Soft and Chewy Butterscotch Snickerdoodles – The enchanting aroma of cinnamon meets the creamy richness of butterscotch in these utterly irresistible snickerdoodles! Prepare to elevate your cookie game with a recipe that promises a heavenly soft center, delightfully chewy texture, and perfectly crisp edges. This isn’t just a cookie; it’s an experience waiting to happen in your kitchen.
As the air turns crisp and vibrant hues of autumn paint the landscape, my mind invariably drifts to the comforting embrace of fall flavors. It’s a season that calls for warmth, spice, and indulgence, and my pantry shelves are certainly ready. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and all my beloved spices have taken center stage, seeing action almost daily. It was on one of those first chilly mornings of fall, with a gentle breeze hinting at the change of seasons, that I found myself in the kitchen. The craving for a warm, spiced treat was undeniable, and thus, a batch of these glorious cookies came to life.
Among the pantheon of classic cookies, the snickerdoodle holds a special place, not just in my heart, but also as my husband’s absolute favorite. For years, I perfected the art of the traditional snickerdoodle, achieving that iconic soft-yet-chewy texture with a delightful tang. It was a resounding success, a recipe I was truly proud of. But then, a moment of inspiration struck: what if I introduced the sweet, caramel-like notes of butterscotch? It was an experiment born of pure dessert ambition, and in hindsight, the best decision ever! The addition of butterscotch chips transformed the classic into something truly extraordinary, a symphony of flavors and textures that tantalizes the taste buds.
These Butterscotch Snickerdoodles are more than just a sweet treat; they’re a culinary revelation. Each bite delivers a perfect harmony: a wonderfully soft and incredibly chewy center, giving way to subtly crispy edges once fully cooled. This delightful textural contrast is precisely what makes them so addictive. But it’s the butterscotch that truly elevates them, adding a layer of rich, buttery sweetness that complements the warm, aromatic cinnamon sugar coating in an absolutely divine way. It’s a match made in dessert heaven, promising to become an instant favorite in your household. Trust me, these cookies simply *must* make an appearance in your kitchen this season.
Just look at those beautiful, inviting folds and crinkles in each cookie! Aren’t they simply captivating? They’re a testament to the perfect bake, promising an experience that will make you swoon even before the first bite. And that first bite? It leaves you utterly speechless. The incredible chewiness, the way it melts in your mouth, the burst of cinnamon and butterscotch – it’s pure, unadulterated goodness. You’ll quickly find that stopping at just one is an impossible feat. These cookies are designed to be devoured, savored, and shared, bringing joy with every delicious morsel.
Crafting the Perfect Soft and Chewy Butterscotch Snickerdoodles
Creating these delightful Butterscotch Snickerdoodles is surprisingly straightforward, even for novice bakers. The cookie dough itself is incredibly simple and forgiving, requiring no tedious chilling time before baking. This means you can enjoy fresh, warm cookies in under 30 minutes! The process begins with creaming together softened butter and a blend of sugars until the mixture is light, fluffy, and airy. This crucial step incorporates air into the dough, contributing to the cookies’ eventual soft texture. Next, a single large egg and a generous splash of pure vanilla extract are incorporated, adding richness and depth of flavor. In a separate bowl, the dry ingredients—all-purpose flour, a secret ingredient for ultimate softness (pudding mix), cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon—are whisked together to ensure even distribution. These dry components are then gently folded into the wet mixture until just combined. Overmixing is the enemy of tender cookies, so a light hand is key here. To add bursts of butterscotch goodness throughout the cookie, half of the butterscotch chips are stirred directly into the dough, while the remaining half are reserved for a decorative touch on top of each cookie dough ball before baking, enhancing their visual appeal.
One of the beauties of this recipe is its flexibility. While I often bake with freshly prepared dough for immediate gratification, I’ve also experimented with chilling half of the dough for a couple of hours. Interestingly, I didn’t notice a dramatic difference in the texture of the cookies between the chilled and unchilled batches. However, chilling cookie dough typically allows the flavors to meld and strengthen, resulting in a more complex taste profile. So, if you’re planning ahead or simply prefer to bake at your leisure, chilling the dough is certainly an option that might deepen the butterscotch and cinnamon notes. Whether you’re making them to enjoy right away or preparing them in advance, these snickerdoodles are designed for convenience and deliciousness, offering you delightful options for your baking schedule.
During baking, you’ll observe these cookies puffing up beautifully in the oven. The magic truly happens as they begin to cool on the baking sheet: they will gracefully settle down, and those glorious, characteristic snickerdoodle folds and crinkles will elegantly appear on their surface. This is a sign of a perfectly baked snickerdoodle – soft in the center and just the right amount of chewy. The key to achieving this perfect texture and the lovely folds is to bake them just until the edges are set and lightly golden, while the centers still look slightly soft. Overbaking will lead to a dry, crispy cookie, losing that quintessential snickerdoodle charm.
For those who love the classic snickerdoodle but prefer a recipe without pudding mix, I highly recommend checking out my ultimate The Best Chewy Snickerdoodles Recipe. It’s a foundational recipe that delivers on all the promises of a perfect snickerdoodle experience, focusing on traditional methods to achieve that unparalleled chewiness and signature tang from the cream of tartar.
Soft and Chewy Butterscotch Snickerdoodles
Experience the best of fall baking with these irresistible Soft and Chewy Butterscotch Snickerdoodles. The warm spice of cinnamon perfectly complements the rich, buttery sweetness of butterscotch, creating a cookie that’s incredibly soft, delightfully chewy, and bursting with flavor. A truly amazing cookie!
Author: Anna
10
9
19
Dessert
American
24
cookies
138
kcal
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 ½ oz package vanilla pudding mix or butterscotch pudding for stronger flavor!
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ cup butterscotch chips
For Rolling:
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350° F (175° C). This ensures even baking from the moment your cookies enter the oven.
- Line a baking sheet with a silicon baking mat or parchment paper. This prevents sticking and promotes even browning. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the softened butter for about 30 seconds until smooth. This aeration is the first step to soft cookies.
- Add both the granulated sugar and the packed light brown sugar to the butter. Continue to cream until the mixture is light, fluffy, and noticeably pale, usually around 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Incorporate the room temperature large egg and pure vanilla extract. Mix on low speed just until they are fully combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.
- In a separate, medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, vanilla pudding mix (or butterscotch for an extra flavor boost), cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Whisking ensures these ingredients are evenly distributed, preventing pockets of leavening agents in your cookies.
- Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir just a few times until the flour mixture is mostly incorporated. Then, add half of the butterscotch chips to the dough, mixing gently until all flour streaks disappear and the chips are evenly distributed. Reserve the remaining chips for topping. Again, avoid overmixing.
- In a small, shallow bowl, combine the ¼ cup granulated sugar and 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon for rolling. This creates the classic snickerdoodle coating.
- Using a medium cookie scoop (approximately 1.5 tablespoon size), portion out the cookie dough. Roll each scoop thoroughly in the cinnamon sugar mixture until completely coated. Place the coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them a few inches apart. For an extra pretty factor, gently press a few of the reserved butterscotch chips onto the top of each cookie dough ball before baking.
- Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes. My personal “magic number” for optimal chewiness and softness is 9 minutes. The cookies should be puffed up, and the edges should be lightly set, but the centers might still look slightly soft. This is key to their chewy texture.
- Allow the baked cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes. This helps them set up and develop their signature crinkles. After 10 minutes, carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- Store your finished Butterscotch Snickerdoodles in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain their freshness and delightful chewiness.
Nutrition
Calories:
138kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
24g
|
Protein:
1g
|
Fat:
4g
|
Saturated Fat:
2g
|
Cholesterol:
16mg
|
Sodium:
86mg
|
Potassium:
33mg
|
Sugar:
15g
|
Vitamin A:
130IU
|
Calcium:
13mg
|
Iron:
0.6mg
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Tips for Baking the Best Butterscotch Snickerdoodles
Achieving bakery-quality snickerdoodles is easier than you think with a few key tips. First and foremost, always use room temperature ingredients, especially butter and eggs. Softened butter creams more efficiently with sugar, creating a light, airy base for your cookies, while room temperature eggs emulsify better with the wet ingredients, leading to a smoother, more uniform dough. Another critical piece of advice is to avoid overmixing the dough. Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix just until combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can result in tough, dense cookies instead of the desired soft and chewy texture.
Do not overbake your snickerdoodles! This is perhaps the most common mistake in cookie baking. Snickerdoodles should be removed from the oven when the edges are just set and lightly golden, but the centers still appear slightly soft. They will continue to cook and set up as they cool on the hot baking sheet. This underbaking technique is what guarantees that wonderfully soft and chewy interior. Using a cookie scoop ensures that all your cookies are uniform in size, which in turn means they will bake evenly. This consistency is not only aesthetically pleasing but also prevents some cookies from burning while others remain undercooked.
While the original recipe notes that chilling the dough isn’t strictly necessary for texture, it’s worth considering for flavor. Allowing the dough to chill for at least 30 minutes, or even a couple of hours, can significantly deepen the flavors of cinnamon and butterscotch, resulting in a more pronounced and complex taste profile. If time allows, a brief chill can elevate your snickerdoodles from delicious to truly exceptional. Experiment with these tips to discover your perfect butterscotch snickerdoodle!
Flavorful Variations and Customizations
While the classic Butterscotch Snickerdoodle is a masterpiece on its own, don’t hesitate to get creative and explore various flavor combinations. The beauty of baking is the endless possibilities for customization! For an even more intense butterscotch flavor, consider using butterscotch pudding mix instead of vanilla in the dough. This simple swap will deepen the rich, caramel notes of the butterscotch chips, making them truly sing. If you’re a fan of nuts, a half-cup of finely chopped pecans or walnuts can add a delightful crunch and nutty undertone that pairs beautifully with both cinnamon and butterscotch.
Feeling adventurous? Swap out some or all of the butterscotch chips for other varieties. White chocolate chips would add a creamy sweetness, while a mix of milk chocolate chips and butterscotch could create a fun “cowboy cookie” twist. You could also introduce other warm spices into the cinnamon sugar coating. A pinch of nutmeg, ground ginger, or even a touch of cardamom would complement the cinnamon and butterscotch wonderfully, adding extra layers of autumnal spice. For a decadent touch, drizzle cooled cookies with a simple homemade caramel sauce or a light vanilla glaze. These small adjustments can transform your snickerdoodles into a new favorite, perfect for any occasion or mood.
Serving Suggestions and Storage
These Soft and Chewy Butterscotch Snickerdoodles are incredibly versatile and perfect for any occasion. Serve them warm, straight from the oven, for an ultimate gooey, melt-in-your-mouth experience. They pair wonderfully with a steaming mug of hot coffee, a refreshing glass of cold milk, or a cup of your favorite herbal tea, especially spiced chai for an extra dose of warmth. For a truly decadent dessert, place a warm snickerdoodle alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, allowing the cookie’s warmth to slightly melt the ice cream into a delightful pool of sweetness.
Proper storage is key to maintaining their irresistible texture. Once completely cooled, store your Butterscotch Snickerdoodles in an airtight container at room temperature. This will keep them soft and chewy for up to 5 days. For longer storage, these cookies freeze beautifully. Simply place the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze them solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature or warm briefly in the microwave for that fresh-baked taste. They make excellent gifts, party favors, or simply a comforting treat to have on hand for when cravings strike.
If this delightful recipe inspires you to bake, don’t forget to capture your creations! Snap a beautiful photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Make sure to tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can admire your delicious work and leave a comment! Happy baking! 😀