Ina Garten’s Snickerdoodles Recipe: Cozy Cinnamon Magic
Soft, pillowy snickerdoodles dance with irresistible cinnamon-sugar charm in this Ina Garten snickerdoodles recipe that promises pure bakery-style bliss.
Her version brings classic comfort straight to your kitchen with foolproof technique.
These delightful cookies boast a perfectly crisp exterior and melt-in-your-mouth center that whispers sweet nostalgia.
Each bite delivers a delicate balance of buttery richness and warm spice that makes hearts sing.
Classic yet extraordinary, these snickerdoodles emerge from the oven with a golden, crackly top that beckons cookie lovers everywhere.
Grab your mixing bowl and get ready to experience cookie perfection that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Serving Ideas for Ina Garten Snickerdoodles
Pair with Milk Magic: Dunk these warm, cinnamon-coated snickerdoodles into a cold glass of milk for the ultimate comfort treat that melts in your mouth.
Create Dessert Platter Paradise: Arrange the cookies on a beautiful platter with other classic sweets like chocolate chip cookies and brownies for a stunning homemade dessert spread.
Pack as Sweet Gifts: Wrap a stack of these delightful cookies in clear cellophane with a rustic ribbon, perfect for teacher appreciation, holiday gifting, or surprising a friend.
Elevate Tea Time Charm: Serve alongside a steaming cup of chai or Earl Grey tea for an elegant afternoon snack that brings warmth and nostalgia to your gathering.
Store Ina Garten Snickerdoodles the Right Way
Maximize Cookie Freshness: Store snickerdoodles in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, keeping them soft and delectable.
Quick Freezing Strategy: Wrap individual cookies or entire batches in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags to maintain quality for 3 months.
Smart Dough Preparation: Mix cookie dough ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 2 days, or freeze raw dough balls for spontaneous baking sessions.
Room Temperature Revival: Bring frozen or refrigerated cookies to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to restore their original texture and flavor.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 150 kcal
Servings: 24
What You Need for Ina Garten Snickerdoodles
For Cookie Base:
Shortening: Provides rich, tender texture and helps cookies maintain soft structure.
Sugar: Delivers delightful sweetness and aids in creating golden brown edges.
Eggs: Bind ingredients together and contribute to cookie's smooth consistency.
For Dry Ingredients:
All-Purpose Flour: Creates sturdy foundation for cookie's structure and holds ingredients perfectly.
Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and develop light, airy texture.
Cream of Tartar: Adds tangy flavor and helps cookies maintain soft, chewy center.
Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
Additional Sugar: Creates sparkling, sweet exterior that caramelizes during baking.
Handy Tools for Ina Garten Snickerdoodles
Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: Perfect for creaming shortening and sugar smoothly.
Medium Bowl: Ideal for mixing shortening, sugar, and eggs.
Sifter or Fine Mesh Strainer: Essential for evenly blending dry ingredients.
Small Bowl: Great for preparing the cinnamon-sugar coating.
Cookie Sheet: Necessary for baking the snickerdoodles.
Wire Cooling Rack: Helps cookies cool evenly without getting soggy.
Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Useful for stirring and mixing ingredients.
How to Make Ina Garten Snickerdoodles Step by Step
Snickerdoodle Magic
Kitchen Prep Gathering all your baking tools and creating a clean workspace sets the stage for delightful cookie magic.
Creamy Base Blend soft shortening with sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, creating a smooth foundation for your cookies.
Egg Harmony Gently fold eggs into the creamy mixture, ensuring a silky and consistent texture throughout.
Dry Ingredient Symphony Carefully combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt in a separate bowl, creating a delicate powder blend.
Dough Creation Slowly incorporate dry ingredients into the creamy mixture, stirring until a soft, pillowy dough forms.
Cinnamon Sparkle Mix sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish, creating a fragrant coating that will transform your cookies.
Cookie Transformation Roll small dough portions into charming little balls, then lovingly coat each one in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Baking Bliss Place cookies on a baking sheet, allowing space between each one. Bake until edges turn a warm golden brown, filling your kitchen with irresistible aromas.
Tips to Tweak Ina Garten Snickerdoodles
Replace traditional shortening with butter for a richer, more classic flavor profile that adds depth to the cookie's taste.
Adjust the cinnamon-sugar ratio by adding ground nutmeg or cardamom to create a more complex and exciting cookie experience.
Chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling to prevent spreading and achieve perfectly round, thick snickerdoodles with a soft, chewy center.
Fold in mini chocolate chips, white chocolate chunks, or chopped nuts into the dough for unexpected bursts of flavor and interesting texture variations.
Keep cookies fresh by storing in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or freeze unbaked dough balls for spontaneous cookie baking moments.
Home bakers can elevate their classic Ina Garten snickerdoodles with simple ingredients and foolproof techniques. Crisp edges, tender centers, and cinnamon-sugar coating make these cookies irresistible for anyone craving comfort and sweetness.
Ingredients
Scale
1.5 cups white sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 ¾ cups (350 g) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons (10 ml) cream of tartar
1 teaspoon (5 ml) baking soda
0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
2 tablespoons (30 ml) white sugar
2 teaspoons (10 ml) ground cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat: Calibrate oven to 375°F (190°C), establishing an ideal thermal environment for impeccable cookie development.
Cream Base: Whisk shortening and sugar until transformation occurs, creating a silky, luminous foundation that promises delectable texture.
Bind Ingredients: Integrate eggs into the creamy mixture, stirring with precision to generate a harmonious, well-incorporated batter.
Dry Composition: Sift flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt together, eliminating potential granular interruptions and ensuring smooth integration.
Merge Mixtures: Delicately fold dry ingredients into wet components, employing gentle techniques to maintain structural integrity without compromising tenderness.
Cinnamon Coating: Construct a fragrant sugar-cinnamon blend in a shallow vessel, preparing a tantalizing exterior for each cookie.
Shape and Dress: Craft walnut-sized spheres, methodically rolling through cinnamon-sugar mixture to enrobe each morsel in a sweet, aromatic cloak.
Bake and Transform: Position dough balls on ungreased sheet, spacing strategically, then bake 8-10 minutes until edges display a golden, enticing hue.
Finishing Touch: Transfer cookies to cooling racks, allowing complete thermal relaxation and achieving the quintessential crisp, delicate snickerdoodle profile.
Notes
Measure with Precision: Use exact measurements for ingredients to guarantee consistent, delectable snickerdoodles every single time.
Room Temperature Matters: Ensure eggs and shortening are at room temperature for smoother blending and better cookie texture.
Gentle Mixing Technique: Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough, dense cookies; mix just until ingredients are combined.
Cinnamon Sugar Magic: Roll cookies generously in cinnamon-sugar mixture for a perfect crispy, sweet exterior that defines classic snickerdoodles.
Pastry Arts and Dessert Innovation, French and European Baking Techniques, Food Writing and Blogging, Culinary Event Planning
Education
Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Diploma: Grand Diplôme®
Focus: Intensive training in classic French cuisine and pastry techniques, combining the Diplôme de Cuisine and Diplôme de Pâtisserie.
Isabella Rodriguez is the co-founder and pastry chef at wd-50.com. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where she earned the Grand Diplôme®, a top award in both cooking and baking. After working in fancy bakeries and as a personal pastry chef, Isabella now shares her love for desserts in an easy way for home bakers to enjoy.
At wd-50.com, Isabella creates recipes for cookies, cakes, tarts, and more, always with clear steps and helpful tips. She believes baking should be fun, not stressful, and she hopes her recipes bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to your table.
Isabella Rodriguez
Co-Founder & Content Creator
Expertise
Pastry Arts and Dessert Innovation, French and European Baking Techniques, Food Writing and Blogging, Culinary Event Planning
Education
Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Isabella Rodriguez is the co-founder and pastry chef at wd-50.com. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where she earned the Grand Diplôme®, a top award in both cooking and baking. After working in fancy bakeries and as a personal pastry chef, Isabella now shares her love for desserts in an easy way for home bakers to enjoy.
At wd-50.com, Isabella creates recipes for cookies, cakes, tarts, and more, always with clear steps and helpful tips. She believes baking should be fun, not stressful, and she hopes her recipes bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to your table.