Best Easy Snickerdoodles without Cream of Tartar (2024)

Want to make snickerdoodle cookies but you have no cream of tartar? Don't worry, these snickerdoodles without cream of tartar are just as chewy, fluffy and soft as the traditional recipe. Easy to make with just a simple substitution of baking powder and lemon juice. No chill time for these simple cinnamon sugar Christmas cookies your family will devour!

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During the holidays the last thing you want to do is buy a special ingredient (or worse make a run to the busy store) for a recipe. That is why snickerdoodles without cream of tartar have a special place in my recipe box!

They are a classic Christmas cookie that uses a few simple swaps to create the delicious flavor and texture of a snickerdoodle. Whip these up along with my dairy free sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies and you'll have the best easy Christmas cookies to fill your family's bellies!

What Makes This Recipe Work

• No special ingredients or unnecessary trips to the grocery store! Using items you already probably have in your pantry, baking powder and lemon juice work as a simple substitute. Also, this recipe is made without baking soda, brown sugar or shortening!
• Simple Christmas cookie recipe to make from scratch with your family. You can even mix the ingredients by hand if you don't have or want to use your stand mixer or electric mixer!
• Easy recipe to make for cookie exchanges, walks or holiday parties.
• Chewy and fluffy: chewy and soft middles with crispy and puffed edges.
• Customizable! Create your own combinations by adding in pumpkin spice, chocolate chips, cocoa powder or whatever add-ins you prefer. Can easily be made into a gluten free cookie recipe.
• Quick to prepare and bake! There is zero chill time and you can have a batch baked up in just 8 minutes.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.

• Butter: If you are using salted butter versus unsalted butter, reduce the salt to ¼ tsp.

How to Make Snickerdoodle Cookies Without No Cream of Tartar

Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.

Begin by mixing together dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Cream together sugar and room temperature butter until creamy but not over-mixed.

Add in eggs, one at a time, followed by vanilla extract and lemon juice. Scrape down sides and mix until just combined.

Use a small cookie scoop to scoop out approximately 48 cookie dough balls. Roll in cinnamon sugar mixture before placing 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and baking at 350F for approximately 8 minutes.

Expert Tips

• Before you bake: As with all holiday baking, be sure to check the expiration of your ingredients prior to beginning. Baking powder can expire and rather than go bad it becomes ineffective and won't allow the cookies to rise and become fluffy yet chewy.
• Troubleshoot flat cookies: If your cookies are flat it is likely that the butter is too soft. Try adding in up to ½ cup of flour, ¼ cup at a time, to the cookie dough. Alternatively, can also chill the mixture for an hour.
• Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days on the countertop.
• Freezer: You can freeze snickderdoodles in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
• Small Batch Instructions: This recipe makes about 48 small cookies. If you quarter the ingredients you can make a small batch of cookies or half the recipe to make a small batch of larger cookies.
• Gluten Free: You can make snickerdoodles gluten free by using a gluten free baking flour such as Bob's Red Mill 1-1 baking flour or King Arthur's Gluten Free Baking flour.
• Dairy Free: Make them dairy free by using vegan butter.
• Pumpkin: Substitute pumpkin spice for cinnamon to make pumpkin spice snickerdoodles.

FAQs

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