Festive Christmas Snickerdoodles Recipe: Jolly Holiday Treats

Warm, buttery snickerdoodles bring pure holiday magic right to your kitchen.

These classic christmas snickerdoodles dance with cinnamon-sugar perfection.

Soft, chewy centers and crisp edges create an irresistible texture that melts in your mouth.

Childhood memories swirl with each delightful bite of these festive cookies.

The aroma of butter, vanilla, and warm spices fills your home with cheerful comfort.

Baking these treats connects generations through sweet, nostalgic moments.

One batch promises to spark joy and create delicious memories this holiday season.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 23

Ingredients List For Christmas Snickerdoodles

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and base for the cookie's soft, tender texture.
• Cream of Tartar: Adds tanginess and helps create the classic snickerdoodle texture.
• Baking Soda: Ensures cookies rise and spread perfectly with a light, airy crumb.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the cookies.

• Butter: Delivers rich, creamy flavor and helps create a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and helps create a crisp exterior.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and contribute to the cookie's structure.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warm, comforting flavor to the snickerdoodles.

• Ground Cinnamon: Provides the signature snickerdoodle warm, spicy flavor.
• Red Sanding Sugar, Green Sanding Sugar: Adds festive Christmas color and delightful sparkly crunch.

Tools You’ll Want For Christmas Snickerdoodles

• Electric mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar to create a fluffy base.
• Medium bowl: Perfect for mixing dry ingredients with precision.
• Large bowl: Needed for combining wet ingredients and creating cookie dough.
• Small bowls (2): Ideal for preparing different colored sugar coatings.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Whisk: Great for blending dry ingredients smoothly.
• Baking sheets: Standard trays for baking cookies evenly.
• Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Wire cooling rack: Helps cookies cool down and maintain crisp texture.
• Tablespoon or cookie scoop: Ensures uniform cookie sizes.

Steps For Baking Christmas Snickerdoodles

• Festive Preparation

Warm up your oven to a toasty 400F and line baking sheets with parchment paper for smooth cookie magic.

• Butter Bliss

CGrab softened butter and sugar, then whip them together until they transform into a fluffy cloud of deliciousness. Gently fold in eggs and vanilla, creating a smooth batter that whispers holiday promises.

• Flour Power

CBlend dry ingredients with a gentle touch, combining them until they create a soft, pillowy mixture that will become your delightful cookies.

• Sugar Sparkle

CCreate two magical coating stations – one with classic cinnamon sugar, another with holiday-colored crystals. This is where the cookie transformation begins!

• Cookie Crafting

Roll dough into cute little balls, then lovingly coat each one in sparkling sugar mixtures. Some will wear festive red, others merry green.

• Baking Wonderland

Slide your cookie treasures into the hot oven. Watch them dance and transform for 8-10 minutes until edges turn golden and centers remain soft and dreamy.

• Cookie Celebration

Carefully transfer your beautiful cookies to cooling racks. Let them rest and become perfectly crisp, ready to spread Christmas joy with every delicious bite.

Tips For Perfect Christmas Snickerdoodles

• Festive Flavor Boosters: Transform your Snickerdoodles with these delightful tips and tricks!
• Butter Brilliance: Use high-quality European-style butter for an extra rich, creamy texture that elevates the entire cookie's taste profile. Room temperature butter ensures smoother mixing and better cookie consistency.
• Spice Magic: Experiment with warming spices like nutmeg or cardamom alongside cinnamon to create unique holiday flavor dimensions. A pinch of these spices can dramatically enhance the traditional Snickerdoodle taste.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend containing xanthan gum for perfect texture. Bob's Red Mill or King Arthur gluten-free flour works wonderfully, maintaining the cookie's classic soft and chewy character.
• Make-Ahead Convenience: Prepare cookie dough balls in advance and freeze them for up to 3 months. Simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight and roll in sugar mixture before baking. This technique allows spontaneous fresh-baked cookie moments during busy holiday seasons.
• Storage Secrets: Store cooled Snickerdoodles in an airtight container with a slice of bread to maintain softness for up to 5 days. The bread prevents cookies from becoming dry and preserves their delectable texture.

Ways To Serve Christmas Snickerdoodles

• Festive Cookie Platter: Arrange these colorful Christmas Snickerdoodles on a decorative holiday plate, mixing red and green cookies for a stunning visual display that screams Christmas cheer.
• Holiday Gift Packaging: Wrap batches of these cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons, creating adorable homemade gifts for neighbors, teachers, or holiday party hosts.
• Dessert Pairing Magic: Serve these cinnamon-sugar cookies alongside warm hot chocolate or classic eggnog for a delightful seasonal treat that will make taste buds dance with joy.
• Santa's Special Treat: Leave these beautifully colored cookies on a special plate for Santa on Christmas Eve, combining tradition with a playful twist that kids will absolutely love.

Storage And Planning For Christmas Snickerdoodles

• Refrigerator Storage Strategy: Seal cooled snickerdoodles in airtight containers, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. These festive treats maintain perfect texture for 5-7 days when chilled.
• Freezer Preservation Technique: Wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe containers. Christmas snickerdoodles stay delicious for up to 3 months when frozen, allowing advance preparation for holiday gatherings.
• Room Temperature Keeping Method: Store cookies in sealed ceramic or metal tins away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Cookies remain fresh and crisp for 3-4 days at normal household temperatures.
• Cookie Batch Portioning Hack: Prepare dough in advance, shape into balls, and freeze unbaked. When ready to enjoy, thaw briefly and roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture before baking for fresh, warm cookies anytime during the holiday season.

Festive Christmas Snickerdoodles Recipe

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4.9 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 23 1x

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Description

Festive christmas snickerdoodles bring warmth and cheer to holiday gatherings. Cinnamon-sugar coated cookies offer sweet comfort that draws people closer together.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ¾ cups (344 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsps cream of tartar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 tbsps granulated sugar
• 2 tsps ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsps red sanding sugar
• 2 tbsps green sanding sugar

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Organize all baking equipment and ingredients for seamless Christmas snickerdoodle preparation.
2. Thermal Calibration: Preheat oven to 400F (200C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper for pristine cookie development.
3. Dry Ingredient Harmony: Whisk flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl to create a uniform dry foundation.
4. Butter Transformation: Cream butter and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, developing a silky base for the cookies.
5. Wet Ingredient Integration: Add eggs one at a time, blending thoroughly, then incorporate vanilla extract to elevate aromatic complexity.
6. Dough Composition: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, maintaining a tender cookie texture through minimal mixing.
7. Festive Coating Creation: Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon, then divide into two separate bowls, embellishing each with red and green sanding sugars.
8. Cookie Shaping: Form dough into uniform tablespoon-sized spheres, meticulously coating half in red-tinted and half in green-tinted cinnamon sugar.
9. Baking Precision: Arrange sugar-coated dough balls on prepared sheets, ensuring strategic spacing, and bake for 8-10 minutes until edges firm and centers remain tender.
10. Cooling Finale: Remove from oven, rest briefly on baking sheets, then transfer snickerdoodles to wire racks, completing the festive culinary experience.

Notes

• Prevent Tough Cookies: Avoid overmixing the dough to keep snickerdoodles soft and tender, as excessive mixing develops gluten that makes cookies dense.
• Butter Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter for smooth, even mixing and better cookie texture, ensuring it’s soft but not melted.
• Sugar Coating Technique: Roll dough balls completely in cinnamon-sugar mixture, gently pressing to help coating adhere and create a crisp, sparkly exterior.
• Precise Baking Time: Watch cookies closely during last 2 minutes of baking; they should look slightly underbaked in center, as they’ll continue cooking on hot baking sheet and set while cooling.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 23
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 80 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg