Ina Garten’s Perfect Snickerdoodles Recipe: Buttery Cinnamon Joy

Ina Garten Snickerdoodles represent a classic American cookie with an irresistible charm and delightful simplicity.

Soft, pillowy textures define these beloved sweet treats that melt effortlessly in your mouth.

Warm cinnamon notes dance through each perfectly rounded morsel, creating an inviting aroma that fills kitchens with comfort.

Delicate crackled surfaces hint at the tender interior waiting beneath a sparkling sugar coating.

Generations of home bakers have embraced this nostalgic recipe, passing down its magic from one kitchen to another.

Classic ingredients transform into something extraordinary with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

You can recreate this timeless dessert with basic pantry staples and a dash of love: Prepare to bake magic.

Why Ina Garten Snickerdoodles Always Feel Nostalgic

• Capture Classic Comfort: These snickerdoodles represent pure nostalgic baking with their soft, pillowy texture and warm cinnamon embrace that instantly transports you to grandma's kitchen.
• Master Simple Baking Magic: The recipe requires minimal ingredients and basic mixing techniques, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels who want to create delightful homemade cookies without complicated steps.
• Enjoy Irresistible Cinnamon Charm: The signature cinnamon-sugar coating creates a delectable crackly exterior that gives way to a tender, melt-in-your-mouth center, delivering an incredible sensory experience with every single bite.
• Quick Crowd-Pleasing Treat: These cookies take less than 30 minutes from start to finish, ensuring you can whip up a batch of delicious treats for unexpected guests, family gatherings, or sweet afternoon snack cravings.

What You’ll Need for Ina Garten Snickerdoodles

Main Ingredients:

Flour and Dry Mix: – Flour, Cream of Tartar, Baking Soda, Salt: A classic combination for creating a light, soft cookie base with perfect texture and slight tanginess.

Fats and Sweeteners: – Shortening, Sugar: Rich, creamy base that provides sweetness and helps create a tender cookie texture.

Binding Ingredients: – Eggs: Essential for binding the dough, adding moisture, and providing structure to the cookies.

Flavoring Ingredients:

Coating and Spice: – Cinnamon, Sugar: Signature snickerdoodle coating that adds warmth, sweetness, and a classic cinnamon-sugar crunch to the exterior of the cookies.

Optional Flavor Enhancers:

Finishing Elements: – Vanilla Extract (optional): Classic flavor booster that can add depth to the cookie’s overall taste profile.

How to Bake Soft and Sweet Ina Garten Snickerdoodles

Step 1: Warm Up The Oven

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) to create the perfect baking environment.

Step 2: Create Creamy Base

• Shortening
• Sugar

Whip until the mixture becomes smooth and fluffy.

Step 3: Incorporate Eggs

Gently add eggs to the creamy mixture, stirring until fully integrated.

Step 4: Prepare Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Cream of tartar
• Salt

Sift these ingredients together to eliminate any lumps.

Step 5: Merge Wet and Dry Mixtures

Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the creamy mixture, mixing thoroughly until a soft dough forms.

Step 6: Develop Cinnamon Coating

• Sugar
• Ground cinnamon

Step 7: Shape Cookie Delights

Roll the dough into small balls, approximately walnut-sized.

Gently roll each ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 8: Bake To Perfection

Arrange cookie balls on an ungreased baking sheet, spacing them two inches apart.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until edges turn a delicate golden brown.

Step 9: Cool and Enjoy

Transfer cookies to wire cooling racks.

Allow cookies to cool completely before serving.

Tips to Nail the Cinnamon Sugar Ratio

• Soften Ingredients Smartly: Pull out shortening and eggs 30-45 minutes before baking to reach room temperature, ensuring smoother mixing and better texture.
• Whip Butter-Sugar Combo: Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, creating tiny air pockets that help cookies rise beautifully and stay tender.
• Precision Matters Most: Use exact measurements for cream of tartar and baking soda, as these key ingredients control the cookie's signature tangy flavor and perfect texture.
• Roll Dough Uniformly: Use a cookie scoop or weigh each dough ball to guarantee consistent sizing, which means every cookie bakes evenly and looks professionally made.
• Bake with Careful Watch: Keep an eye on cookies during the last few minutes of baking, removing them when edges turn golden but centers remain soft for that melt-in-your-mouth snickerdoodle experience.

Storing Ina Garten Snickerdoodles So They Stay Soft

• Vacuum Seal: Lock in freshness by using a vacuum sealer to remove air completely. Place cooled cookies in specialized vacuum bags, seal tightly, and store in a cool, dark pantry or refrigerator for maximum texture preservation.
• Layered Freezing: Create strategic cookie stacks by placing parchment paper between each layer to prevent sticking. Wrap the entire container in heavy-duty aluminum foil for extra moisture protection, ensuring cookies remain crisp and delicious for up to four months.
• Humidity Control: Slip a small food-grade silica gel packet into your storage container to absorb excess moisture. This trick keeps snickerdoodles wonderfully crisp and prevents potential sogginess, extending their shelf life and maintaining that perfect homemade texture.

Creative Variations on Ina Garten Snickerdoodles

• Nutty Crunch Snickerdoodles: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the dough for extra texture and rich flavor. Mix the nuts into the batter before forming the cookie balls for a delightful crunch.
• Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodle Edition: Fold semi-sweet chocolate chips into the dough for a classic combination of cinnamon and chocolate. Reduce the amount of cinnamon-sugar coating to balance the sweet flavors.
• Spiced Holiday Snickerdoodles: Incorporate ground nutmeg and cardamom alongside the cinnamon for a warm, festive taste. These cookies will bring a cozy winter feel to your baking experience.
• Lemon Zest Snickerdoodle Variation: Grate fresh lemon zest into the cookie dough to create a bright, citrusy undertone. The lemon will add a refreshing contrast to the traditional cinnamon-sugar coating.

The Last Crumb of Ina Garten Snickerdoodles

Rich Snickerdoodle cookies from Ina Garten’s kitchen spark nostalgic memories of grandmother’s sweet baking traditions.

Classic comfort permeates each crisp cinnamon-dusted edge and tender center.

Warm spices dance across palates with delightful balance between sugar crystals and buttery notes.

Classic American cookies like these connect generations through simple ingredients and loving preparation.

Home bakers can easily master these irresistible treats with minimal kitchen skills.

Readers who savor these cookies should snap a photo, share this recipe with friends, and comment below with their baking adventures!

Ina Garten Snickerdoodles Recipe

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4.5 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s Snickerdoodles deliver classic comfort with a baker’s signature touch of cinnamon-sugar magic. Her simple yet irresistible recipe promises warm, pillowy cookies that melt in your mouth and transport you to sweet childhood memories.

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Ingredients

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Dry Ingredients:

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 2 eggs

Coating:

• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius), ensuring an even temperature for optimal baking.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly blend softened shortening with 1 of granulated sugar until the mixture achieves a smooth, creamy consistency.
3. Incorporate whole eggs into the sugar-shortening mixture, stirring vigorously to create a uniform texture.
4. Utilize a separate bowl to carefully sift together all dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt, eliminating potential lumps.
5. Gradually fold the sifted dry ingredients into the creamy mixture, stirring methodically to ensure complete integration without overmixing.
6. Create a separate coating mixture by combining of granulated sugar with ground cinnamon in a small shallow dish.
7. Carefully shape the dough into uniform balls approximately the size of a walnut, using gentle rolling motions between your palms.
8. Completely coat each dough ball by rolling it through the prepared cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensuring an even and thorough coverage.
9. Arrange the coated dough balls on an ungreased cookie sheet, positioning them approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
10. Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, watching for slight browning along the edges as an indicator of perfect doneness.
11. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and transfer cookies to wire cooling racks, allowing them to cool completely and develop their characteristic crisp texture.

Notes

• Achieve perfectly even baking by rolling dough into uniform balls using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon measure.
• Capture that classic soft texture by removing cookies from the oven just as edges start turning golden brown.
• Ensure precise rising and flavor by measuring cream of tartar and baking soda with exact, level measurements using proper measuring tools.
• Create a light, airy cookie base by thoroughly creaming shortening and sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy and pale.
• Allow shortening and eggs to warm naturally on the counter for smoother mixing and better ingredient incorporation.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 188
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 80 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 28 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg