Who Say Old Dogs Can't Learn New Tricks? Snickerdoodle Recipe

My daughter insulted my snickerdoodle cookie recipe the other day. She swore that a friend of hers at work made the BEST snickerdoodle cookies because she uses cream of tartar. My Doubting Thomas mind went into denial. What the heck could that possibly have to do with making a great Snickerdoodle? So the chemist in me wanted the facts and went after them. I found this lovely explanation of just what Cream of Tartar is and does here. It helped me with my previous study of how to make your own cookie recipe here.

So now I'm convinced that my daughter is on to something. So I begged the cookie recipe from her, and now for the surprise. She was right about them being a superior cookie. Who would have guessed that a spring puppy could educate the old dog?

There were several things that I learned here. 

1. The darn things don't necessarily get really browned, and if you leave them in the oven until they do, you get a brick like Snickerdoodle. 
2. When you cook them properly, you get much softer cookies.
3. My spell check doesn't like Snickerdoodle, and keeps placing red lines under it.
4. If you add two more tablespoons of flour to the recipe the cookies are softer. Go figure. Learned this from my Grandmother-in-law.
5. The large end of a melon ball maker is the perfect size to make 1 inch cookie balls.
6. Here is a good deal on Good Ceylon cinnamon and it makes all the difference in the way the cookie tastes.
7. These are very easy cookies to make.

Here they are, with a favorite tea. They are perfect with a cup of Green Tea, but coffee is also good. There is nothing that improves the taste of coffee like a good sweet food, and snickerdoodles fit that bill nicely. So no more preamble, here is the recipe.

Snickerdoodles

Preheat oven to 400°F

Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies

Place parchment on the cookie sheet, no need to put oil or grease on the sheets. It also keeps them from browning too much on bottom.

Ingredients

1 ½ Cups sugar

½ Cup margarine

½ Cup Crisco

2 eggs

2 ¾ Cups flour

2 teaspoon Cream of Tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

Procedure

Mix ½ C sugar and 2 t cinnamon in a small bowl.

I found it easier to use my stand mixer for this.  Cream sugar & shortening. Add egg and mix well.

Combine remaining dry ingredients, and mix together well.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredient a little at a time.

I the large end of my melon ball maker to make 1” balls. Roll the dough in sugar and cinnamon mixture.  Place 2” apart on cookie sheet.

Bake 8 – 10 minutes. Remember to err on the side of too short a time, and these things should not get brown on the edges, for if they do, they become hard as rocks. I left mine in 8 minutes exactly after the first batch, and they were divine.

I hope you enjoy.
Namaste