Snickerdoodles for Barbara

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A few weeks ago, Larry and I flew “home” to Eastern Pennsylvania where I was born and raised. We had a series of wonderful get-togethers with my three “little girl” friends as well as a terrific visit to the greatest city in the world, New York.

Our hosts, John and Barbara, had been close friends with my parents and we shared stories and memories of my folks that warmed my heart. We so enjoyed staying in their lovely country estate near Northampton, PA. and couldn’t get enough of the gorgeous green countryside. There was even a covered bridge down the road. We saw wild turkeys, groundhogs, squirrels and deer. John builds kooky birdhouses and posts them all around the property. I lost track of all the different varieties of birds that we spotted at the feeders outside the breakfast room.

Barbara kept the fridge packed with goodies during our stay. She was especially keen for me to rediscover her favorite Pennsylvania Dutch cookie, a “snickerdoodle”. I thought her store-bought cookies were pretty good and planned to try baking some when we returned home. I found recipes galore on Epicurious and added vanilla with reduced salt to my version.

Many thanks to our gracious and generous friends, Barbara and John, for such a wonderful visit to their beautiful corner of the world. In your honor, Barbara, here’s my take on snickerdoodles. Come visit us soon and I will bake another batch for you! And, yes, here is Barbara, our wonderful hostess.

Yields about 2 dozen cookies

  • 2 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch of sea salt (optional)
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups organic cane or white sugar, plus 3 tablespoons
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium-sized bowl. Set aside.

3. Using a standing mixer, beat together the butter and shortening. Add the 1 1/2 cups of sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time and the vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix until just smooth.

4. Mix the 3 tablespoons of sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl.

5. Roll the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar.

6. Flatten the balls into 1/2 inch thick discs, using the bottom of a sturdy glass or small ramekin.

7. Place cookies on unlined baking sheets and bake until light brown, about 15 minutes. Cool on racks.

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17 Responses to Snickerdoodles for Barbara

  1. Gisele aka LA2LAChef June 20, 2011 at 4:19 pm #

    So glad to have a Snickerdoodles recipe. I remember being introduced to them in my college days, and loving them. It seems hard to find a recipe for them nowadays, though. Thanks, Liz.

    • lizthechef June 20, 2011 at 5:11 pm #

      I’m not much of a baker but this is a simple recipe – Larry just ate 4…

  2. Toni June 20, 2011 at 4:27 pm #

    When we had a cookie shop Snicker Doodles was our #2 cookie following Chocolate Chip
    Cooled Snicker Doodles are good but warm from the oven when they are still soft are the BEST

    • lizthechef June 20, 2011 at 5:10 pm #

      I never knew you had a cookie shop!

  3. Barbara Stoffa June 20, 2011 at 5:45 pm #

    Only fair to alert everyone that the Surgeon General is planning to label snicker doodles with an addiction warning.
    So live it up now.
    Barbara

    • lizthechef June 20, 2011 at 5:52 pm #

      My homemade ones are even more addicting – try them!

  4. TasteFood June 20, 2011 at 6:58 pm #

    Snickerdoodles are a favorite in our house. Adding the shortening makes a big difference. I look forward to trying your recipe, Liz.

    • lizthechef June 20, 2011 at 7:40 pm #

      Thanks – I hadn’t bought a can od Crisco in years…

  5. chezsuzaane June 21, 2011 at 3:10 pm #

    I LOVE snickerdoodles!! This sounds like a great recipe for them. And it looks like you had such a nice visit back “home”.

  6. Georgia, The Comfort of Cooking June 21, 2011 at 3:50 pm #

    Liz, these snickerdoodles look so delicious! They’re one of my favorite cookies, after all. Thanks for sharing! You have a beautiful blog and I’m looking forward to exploring more of your recipes. 🙂

    • lizthechef June 21, 2011 at 4:10 pm #

      Yes, we had a wonderful visit – and I don’t even want to talk about all the cookies we ate yesterday 🙁

    • lizthechef June 21, 2011 at 4:12 pm #

      Thanks for visiting, Georgia – I will enjoy looking at your blog as well.

  7. Kelsey June 21, 2011 at 1:25 pm #

    What a sweet story, glad your trip was fun!!

    • lizthechef June 21, 2011 at 4:14 pm #

      Thanks, Kelsey – it was a terrific vacation. I’m wondering why your comment come marked as “spam”? Hmm – have to check that out for sure!

  8. current vintage June 23, 2011 at 2:44 am #

    Liz, I have been meaning to tell you how much I love snickerdoodles! I love the name too! (Has anyone named their goldendoodle dog Snickerdoodle, I wonder) Anyway, my grandmother made these all the time and they were my favorite cookie. Does anyone know the history of this cookie?

    • lizthechef June 23, 2011 at 2:46 am #

      Boy, I am clearly wrong on tagging these cookies as Pennsylvania Dutch – comment like yours make them a truly American classic – but then we have our grandmothers…

  9. bakingdevils June 27, 2011 at 1:29 pm #

    Never made this before…look really yummy and so I’ll have to five it a try sometime soon….

    -Shilpa

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