There’s something about the smell of Snickerdoodles baking in the oven that just brings back memories of childhood. For many Americans, Snickerdoodles are a classic dessert that can’t be beat. In this blog post, we will be discussing the history of Snickerdoodles and sharing a simple recipe so you can make them at home!
Snickerdoodles: Cookies with a Cool Name
While the exact origins of this particular cookie type are unknown, it is thought that they were created in America sometime during the 19th century. The name itself made its way into American English as early as 1832 and can be found in a cookbook from 1850 called “The American Frugal Housewife” by Lydia Maria Child.
In fact, there’s an interesting story behind the recipe printed in Child’s book. According to some sources, a young lady named Sophie D. Williams submitted her snickerdoodle recipe to a Chicago newspaper back in 1898 via mail but unfortunately never received any credit for it until now..
Others claim that the cookies were introduced in Pennsylvania, and derived from German and Dutch cookies of similar flavor. According to them, the name comes from a German term for “crinkly noodle” or “snail.”
Today, snickerdoodles are classic cookies that can be found on tables during Christmas time or as an after-dinner treat at any given moment. They’re one of those special recipes that everyone loves because they’re so simple and easy to make!
What Makes Snickerdoodles Special
The basic ingredients include flour, butter, shortening (optional), sugar, eggs and cream. The mixture gets rolled into balls and then coated with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar before being baked. This creates a thin crust around each ball that creates an atypical texture when compared to other cookies – they’re soft while still having some crunchiness on top due to the coating which makes it great as well if you want them less sweet but more flavorful than regular cookies like chocolate chip or peanut butter ones would be!
But what makes Snickerdoodles different from other cinnamon sugar coated recipes? Snickerdoodles are unique in the sense that there is a cream cheese component to the dough, which helps contribute to their chewy texture.
Snickerdoodles Recipe
There you have it – a little bit of history on America’s favorite snickerdoodle cookies!
If you want to try your hand at making them (and I definitely recommend that you do), Todd’s Snickerdoodles recipe can be found below:
Ingredients:
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ¼ cup shortening
- ½ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup sour cream or plain yogurt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar (optional)
- ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice or cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- ½ cup flour, sifted through fine mesh strainer before measuring
- ½ cup powdered sugar mixed with ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats; 
set aside. In a large bowl, cream together butter and shortening until smooth. Add both sugars and beat until fluffy. Mix in sour cream or yogurt, then beat well until incorporated. Add baking powder, baking soda and salt; mix together thoroughly before adding flour (which should be sifted through fine mesh strainer first). Stir just until combined but don’t over-mix dough because it will become tough if done so!
Shape dough into one-inch balls and roll in mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Place two inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 11 to 12 minutes, until cookies are set but not browned around edges; do not overbake! Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet for a minute or two before transferring cookies to wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, optionally frost with powdered sugar and extract mixture if desired.
Truly American Recipe
So, snickerdoodles are a classic American dessert that have been around for years. These cookies are simple to make and will bring back memories of childhood for many Americans. We hope you enjoy this truly American recipe!