Grandma’s Snickerdoodle Cookies (no cream of tartar needed)
Looking for a snickerdoodle recipe without cream of tartar? You’re in luck! These are my husband’s grandmothers cookies, and a FAVORITE cookie in our house!
These is the perfect easy snickerdoodle recipe without cream of tartar! These snickerdoodle cookies are soft and buttery, with the perfect crackly cinnamon shell!
“Just made these — my first time to bake cookies from scratch. They remind me of my mom’s cinnamon rolls, which are like a pan of soft buttery cinnamon biscuits. These are SO GOOD!! I am definitely going to make them again!” – Marcie, blog reader
This blog is about to get REAL dessert heavy over the next few weeks. I try to limit it to 2 to 3 new dessert recipes a month, but I just have WAY too many amazing holiday desserts to share in December!
I thought I’d kick things off with these super simple snickerdoodle cookies without cream of tartar that are a tradition in my husband’s family.
The woman behind these cookies is my husband’s paternal Grandmother, Carolyn. I really love this woman. I lost all of my grandparents when I was still in school, so I never got to form an adult relationship with any of them. Grandma Carolyn has helped fill that void for me, and I love her dearly for it.
She is a very special lady, with a unique way for appreciating people just the way they are, and encouraging people to live their lives just the way they want to. When my son was born, she was the first to remind me that while he may have our features, he is 100% himself, and nobody else.
he last time she visited us, my cat jumped up on the table while we were eating. I was embarrassed and apologized, and she looked me square in the eye and said “Michelle, it’s your cat. Your table. Your house. Your life. What do I care?” She’s full of gems like that, and always knows just what to say.
Grandma Carolyn loves food, and has been a big supporter of my cooking adventures. I remember visiting their home when her husband was still alive, and chowing down on smoked ribs and steaks. When they had family over, she did it up right, using the heated sizzling steak plates, and fancy wooden salad bowls and tongs. Now, when she comes to visit us, we eat so well, and it gives us an excuse to visit The Savoy Grill, one of her favorites and a Kansas City institution!
Needless to say, Grandma Carolyn isn’t playing when it comes to her cookies. I’m not sure how long she’s been making these, but it’s certainly been for the majority of my husbands 30-something years. I can count on her to find a way to make snickerdoodles less taxing, by using self rising flour. This cuts out the need to keep cream of tartar on hand, which let’s be honest, most people have the same can of cream of tartar in their pantries for years and years. It also eliminates the need for baking soda/powder or salt, so much less room for error overall!
These snickerdoodle cookies are soft and chewy, with the perfect ratio of buttery cookie to crunchy cinnamon sugar coating. They are soft but still very sturdy, so would ship well, or work well for any cookie exchange! Let’s all give a collective “thank you” to wonderful Grandma Carolyn for this perfect snickerdoodle cookie recipe. Thank you!
If you love this Snickerdoodle Recipe without Cream of Tartar:
- Easy Mint Frosting for Sugar Cookies
- Easy Butterfinger Brownie Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
- Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
Grandma's Perfect Snickerdoodle Cookies (No Cream of Tartar)
Search no further, these are the snickerdoodle cookies you've been looking for! Just five ingredients.
Ingredients
For the cookie dough
- 1.5 cup white sugar
- ½ cup vegetable shortening (Crisco)
- ½ cup margarine or butter (I used butter, original recipe calls for margarine)
- 2 eggs
- 2 and ¾ cup SELF RISING flour (this is different than all purpose flour, but readily available)
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 3 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Cream together sugar, shortening, margarine and eggs in a large mixing bowl or with an electric mixer, making sure to scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
- Slowly meter in flour to the butter mixture until well combined.
- For cinnamon sugar mixture, mix sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
- Use a cookie scoop to form 1.25 inch cookie dough balls. Roll cookie dough balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture, and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until cookies are glistening, puffy and a very light golden brown. Let them sit on the sheet for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- These are best when slightly warm.
- Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 4 days.
Notes
**If you have to use regular flour, use
- 2 and ¾ cups flour
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
Snickerdoodle cookies are my husband’s grandpa’s favorite! I will have to try this recipe for him!
Oh, my fave!! I’d like a dozen of these for breakfast!
P.S. Dessert heavy recipes… bring it ON! 🙂
Snickerdoodles have always been one of my favorites and these look perfect!
Yum! I’ve run out of cream of tartar while making snickerdoodles before, so this recipe could be exactly what I need. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
How wonderful that you have that relationship with your husband’s grandmother! It looks as though she makes some amazing snicker doodle cookies.
I love a good snickerdoodle recipe!
I have such a weakness for a good homemade snickerdoodle! 🙂 These look perfect. And I love that there is self-rising flour in the ingredient list- always a bonus in my book. 😉
Pingback: Snickerdoodles
Just made these — my first time to bake cookies from scratch. They remind me of my mom’s cinnamon rolls, which are like a pan of soft buttery cinnamon biscuits. These are SO GOOD!! I am definitely going to make them again!
Marcie, I’m so glad they turned out well! We LOVE these snickerdoodles, they’re a family tradition!
Can I use 1 c butter and no shortening?
Hi Joan! Yes, that should work! The cookies may spread a bit more but they’re pretty dense as is, so I think it’ll work just fine.