles, do not make the dough balls perfectly round and smooth. Just quickly shape into a ball but don’t overwork it so it’s less than perfect looking. Once baked they would have that classic snickerdoodle look.
  9. For convenience, place the sugar and cinnamon mixture into a sandwich bag. Drop each cookie dough ball and shake to cover with the mixture. Easier than rolling the cookies into the mixture. 

This recipe makes about 4 1/2 dozen 2-inch cookies! Perfect bites of deliciousness!

Real German Snickerdoodles Recipe

Manila Spoon
Buttery, pillowy-soft and so deliciously good with hints of cinnamon spice, these are the best snickerdoodles! Check out the tips and tricks to make these yummy cookies perfectly every time!
4.73 from 43 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Course Appetizer, Dessert, Snacks
Cuisine American, Germany
Servings 4 dozen

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
  • cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • cups sifted flour
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  • Add in the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Mix until well combined. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for about one hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 F. Shape dough by rounded spoonfuls into balls (a small cookie scooper is quite useful for this).
  • Mix the remaining sugar and ground cinnamon. Roll the balls into the sugar-cinnamon mixture.
  • Bake for about 10 minutes or just until set but not hard. 10 minutes is perfect for my oven but oven temperatures vary so adjust accordingly (between 9-11 minutes should do it). Remove from the cookie sheet while still hot then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
    If not eating right away, place the cookies in airtight containers to retain their soft and chewy goodness.

Notes

You may replace half of the butter with margarine or shortening though I personally prefer an all-butter component.
Check out the tips and tricks above to make perfect snickerdoodles every time!
Keyword authentic snickerdoodle recipe, easy snickerdoodle recipe, german snickerdoodles, how to make snickerdoodles, snickerdoodles tasty recipe, soft snickerdoodles, tips and tricks for snickerdoodles
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Last updated on December 5th, 2023 at 02:26 pm

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41 Comments

  1. October 28, 2020 / 10:43 am

    I can’t wait to try this recipe!

    • abigail
      Author
      November 4, 2020 / 3:30 pm

      Hope you enjoy this Mary! Thanks!

    • Mary
      December 22, 2022 / 12:19 pm

      This is my old 4-H recipe that I’ve used for decades! I do use 1/2 cup butter (unsalted) and 1/2 cup Crisco. Works very well. I recommend this to anyone wanting the BEST snickerdoodles ever.

    • Mary H.
      December 22, 2022 / 12:19 pm

      This is my old 4-H recipe that I’ve used for decades! I do use 1/2 cup butter (unsalted) and 1/2 cup Crisco. Works very well. I recommend this to anyone wanting the BEST snickerdoodles ever.

  2. Chef Dennis
    October 30, 2020 / 4:59 pm

    5 stars
    I made your snickerdoodles this afternoon and I couldn’t stop eating them! Thanks for such a delicious recipe!

    • Tracy
      November 22, 2020 / 2:58 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing! So so good.

  3. Marta
    October 30, 2020 / 10:21 pm

    5 stars
    I didn’t even know snickerdoodles were German! I loved them since I was a kid and this recipe did not disappoint!

  4. Stine Mari
    October 31, 2020 / 1:32 am

    5 stars
    These German Snickerdoodles are so fluffy and melt-in-your-mouth! So delicious and easy to make too!

  5. Beth
    October 31, 2020 / 2:55 am

    5 stars
    What wonderful little cookies with that hint of spice on the outside and the buttery middle. I agree with you about preferring butter to margarine!

  6. Amy Liu Dong
    October 31, 2020 / 7:50 am

    5 stars
    Wow, this one looks really delicious and I am sure my kids would love this.
    Saving your recipe as my reference, thank you!

  7. Maria
    October 31, 2020 / 1:58 pm

    5 stars
    These cookies look perfect! I especially love the tips for the recipe. I would normally cream the butter-sugar mixture longer for cookies, so good to know not to that it would be overdoing it! Perfect cookies for the holidays.

  8. Genevieve | Fitty Foodlicious
    November 1, 2020 / 1:48 pm

    5 stars
    I love a good snickerdoodle recipe and this one looks perfect to enjoy with some coffee on a chilly Saturday!

  9. Leslie
    November 1, 2020 / 6:01 pm

    5 stars
    I have not had snickerdoodles since I was a kid! Sadly, I don’t even have a recipe for them! I have to keep this to make for my kids to try!

  10. Sondra Barker
    November 1, 2020 / 6:29 pm

    5 stars
    I love snickerdoodle cookies! These look so delicious and moist. Can’t wait to try this recipe.

  11. Julie
    November 1, 2020 / 8:29 pm

    5 stars
    What a perfect cookie! These really look incredible and I love the flavor in these snickerdoodles. WIll make again soon.

  12. Emily
    November 2, 2020 / 3:02 am

    5 stars
    My kids loved making these snickerdoodle cookies with me and they tasted amazing too!

  13. Kushigalu
    November 2, 2020 / 3:11 am

    5 stars
    Thanks for sharing all the tips and tricks for these snickerdoodles. These cookies look so soft and delicious. Perfect for the holidays.

  14. Ramona
    November 2, 2020 / 9:05 am

    5 stars
    This is the best snickerdoodle recipe I have ever made. Light, fluffy and absolutely delicious. I could not get the kids to stop eating ;-). Gorgeous. Recipe saved!

  15. Michelle L Dumler
    November 2, 2020 / 3:42 pm

    This looks amazing, but with a major egg allergy in the house, what would you recommend for an egg substitute in these cookies?

    • abigail
      Author
      November 2, 2020 / 8:07 pm

      Hello Michelle, I haven’t tried making this without eggs so I don’t know if I can recommend because I haven’t attempted it but I’ve seen people add either a little milk or water and yogurt perhaps. I’m sure you’ll find some eggless version if you try to google it. Hope you do!

  16. Jacqueline Childs
    November 3, 2020 / 12:53 pm

    what makes these German?

    • abigail
      Author
      November 3, 2020 / 8:39 pm

      It is believed to have German origin and that the name is a corruption of the German word Schneckennudel. You can google it too if you want more information.

    • Kimberly
      April 24, 2021 / 10:12 am

      Thry aren’t German. They were brought to the USA by Dutch immigrants.

      • abigail
        Author
        April 26, 2021 / 9:06 am

        That was the name in the cookbook and I simply used it but that’s good to know. Thanks for stopping by.

  17. Alexis
    November 18, 2020 / 3:26 pm

    5 stars
    I love making snickerdoodle for the holidays. This cookie is amazing and turns out perfect every time.

    • abigail
      Author
      November 18, 2020 / 4:39 pm

      I am so glad that you enjoyed these snickerdoodles. These are my favorite holiday cookies for sure. Thanks for letting us know.

  18. CC
    September 21, 2021 / 2:52 pm

    Can these be made in advance and frozen? I’m hosting a party and have many cookies to make, so am trying to get some done in advance.
    Thank you.

    • abigail
      Author
      September 21, 2021 / 9:01 pm

      Yes. Simply cool the baked cookies completely on a wire rack then place them in a single layer inside a freezer bag or airtight container. Put a piece of wax or parchment paper in between each layer of cookies, ending with plastic wrap or parchment on top. Place the container in the freezer for up to two months.

  19. Claudia Lamascolo
    September 29, 2021 / 4:00 am

    5 stars
    I can see how these would be addicting they look fabulous and I am going to make them today. They’re my son’s favorite style of cookie!

  20. Dana
    September 29, 2021 / 8:09 am

    5 stars
    I love the texture of these snickerdoodles. Definitely a cookie worth putting in a tin for gifts.

  21. Natalie
    September 29, 2021 / 10:36 am

    5 stars
    Oh, I love snickerdoodles. I will give your recipe a try. Your cookies look fantastic! Buttery and delicious.

  22. Byron
    September 29, 2021 / 2:11 pm

    5 stars
    Snickerdoodles are the most underrated cookie. I think they’re much better than the common chocolate chip cookie. But, I love cinnamon, so this cookie was an automatic win for me!

  23. Tatiana
    September 29, 2021 / 4:18 pm

    5 stars
    I used half butter and half margarine and cookies turned out delicious. Will make again

  24. Swathi
    September 29, 2021 / 4:56 pm

    5 stars
    Love these snickerdoodle cookies. Perfect cookies.

  25. Sandhya Ramakrishnan
    September 29, 2021 / 5:01 pm

    5 stars
    My little one loves snickerdoodles and I am going to make this recipe for him. The cookies look marvelous and absolutely melt in the mouth kind, which is just the way he likes it.

  26. Denis
    December 15, 2022 / 7:20 pm

    5 stars
    Really good recipe! I added mini cinnamon chips for an extra kick of spice. Baked at 400-degrees for 9 minutes and they were exactly what I was hoping for; a soft chew with a hint of crunch.

    • abigail
      Author
      December 17, 2022 / 7:49 pm

      So glad you enjoyed this! I should try this with cinnamon chips. Thanks for letting us know.

  27. Melanie
    December 23, 2022 / 6:43 am

    First time making snickerdoodle cookies. Love this recipe and will add to my Christmas baking list

    • abigail
      Author
      December 24, 2022 / 10:31 pm

      So glad you enjoyed these! Thanks for letting us know.

  28. Kathryn
    November 28, 2023 / 12:58 pm

    Do you have an air fryer conversion recipe?

    • abigail
      Author
      November 29, 2023 / 2:51 pm

      No but you can probably search for guidelines online. I usually make a big batch so I just make this in the oven. If you try this in the air fryer please let us know. Thank you!

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