Heavenly Snickerdoodle Cupcakes Recipe

Heavenly Cinnamon-Kissed Snickerdoodle Cupcakes Recipe

Soft, pillowy cupcakes with a hint of cinnamon snickerdoodle recipe dance across your taste buds like a sweet melody.

These delightful treats capture the essence of comfort in every single bite.

The classic cookie flavor gets reimagined in a perfectly moist cupcake form that will make dessert lovers swoon.

Cinnamon sugar swirls throughout the batter, creating a nostalgic warmth that feels like a warm hug.

Each cupcake promises a delicate crumb and rich, buttery notes that melt in your mouth.

Light, airy, and packed with irresistible flavor, these snickerdoodle cupcakes are the ultimate crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Let’s find out this recipe and let your baking adventure begin!

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 313 kcal

Servings: 29

Ingredients That Make Snickerdoodle Cupcakes Special

For Flour Base:
  • All-Purpose Flour, Cake Flour: Provides delicate, tender texture with perfect crumb structure, choose unbleached varieties for richer flavor and better protein content.
For Sweet Foundations:
  • Granulated White Sugar: Delivers pure sweetness and helps create golden-brown caramelization, select fine-grain sugar for smooth blending.
  • Brown Sugar: Adds deep molasses undertones and extra moisture to frosting, opt for fresh, clump-free brown sugar.
For Richness and Binding:
  • Unsalted Butter: Contributes rich, creamy flavor and helps create tender crumb, use high-quality butter at consistent room temperature.
  • Eggs: Binds ingredients, provides structure and lift, select fresh, large eggs at room temperature for even mixing.
  • Whole Milk: Ensures moist, soft cupcake texture, use fresh dairy for best results.
For Flavor Enhancers:
  • Ground Cinnamon: Delivers warm, spicy notes characteristic of snickerdoodle taste, choose fresh, fragrant cinnamon.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds complex, sweet undertones, select pure vanilla for most authentic flavor.
For Structural Support:
  • Baking Powder: Creates light, airy rise in cupcakes, ensure it's fresh and not expired.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile.
For Creamy Frosting:
  • Cream Cheese: Provides tangy, smooth base for frosting, use full-fat variety at room temperature.
  • Powdered Sugar: Creates silky, spreadable frosting texture, sift to prevent lumps.

Tools for Baking Snickerdoodle Cupcakes Right

  • Stand Mixer or Electric Mixer: Essential for creaming butter, beating eggs, and mixing frosting smoothly.
  • Muffin Tin: Holds 28 paper liners for perfectly shaped cupcakes.
  • Muffin Liners: Prevents sticking and makes serving easier.
  • Sifter: Ensures dry ingredients are evenly distributed without lumps.
  • Large Mixing Bowls: One for dry ingredients, another for wet mixture.
  • Medium Mixing Bowl: For combining dry ingredients.
  • Spatula: Helps scrape sides of bowl and fold ingredients.
  • Toothpicks: Checks cupcake doneness by testing center.
  • Wire Cooling Rack: Allows cupcakes to cool evenly.
  • Sieve: Used for dusting cinnamon sugar topping.
  • Piping Bag (optional): For decorative frosting application.

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes Baking Instructions

  • Oven Preparation

Warm up the kitchen with your oven set to a cozy temperature, creating the perfect environment for these delightful treats.

  • Flour Magic

Gather your dry ingredients and give them a gentle sifting, ensuring a smooth and even texture that’ll make your cupcakes incredibly light.

  • Butter Dreamland

Cream together butter and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud of deliciousness, setting the foundation for your cupcake adventure.

  • Egg Symphony

Carefully introduce eggs one by one, blending them into the mixture with gentle love and attention, creating a harmonious batter.

  • Liquid Love

Slowly alternate between dry ingredients and milk, folding them together with care to create a silky smooth cupcake base.

  • Cupcake Canvas

Fill your muffin tins generously, leaving just enough room for the cupcakes to rise and create beautiful domed tops.

  • Baking Bliss

Let the cupcakes bake until they’re golden and a toothpick comes out clean, filling your kitchen with an irresistible aroma.

  • Frosting Fantasy

Whip up a dreamy cream cheese frosting that’s smooth, creamy, and packed with subtle cinnamon warmth.

  • Final Touch

Decorate your cupcakes with a light dusting of cinnamon sugar, transforming them into a sweet work of art ready to delight everyone who takes a bite.

Flavor Ideas and Tips for Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

  • Replace a portion of all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for added nutrition and a slightly nutty flavor profile.
  • Enhance the cupcake's warmth by adding a pinch of nutmeg or ground cardamom to the dry ingredients for extra depth.
  • For ultra-tender cupcakes, allow ingredients like eggs, butter, and milk to reach room temperature before mixing to ensure smoother blending.
  • Experiment with different piping tips to create stunning decorative patterns, or use a kitchen torch to lightly caramelize the cinnamon sugar topping for a golden, crispy finish.
  • These cupcakes freeze beautifully! Wrap unfrosted cupcakes individually in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container for up to 2 months, thawing at room temperature before frosting and serving.

Serving Snickerdoodle Cupcakes with a Twist

  • Sweet Brunch Companion: Pair these delightful cupcakes with a warm cup of cinnamon-spiced coffee or creamy chai latte for a perfect mid-morning treat that enhances the snickerdoodle flavor profile.
  • Elegant Dessert Platter: Arrange cupcakes on a beautiful serving tray with fresh berries and mint leaves, creating a visually stunning presentation that elevates the dessert's appeal for gatherings or special occasions.
  • Party Decoration Tip: Sprinkle additional cinnamon-sugar mixture over frosted cupcakes just before serving, adding a delicate sparkle and extra layer of sweet crunch that makes each bite more exciting and textured.
  • Gifting Delight: Package individual cupcakes in clear bakery boxes with a cute ribbon, making them an adorable homemade gift for friends, teachers, or weekend potluck contributions that showcase your baking skills.

Store Snickerdoodle Cupcakes Freshly Frosted

  • Smart Storage Solutions: Keep cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor retention.
  • Refrigeration Strategy: When topped with cream cheese frosting, store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Allow cupcakes to reach room temperature before serving for best taste experience.
  • Freezing Magic: Wrap unfrosted cupcakes individually in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe bags. They'll stay delicious for 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature and frost just before enjoying.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cupcake batter or fully baked cupcakes a day in advance. Keep unbaked batter refrigerated overnight, or cool completely and store baked cupcakes in sealed containers until ready to frost and serve.
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Heavenly Snickerdoodle Cupcakes Recipe

Heavenly Snickerdoodle Cupcakes Recipe


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4.6 from 18 reviews

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 29 1x

Description

These homemade snickerdoodle cupcakes blend cinnamon-spiced cake with creamy frosting for a delightful dessert. Cinnamon sugar sprinkles complete this classic American treat that you’ll want to savor with friends and family.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks/226 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1¼ cups whole milk
  • 1¾ cups granulated white sugar
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ cups cake flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsps vanilla extract
  • 16 oz (454 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 12 oz (340 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • ½ cup (1 stick/113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 tbsps brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsps granulated white sugar
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and line two standard muffin trays with cupcake liners, ensuring capacity for 24 cupcakes.
  2. Dry Ingredients: Sift together all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl, guaranteeing even ingredient dispersion.
  3. Butter Mixture: Cream unsalted butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until the blend transforms into a light, pale, and airy consistency.
  4. Egg Integration: Incorporate eggs one at a time, thoroughly blending and scraping bowl sides to maintain uniform mixture, then gently fold in vanilla extract.
  5. Batter Development: Alternately add dry flour mixture and whole milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with flour, mixing minimally to prevent batter overworking.
  6. Baking Process: Evenly distribute batter among muffin liners, filling each approximately 3/4 full, and bake for 18-22 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  7. Cooling Stage: Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack, allowing complete cooling to room temperature before proceeding with frosting.
  8. Frosting Preparation: Blend softened cream cheese and unsalted butter until smooth, then gradually incorporate powdered sugar, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
  9. Finishing Touches: Apply frosting generously using a spatula or piping bag, then dust with a mixture of granulated sugar and ground cinnamon using a fine-mesh sieve for an elegant presentation.

Notes

  • Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for flour, especially when sifting, to ensure consistent cupcake texture and prevent dense, heavy results.
  • Room Temperature Matters: Allow butter, eggs, and milk to reach room temperature before mixing, which helps create a smoother, more evenly incorporated batter.
  • Gentle Mixing Technique: Avoid overmixing the batter after adding flour and milk to prevent tough, dense cupcakes; mix just until ingredients are combined.
  • Cooling is Crucial: Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and ensure a clean, professional-looking decoration.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 29
  • Calories: 313
  • Sugar: 30g
  • Sodium: 180mg
  • Fat: 14g
  • Saturated Fat: 8g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 42g
  • Fiber: 0.5g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 57mg
Sophie Reynolds

Sophie Reynolds

Co-Founder, Recipe Curator & Culinary Educator

Expertise

  • Home Cooking Innovation & Comfort Recipes
  • Flavor Development & Ingredient Pairing
  • Seasonal Produce Integration
  • Recipe Testing & Instructional Clarity
  • Culinary Education & Community Workshops

Education

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO

  • Degree: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern culinary techniques, emphasizing sustainable cooking practices, kitchen professionalism, and real-world restaurant experience through externships.

Oregon State University

  • Degree: B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management
  • Focus: In-depth study of human nutrition, food safety, meal planning, and food-service operations, with a strong foundation in public health, dietetics, and community-based nutrition programs.

Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café. 

Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.

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