A snickerdoodle is a type of cookie made with butter or oil, sugar, salt, and flour, and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Eggs may also sometimes be used as an ingredient, with cream of tartar and baking soda added to leaven the dough. Snickerdoodles are characterized by a cracked surface and can be either crisp or soft depending on the ingredients used.
Snickerdoodles are often referred to as "sugar cookies". However, traditional sugar cookies are often rolled in white sugar whereas snickerdoodles are rolled in a mixture of white sugar and cinnamon.
Etymology
The Joy of Cooking claims that snickerdoodles are probably German in origin, and that the name is a corruption of the German word , a Palatine variety of schnecken. It is also possible that the name is simply a nonsense word with no particular meaning, originating from a New England tradition of whimsical cookie names. The Oxford English Dictionary claims the word's origin is "uncertain", and possibly a portmanteau of the word snicker, an "imitative" English word with Scottish roots that indicates a "smothered laugh", and doodle, a Germanic loanword into English meaning a "simple or foolish fellow", originally derived from the Germanic dudeltopf, meaning "simpleton, noodle, night-cap". The earliest use of the word recorded by the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1889.
Food trends
The snickerdoodle is a very common cookie in the United States, but is relatively unknown in other countries. The cookie is common to Mennonite and Amish communities and was a favorite treat of the Indiana poet, James Whitcomb Riley.
In more recent times, the Snickerdoodle cookie has transformed into a popular flavor of desserts, sweets, drinks, etc. Big brands have taken the simple dessert and turned them into their own original products. For example, General Mills created a Snickerdoodle flavored Chex Mix Muddy Buddies to their snack line. During the 2014 holiday season, Dunkin' Donuts unveiled a Snickerdoodle Cookie Latte on their holiday menu. In addition to a Snickerdoodle latte, Nestlé Coffee-Mate introduced their take on the cookie in the form of a coffee creamer. Brands such as Braum's Ice Cream and Prairie Farms have dedicated an ice cream flavor to the popular cookie.
See also
In Spanish: Snickerdoodle para niños
FAQs
The cookie is common to Mennonite and Amish communities and was a favorite treat of the Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley. In more recent times, the snickerdoodle cookie has transformed into a popular flavor of desserts, sugary sweets, drinks, candies, etc.
Why are they called snickerdoodles? ›
The Joy of Cooking claims that “snickerdoodle” comes from “Schneckennudel,” a German word that literally means “snail noodles.” Schneckennudels don't have anything to do with snails or noodles, though—they're actually delicious-looking German cinnamon rolls.
How old are snickerdoodles? ›
The Snickerdoodle, with its silly name, was first baked in 1891 by Cornelia Campbell Bedford. The New York cooking teacher and newspaper writer had been working on a recipe for the Cleveland Baking Powder company when she came up with a sugar cookie covered in sugar and cinnamon.
What country is the snickerdoodle from? ›
A few cookbooks explain that snickerdoodles are German in origin. They state that the cookie's name comes from the German word shneckennudel (which is a kind of cinnamon bun). Others trace its origin to New England's tradition of whimsical cookie names.
What does snickerdoodle translate to? ›
Word History
Note: An alternative etymology derives the word from Palatinate German dialect Schneckennudel, Scheckennurel, Schleckenurrl "sweet pastry made from yeast dough twisted into a spiral" (from Schnecken "snail" and Nudel "dough in various forms"), with variants in other dialects (Baden, Swabia, Saarland).
What are some fun facts about baking cookies? ›
Cookie Trivia: Eating and Baking Cookies
The average American eats 35,000 cookies in a lifetime. 95.2 percent of U.S. households consume cookies. Half the cookies baked in American homes each year are chocolate chip. Baking burns 168 – 348 calories an hour, (according the Livestrong Foundation and My Fitness Pal.)
Who invented the word snickerdoodle? ›
There is speculation as to the origin of the word “snickerdoodle,” which appears to be a complete nonsense word in English. 1931s Joy of Cooking claims the term snickerdoodle is based off the German word Schneckennudel—a German pastry whose name literally translates as 'snail noodle'.
Why do snickerdoodles taste metallic? ›
Snickerdoodles are a classic cookie with a soft, chewy texture and sweet, tangy flavor. The tanginess comes from one key ingredient—cream of tartar. There's something about the metallic taste of cream of tartar that I really don't like so I make this easy snickerdoodle recipe without it!
Why do snickerdoodles get hard? ›
Snickerdoodles might turn out hard if they are overbaked or if the dough is too dry. Be sure to keep an eye on them as they bake – when the edges are set but the centers are still soft and puffy, they are done. Also, make sure you're not adding too much flour.
What is the meaning of snickerdoodle? ›
Meaning of snickerdoodle in English
a type of biscuit made from butter or oil, sugar, salt, and flour, and covered in sugar and cinnamon (= a spice made from the bark of a tropical tree): The honey cinnamon almonds tasted like a snickerdoodle.
Cream of Tartar: This is the key to what sets snickerdoodles apart from other cookies. This acidic powder gives snickerdoodles their signature tangy flavor and chewy texture.
What category is a Snickerdoodle? ›
Snickerdoodles may be considered a type of sugar cookie but the truth is that they are not prepared in the same way. A proper Snickerdoodle cookie recipe calls for cream of tartar, an ingredient not commonly added to cookie doughs. In fact, cream of tartar is most often added to egg whites when making meringue.
What is the nickname for snickerdoodles? ›
“Snickerdoodles, also called snipdoodles or cinnamon sugar cookies, have been around since the late 1800s. They probably originated in New England and are either of German or Dutch descent.
Is a snickerdoodle American? ›
Snickerdoodles are popular cookies in the US. The name is thought to be a corruption of the German word 'schneckennudel', which is a kind of sweet bun. But, it could also simply be a nonsense word.
What is the flavor profile of a snickerdoodle? ›
The unmistakable cinnamon-sugar flavor is a delicate balance of sweetness and spice that makes this cookie so deeply delicious. You won't be able to resist!
In Spanish: Snickerdoodle para niños
