Snickerdoodles

A snickerdoodle is a variety of sugar cookie made with cream of tartar, and rolled in cinnamon sugar. It has a characteristically cracked surface, and can be crisp or soft depending on preference.Some people mistakenly refer to snickerdoodles as "sugar cookies". The difference between the two comes from the use of cinnamon, which is balanced with cream of tartar to give the cookies their sweet, spicy flavor.

Yield:

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Ingredients

1. 1 stick plus 2 tbsp butter, softened
2. 1 1/2 cups sugar
3. 2 eggs
4. 2 teaspoons vanilla
5. 1 tsp cinnamon
6. 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
7. 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
8. 1 teaspoon baking soda
9. 1/4 teaspoon salt
10. 4 tbsp (1/2 stick) melted butter
11. Additional white sugar and cinnamon for topping

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Mix together one stick plus two tablespoons of butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar, eggs, cinnamon and the vanilla. Blend in the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Add the melted butter and mix until incorporated (add a little extra flour if the dough is greasy).
3. Mix the sugar and cinnamon for the topping in a separate small bowl. Roll tablespoon-sized balls of dough in the mixture.
4. Coat a baking sheet with parchment paper or silipat, and place the balls about two inches apart. Press them down with your fingers to help them spread out. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon and sugar mixture.
5. Bake for 8 minutes. Let them cook for one minute on the baking sheet, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes