Snickerdoodle facts for kids
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| Type | Cookie |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | New England |
| Main ingredients | Flour, butter or oil, sugar, cinnamon sugar, salt |
A snickerdoodle is a super yummy type of cookie that many people love! It's made with common ingredients like flour, fat (such as butter), sugar, and a little bit of salt. What makes it truly special is that each cookie is rolled in a delicious mix of cinnamon sugar before it's baked. Sometimes, eggs are added, along with cream of tartar and baking soda. These ingredients help the cookie rise and give it a unique texture. Snickerdoodles often have a pretty cracked surface and can be either crispy or soft, depending on the recipe used.
You might think a snickerdoodle looks a lot like a regular "sugar cookie". But there's a cool difference! Sugar cookies are usually rolled in just white sugar. Snickerdoodles, however, get their special flavor from being rolled in both white sugar and cinnamon. Also, the cream of tartar gives snickerdoodles their signature tangy taste and a slightly chewy texture. This is another big difference from a simple sugar cookie.
Contents
All About Snickerdoodles
Where Did the Name "Snickerdoodle" Come From?
The name "snickerdoodle" sounds really fun, doesn't it? No one is completely sure where this unique name came from! Some people think it might have come from a German word, Schneckennudel, which is a type of pastry.
Another idea is that the name is just a silly, made-up word. In New England, where these cookies became popular, people sometimes gave cookies funny, whimsical names. The word "snicker" can mean a quiet laugh, and "doodle" can mean a simple or silly person. So, maybe it's a mix of those fun words! The earliest time anyone found the word "snickerdoodle" written down was in 1889.
Baking Your Own Snickerdoodles
Making snickerdoodles is a lot of fun and a great activity! Traditionally, these cookies were made with a mix of shortening (a type of fat) and butter. Today, some modern recipes use different kinds of oil instead of shortening.
Before the cookies go into the oven, the dough balls are rolled in a special mix of cinnamon and sugar. You can change how much cinnamon you use to make them taste just right for you! The process is similar to making many other cookies. First, you mix the fat (like butter) and sugar together until it's light and fluffy. Then, an egg is mixed in, and finally, the flour is added.
Some recipes suggest using cream of tartar to help the cookies rise. This ingredient also gives the snickerdoodle its special tangy flavor. Once the dough is mixed, you divide it into small, equal parts. Each part is rolled by hand into a little ball. Then, these balls are rolled in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Finally, the spiced and sugared balls are placed on a baking sheet. Make sure to leave enough space between them, so they can spread out nicely as they bake.
Snickerdoodles Beyond the Cookie Jar
Snickerdoodles are not just popular cookies; their delicious flavor has inspired many other treats! These cookies are a favorite in Mennonite and Amish communities. A famous poet from Indiana, named James Whitcomb Riley, also loved snickerdoodles.
In recent years, the snickerdoodle flavor has become super popular in all sorts of desserts, sweets, and drinks. For example, during the holiday season in 2014, Dunkin' Donuts offered a snickerdoodle cookie latte on their menu. Also, Nestlé Coffee-Mate created a coffee creamer that tastes like a snickerdoodle. Even ice cream brands like Braum's Ice Cream and Prairie Farms Dairy have made snickerdoodle-flavored ice cream! It shows just how much people love this unique cookie.
See also
In Spanish: Snickerdoodle para niños
- List of cookies
- Sandies
