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Can You Make Snickerdoodles Without Cream of Tartar? Oh Yes!

Make snickerdoodles without cream of tartar and get delicious cookies, but without the distinct tangy aftertaste that comes from cream of tartar. Use baking powder instead of cream of tartar and baking soda to discover the cookie you can’t stop eating.

Snickerdoodle cookies are my daughter’s favorite cookie. With that tangy cinnamon sugar sweetness, they have a distinct flavor, thanks to cream of tartar.

So what happens if you don’t have cream of tartar? Can you still make snickerdoodles without cream of tartar? You can make snickerdoodles without cream of tartar, but they won’t be quite the same. The tangy flavor that characterizes old-fashioned snickerdoodles will be absent.

The cookie will taste like a chewy sugar cookie rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Still delicious. And many people prefer this cookie recipe to the tangy aftertaste of traditional snickerdoodles.

So if you are out of cream of tartar, I have you covered. Look for the baking powder snickerdoodle recipe (without cream of tartar and baking soda) at the end of the post.

What do Classic Snickerdoodles Taste Like?

snickerdoodle-cookie dough ball

When I think of a snickerdoodle cookie,  I imagine a cookie rolled in a ball and then coated with cinnamon and sugar.

The baked cookie has a top that has crinkled and cracked. The edges are crispy and the center is soft and chewy.

It tastes like cinnamon and sugar, but it has a distinct tangy, somewhat sour aftertaste.

Snickerdoodle cookies made without cream of tartar will still taste amazing. But they will taste closer to chewy sugar cookies than traditional snickerdoodles.

Were the First Snickerdoodles Made Without Cream of Tartar?

According to Stella Parks, author of Brave Tart, snickerdoodles evolved from a nineteenth century “Snip Doodle” cake.  The Snip Doodle was a cinnamon coffee cake made with butter and dusted with sugar.

snickerdoodle-cookies-image

Over time, the Snip Doodle cake evolved into snickerdoodle cookies. The earliest recipes called for baking powder, not cream of tartar.

In fact, in 1891 Cleveland Baking Powder used the snickerdoodle recipe with baking powder in their national advertising campaigns.

The first baking powder was invented in 1843 to help bread rise without yeast. Over the next decades, food scientists experimented with different substances to find the best chemical formula that would help baked goods rise.

When snickerdoodle cookies evolved, baking powder was not a common household pantry item. Home cooks were accustomed to using baking soda and an acid together to get a leavening reaction.

The combination of cream of tartar and baking soda leavened cookies just as well as baking powder. 

Since cream of tartar and baking soda were more common than baking powder, they were used in the early version of the cookie recipe.

What was in Early Baking Powder?

Trader Joe's baking powder

The product sheet for Cleveland Baking Powder boasted that the baking powder was “perfectly wholesome” with its only ingredients being cream of tartar, soda, and a little flour for strength.

Cream of Tartar Substitutes

Baking powder is a great substitute for baking soda and cream of tartar in baking. It is what you will use in this recipe.

Lemon juice can also replace cream of tartar for some things, such as stabilizing egg whites. However, because it is liquid, it doesn’t always work consistently in baking.

What is the Chemistry of Cream of Tartar and Baking Soda?

cream of tartar

Baking soda is alkaline and cream of tartar is acidic. The acid released when cream of tartar dissolves in a batter reacts with baking soda to produce carbon dioxide. This combination becomes the leavening agent in the cookie.

When cream of tartar and baking soda are used, three things happen.

  1. The cookie rises as it cooks and then falls as it cools.
  2. Cracks appear in the cookie.
  3. A tangy aftertaste mingles with the cinnamon sugar taste.

Cream of tartar also weakens gluten. As the gluten weakens, the cookie can become more tender. It can also make the crumb fine, tight, and whiter.

Fortunately, baking powder can fulfill the function of the combination of cream of tartar and baking soda.

Pro Tips (for all snickerdoodle recipes)

I recommend these special tips and techniques for any snickerdoodle recipe on this blog. You may think this is a unique way to make cookies. It is. And you will be able to taste the difference in this cookie versus all the other snickerdoodles you’ve eaten.

To read more about these techniques, go to my post on the best classic snickerdoodle cookies.

Sift the flour before you measure it.

sifting flour for snickerdoodle cookies

When you sift the flour back and forth between two bowls, it makes a huge difference in the softness and fluffiness of the cookie.

I usually sift the flour 4 to 6 times, but you can get away with 3 or 4 times. Use a strainer and two big bowls. It is easy and only takes about 3 minutes. It is well worth this short amount of time.

Weigh the ingredients. Don’t measure by volume.

bowl of flour on kitchen scale

You will get consistent results if you weigh ingredients — especially the flourDigital kitchen scales are inexpensive, yet so effective.

No one scoops and measures flour with the same results. But everyone can weigh 396 grams of flour with the same results.

Use the right ratio of cinnamon to white sugar.

cinnamon sugar for snickerdoodle cookies

Use a 1:3 cinnamon sugar ratio. This is 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to every 3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon) of sugar. This is the ideal ratio to taste the cinnamon, but not be overwhelmed by it.

Stir the cinnamon-sugar mixture together in a small bowl.

Calibrate your oven. Make sure you are baking at the right temperature.

Use an oven thermometer and find out how accurate your oven temperature is. When you calibrate your oven, you will get more consistent baking times.

Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

pumpkin snickerdoodle dough balls on silicone mat

The #1 reason to use a liner is so the cookies can cool for a few minutes on the baking mat without sticking to it.

I recommend using a Nordic Ware baking pan with a parchment sheet on it for best results. It is my favorite way to bake cookies. Or line the pan with a silicone baking mat. (Affiliate links)

If you use a regular baking sheet, you must transfer the cookies to a wire rack before 3 minutes have passed.  Otherwise, the cookies will stick to the pan and you will have to scrape them off.

Don’t overbake the cookies.

snickerdoodle-cookies-image

Bake the cookies just until the edges are set, but the very center of the cookie isn’t quite done yet. The cookie won’t be doughy, but will have a nice golden brown color. The residual heat from the pan will finish baking the cookie centers when you take them out of the oven.

If you cook the cookies too long, they will get hard and dry very quickly. Keep your cookies soft by not over-baking.

Rest the cookies before eating them. (Yes, you need willpower.)

snickerdoodle cookies wrapped in plastic wrap

This step is optional. However, I discovered that cookies taste amazing after they have rested a few hours in an airtight container. Or even better, they have been frozen for a day or so, and then brought back to room temperature. 

They are soft, chewy, fluffy — everything you want in delicious snickerdoodles.

All of these tips will help make your cookie recipe stand out. However, you will notice a difference in your cookies even if you try only a couple of the tips.

Instructions for the Best Snickerdoodle Cookies

These directions will yield soft, thick, chewy snickerdoodle cookies. Some of the steps will be unique. But if you want the perfect cookie, the one everyone talks about, then follow the steps.

Prep Work

  • Take the butter out of the fridge and bring it to room temperature. The ideal butter temperature is between 62 to 65°F (16 to 20°C).
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F (225°C).
  • Grab two big bowls and a mesh colander (or flour sifter). Sift the flour into a large bowl. Then sift it into the second bowl. Repeat the sifting once more. The flour will be light and airy.
Sifting flour into a bowl and then whisking the dry ingredients together.

Mixing the Batter

  • Measure the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt) into a bowl. Stir a couple of times. Set it aside.
Four process photos showing the steps to make the snickerdoodle dough. First, cream the butter and sugar. Second, add the vanilla and cold eggs. Third, mix in the dry ingredients. Fourth scrapes the sides and bottom of the bowl.
  • Cream the sugar and butter in a separate large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer for 1½ to 3 minutes, or until the texture progresses from sandy to creamy.
  • Add the vanilla and the cold eggs into the butter mixture. (Remember, the eggs should come straight from the fridge.) Blend on low speed until the eggs are mixed into the cookie batter.
  • Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until the flour is thoroughly mixed in. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to get all of the flour.

Scooping, Coating, and Baking

  • Use a heavy-duty baking tray, like a Nordic Ware baking sheet. Line the cookie sheet with either parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  • In a small, shallow bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon together with a spoon until blended.
Whisking the cinnamon and sugar together to roll the snickerdoodle cookie dough balls in.
  • Use a 2-tablespoon muffin scoop to scoop out the dough. (This size scoop will give you a large, thick cookie.)
  • Roll dough ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture a couple of times until the ball is completely coated. Place it on the lined baking sheet.
Rolling station with snickerdoodle cookie dough, cinnamon-sugar bowl, and cookie sheet with dough balls on them.
  • Repeat rolling out all the cookie dough balls. Space them about 2 inches apart. A half-sheet baking pan will hold 6 cookies.
  • Bake in the hot oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are set, but the middles don’t look entirely done yet. They should not be doughy but slightly underbaked. The baking time will vary based on dough thickness and your oven temperature.
  • Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place it on a cooling rack for 5 minutes. This gives the cookies a chance to finish baking with the residual heat from the pan and solidify.
  • After 5 minutes, transfer the cookies from the cookie sheet to the cooling rack.

Cooling and Resting

The cooling and resting phase is one of the most important but often skipped parts of making cookies. It takes patience, but you will love the taste of the cookies if you do it.

Side by side photos showing snickerdoodle cookies in one airtight container next to an airtight container with cookies wrapped in plastic wrap.
  • Cool the cookies on the wire rack until they are completely cool. This could take 30 to 60 minutes, depending on your kitchen temperature.
  • When the cookies are cool, place them in an airtight container for 1 to 2 hours. (Or freeze them overnight. See instructions below.)
  • After the cookies have rested in the closed container, serve them. You will love the soft and chewy texture and unbelievable taste.
Wrapping snickerdoodle cookies in plastic wrap to freeze.

Freezing the Cookies

My favorite time to eat the cookies is after they have been frozen overnight and then thawed. Try it if you are patient enough.

  • After the cookies are completely cool, stack them in columns of 3 or 4.
  • Double wrap them in plastic wrap.
  • Place the cookies in an airtight freezer container.
  • Freeze at least overnight, but several days is fine too.
  • Remove from the freezer several hours before serving them. Allow the cookies to come to room temperature. If you have a lot of cookies, thaw them overnight. If you want to eat just one, thaw it for an hour.
Plate of snickerdoodle cookies made without cream of tartar.
  • A cold glass of milk. Classics are always the best. Or try almond milk or chocolate almond milk. In our house, some people think dunking a cookie is the best part.

Can you Make Snickerdoodles Without Cream of Tartar?

You bet! And they will taste great. Enjoy the recipe below.


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Yield: 18 cookies

Baking Powder Snickerdoodles (no cream of tartar)

Plate of snickerdoodle cookies made without cream of tartar.

Make Snickerdoodles without cream of tartar and get delicious cookies, but without the distinct tangy aftertaste that comes from cream of tartar. Use baking powder instead of cream of tartar and baking soda.

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 9 minutes
Total Time 34 minutes

Ingredients

  • 396 grams (3 cups + 1 tablespoon) of flour, Gold Medal all-purpose
  • 4 grams (1 teaspoon) of baking powder
  • 3 grams (½ teaspoon) of table salt
  • 227 grams (1 cup) of unsalted butter, cool room temperature, about 65°F (20°C)
  • 330 grams (1⅔ cups) of white, granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs, cold, straight from the refrigerator
  • 5 grams (1 teaspoon) of vanilla extract
  • 38 grams (3 tablespoons) of white, granulated sugar
  • 8 grams (3 teaspoons) of ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. PREHEAT the oven to 400°F (225°C).
  2. SIFT several (4-5) cups of flour back and forth between 2 large bowls 3 to 4 times.
  3. WEIGH 396 grams of the sifted flour on a digital kitchen scale and place it in a bowl. If you don't have a scale, use 3 cups + 1 tablespoon of flour. (Measure carefully.)
  4. WHISK the baking powder and salt into the flour.
  5. In a separate bowl, CREAM 330 grams (1⅔ cup) sugar and the butter together with an electric mixer on high for 1½ to 3 minutes, or until the texture progresses from sandy to creamy. Please note: The butter should be between 62 to 65°F (16 to 20°C). Colder butter could prevent the cookie from spreading enough as it cooks. Warmer butter will cause the cookie to spread too much when baking and may create a more crispy cookie. If the butter gets too warm, refrigerate it for a few minutes before creaming it.
  6. BLEND the vanilla and eggs into the creamed sugar and mix on medium speed for 15 to 20 seconds. Please note: Take the eggs straight from the refrigerator before blending. They should be cold.
  7. MIX the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Use an electric mixer on low speed and mix until the flour is incorporated. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to get all the flour.
  8. In a small, shallow bowl STIR the cinnamon with 38 grams (3 tablespoons) of sugar until well blended.
  9. SCOOP the cookie dough with a 2 tablespoon muffin scoop.
  10. ROLL the cookie dough ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until it is completely coated.
  11. PLACE the cookie dough ball on a heavy duty aluminum cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (or a silicone mat).
  12. REPEAT rolling the cookie dough balls and place them all on the baking sheet 2 to 3 inches apart.
  13. BAKE for 8 to 10 minutes. Rotate the cookie sheet in the oven at the 6-minute mark so the cookies bake evenly. Then bake an additional 1 to 3 minutes, or until the edges are set, but middle does not look completely done. Use your judgement here. The cookie should not be doughy. Bake until the cookies look almost done.
  14. REMOVE the baking sheet from the oven and cool the pan on a cooling rack for 5 minutes.
  15. TRANSFER the cookies from the baking sheet to the cooling rack and allow them to cool completely, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  16. REST the cookies. Place the cooled cookies in an airtight container for a minimum of 1 hour, but 2 to 3 hours is better. (A better option is to freeze them overnight. See instructions below.)
  17. SERVE with hot chocolate or a glass of cold milk.

To Freeze:

  1. COOL the cookies completely.
  2. STACK the cookies 3 or 4 cookies high.
  3. DOUBLE WRAP the stacked cookies with plastic wrap, ensuring that the cookies are completely covered.
  4. PLACE the wrapped cookies in an airtight container.
  5. FREEZE the cookies for at least 24 hours. But a few days is fine.
  6. REMOVE the cookies from the freezer several hours before eating them.
  7. BRING the cookies to room temperature.
  8. UNWRAP the cookies and place them on a serving plate.
  9. EAT AND ENJOY!

Notes

  • Weighing ingredients instead of measuring by volume will give you the best results in this recipe and all baking recipes. I like the Oxo kitchen scale, but any accurate scale will work.
  • Make sure your oven temperature is accurate by testing it with an oven thermometer.
  • Using cold eggs, straight from the fridge keeps the batter cool and prevents the dough from spreading too much while baking. The end result is thick cookies.
  • If you use a smaller cookie scoop, reduce the bake time by about 2 minutes. Keep a close eye on them while they bake.
  • Resting the cookies after baking them is optional. However, they taste amazing and have an incredible soft, chewy texture when you rest them before eating them.

All images and content are © TheTastyTip.com. If you want to use this recipe and techniques, please take your own photos, write your own description, and link back to this page. Thank you.

Nutrition Information

Yield

18

Serving Size

1 cookie

Amount Per Serving Calories 128Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 24mgSodium 48mgCarbohydrates 3gFiber 0gSugar 1gProtein 1g

Did you make this recipe?

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  • Try our famous pumpkin snickerdoodles, a twist on the classic cookie. The pumpkin puree and brown sugar make a slightly darker cookie. Roll them in sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger.

Louisa

Wednesday 1st of March 2023

Baking soda is mentioned in your description of the recipe but is not listed as an ingredient in the recipe itself. Is baking soda optional?

Tami Mack @ The Tasty Tip

Wednesday 1st of March 2023

There is no baking soda in the recipe. Only baking powder. The baking powder takes the place of baking soda + cream of tartar usually found in snickerdoodle recipes.

Krysta

Sunday 8th of January 2023

Hi!

I made these and the dough did not spread but the bottoms became slightly brown so I had to remove to prevent burning. Any idea what I may have done wrong?

Krysta

Monday 9th of January 2023

@Tami Mack @ The Tasty Tip,

The taste is fantastic! I just need them to spread out. I’m going to try the tips you suggested but can tell you I could not press my finger in the butter to make an imprint so that was most likely the issue. Thank you so much!

Tami Mack @ The Tasty Tip

Sunday 8th of January 2023

It sounds like one of two things. Either too much flour was added or the butter was too cold. I recommend weighing the flour instead of measuring it in measuring cups for more accuracy. Cookies with too much flour won't spread much.

Butter that is too cold can keep the dough from spreading also. And during the winter, our kitchens are colder. Cool, room-temperature butter is about 65°F. If you don't have a thermometer, you can do a touch test. You should be able to press your finger into the butter and make an impression. This isn't as accurate as taking the temperature though.

Creaming the butter and sugar for 1½ to 3 minutes is also an important step. And if your butter was too cold to begin with, creaming for the full 3 minutes should lower the temperature and let the cookies spread more.

Good luck. I hope you try it again because these cookies are worth it.

Rae

Friday 4th of November 2022

I made these in my culinary class today and they were amazing! My grandma asked for the recipe! Slay queen SLAY! 💅🏽

-Gen Z

Tami Mack @ The Tasty Tip

Friday 4th of November 2022

Great! I hope you share the recipe with Grandma.

Rebekah

Monday 17th of October 2022

Nice recipe! I have a cream of tartar snickerdoodle recipe I've used for years. I started to make a batch for my kiddos and then realized I'd run out of cream of tartar. I found this recipe and decided to give it a shot. I was not disapointed! My kids said they preferred these over the ones with the tangy aftertaste. This one's replacing my old recipe. 🙂

Tami Mack @ The Tasty Tip

Wednesday 19th of October 2022

I'm so glad you found this recipe. My family loves these cookies!

Casey

Wednesday 25th of May 2022

@Tami Mack @ The Tasty Tip, As a professional baker, who has converted MANY recipes from volumetric measurements to weight, 340g is not 1.5 cups of sugar. This is one of my biggest pet peeves of food bloggers. I think you should check your own kitchen scale.

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