Alright guys, weve encountered an issue. It appears that some of you dont fully understand the true difference between snickerdoodles and sugar cookies. If you think a snickerdoodle is just a sugar cookie rolled in cinnamon, youve been wrong your whole life — but dont worry, were here to clear things up.
While snickerdoodles and sugar cookies share a lot of basic ingredients (flour, sugar, butter), there is one key ingredient thats critical to the signature snickerdoodle taste: cream of tartar. You might think this sounds like an odd thing to put in your dessert, but its the age-old secret to those snickerdoodle cookies you love so much.
There are two things that can be attributed to the cream of tartar in snickerdoodles: the signature tang, and the perfect chewiness. These characteristics are due specifically to the chemical makeup of the cream of tartar, which prevents the cookie from developing a sugar-crystal-induced crunch that sugar cookies have, instead giving it a soft and pillowy texture: Advertisement
Though some prefer to omit the cream of tartar in snickerdoodles, purists will contest that its not the classic cookie without it — more like a plain cinnamon sugar cookie. Advertisement
Snickerdoodles
Get the Snickerdoodle Recipe by Smitten Kitchen
Sugar Cookies
Get the Sugar Cookies Recipe by Our Best Bites
Snickerdoodles are often referred to as “sugar cookies”. However, traditional sugar cookies are often rolled in white sugar whereas snickerdoodles are rolled in a mixture of white sugar and cinnamon. Cream of tartar is added for its signature texture as another main difference.
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Alright guys, weve encountered an issue. It appears that some of you dont fully understand the true difference between snickerdoodles and sugar cookies. If you think a snickerdoodle is just a sugar cookie rolled in cinnamon, youve been wrong your whole life — but dont worry, were here to clear things up.
While snickerdoodles and sugar cookies share a lot of basic ingredients (flour, sugar, butter), there is one key ingredient thats critical to the signature snickerdoodle taste: cream of tartar. You might think this sounds like an odd thing to put in your dessert, but its the age-old secret to those snickerdoodle cookies you love so much.
There are two things that can be attributed to the cream of tartar in snickerdoodles: the signature tang, and the perfect chewiness. These characteristics are due specifically to the chemical makeup of the cream of tartar, which prevents the cookie from developing a sugar-crystal-induced crunch that sugar cookies have, instead giving it a soft and pillowy texture: Advertisement
Though some prefer to omit the cream of tartar in snickerdoodles, purists will contest that its not the classic cookie without it — more like a plain cinnamon sugar cookie. Advertisement
To make sure youre making them correctly, heres our favorite recipe for each!
Snickerdoodles Get the Snickerdoodle Recipe by Smitten Kitchen
Sugar Cookies Get the Sugar Cookies Recipe by Our Best Bites
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Snickerdoodle Cookies
FAQ
What defines a snickerdoodle?
What is an interesting fact about snickerdoodles?
Why are snickerdoodles so good?
What are snickerdoodles made of?
A snickerdoodle is a type of cookie made with flour, fat, sugar, and salt, and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Eggs may also sometimes be used as an ingredient, with cream of tartar and baking soda added to leaven the dough. Snickerdoodles are characterized by a cracked surface and can be either crisp or soft depending on the ingredients used.
Are snickerdoodle cookies the same as sugar cookies?
Snickerdoodle cookies are similar to sugar cookies, but technically they are not the same thing. What’s the biggest difference? Cream of tartar. This little known ingredient prevents the cookies from developing sugar crystals like regular sugar cookies, which means that snickerdoodles have a soft, pillowy, and totally addictive texture.
What does a Snickerdoodle look like?
Snickerdoodles are characterized by a cracked surface and can be either crisp or soft depending on the ingredients used. Snickerdoodles are often referred to as “sugar cookies”. However, traditional sugar cookies are often rolled in white sugar whereas snickerdoodles are rolled in a mixture of white sugar and cinnamon.
Do snickerdoodles have cream of tartar?
Most—but not all—rely on a combination of baking soda and cream of tartar for leavening. Purists believe the cream of tartar is key to the snickerdoodle’s chewy texture and its delightful, slightly tangy taste. Cream of tartar activates the baking soda and keeps sugar crystals from forming, so the cookies end up pillowy rather than crisp.