Snickerdoodles are a favorite sugar cookie with soft, chewy texture and classic cinnamon flavor. These Eggnog Snickerdoodles are perfect for Christmas time with a familiar taste of the holidays.
When Snickerdoodle cookies are baking the house is filled with a buttery cinnamon aroma!
Little and big people will hover over the cooling rack waiting to sink their teeth into these soft, chewy Eggnog Snickerdoodles.
This holiday Snickerdoodle cookie recipe will become a family favorite.
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What are Snickerdoodles?
If you’ve never tried a Snickerdoodle the name doesn’t give away anything about that the cookie might taste like.
They are believed to be of German origin. The whimsical sounding name may be a derivation of a German cookie name or a nonsense made up name. No one knows for sure.
Snickerdoodles are technically a sugar cookie. They are soft and chewy. Before baking they are rolled in a sugar and cinnamon mixture; it’s the cinnamon that sets them apart.
What does a Snickerdoodle Cookie Taste Like?
They are a soft, buttery cookie with a distinct cinnamon and sugar flavor. The texture is dreamy.
This recipe gives them a special holiday flavor adding eggnog as an ingredient!
Recipe Ingredients Notes
Unsalted Butter. Start with softened butter.
Eggnog. Store bought or homemade eggnog can be used.
All Purpose Flour. Regular all purpose flour or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blends may be used. For gluten-free baking we always use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour.
Powdered Sugar. For the optional Eggnog Icing.
Why is there Cream of Tartar in Snickerdoodles?
Cream of Tartar is an acidic powder found in the spice aisle at the grocery store. It is similar to lemon juice or vinegar in its acidity.
When combined with Baking Soda, Cream of Tartar helps cookies rise. It’s an ingredient always found in Snickerdoodles and does as a bit of tangy flavor.
Substitution for Cream of Tartar? Baking powder can be substituted for the combination of baking soda and Cream of Tartar.
But it’s worth buying Cream of Tartar for this recipe!
The Spices
The spices are really the star of a Snickerdoodle. It’s what makes it a special sugar cookie with a special unique flavor.
Nutmeg is the classic partner spice for eggnog making it a natural for these Eggnog Snickerdoodles.
Eggnog
Eggnog is not a typical Snickerdoodles ingredient it’s for this holiday version. Store bought or homemade eggnog can be used!
Optional Eggnog Icing
Snickerdoodles are not typically iced and these are delicious without icing.
BUT since it’s the holidays we’ve included an easy eggnog icing which can be optionally added. Once the cookies have cooled and set the drizzle enhances the spice flavors in the eggnog.
How to Make Eggnog Snickerdoodles Cookies – Step-by-Step
STEP 1. Make the dough
Cream together both sugars, and softened butter until light and fluffy; about 3 minutes (photo 1).
Add eggs, eggnog, and vanilla extract; mix until just combined (photo 2).
Add flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and salt (photo 3). Beat just until combined. DO NOT OVERMIX (photo 4).
STEP 2: Chill dough
Refrigerate dough for 30-60 minutes.
STEP 3: Mix rolling spiced sugar
While dough is refrigerating, combine the granulated sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
STEP 4: Make cookies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Once dough is slightly stiff, make a ball of dough that is about 1-inch in size. Roll the dough in the cinnamon sugar mixture to fully coat. Repeat for all the dough (photos 5-6).
STEP 5: Bake and Cool
Place on a prepared baking sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes (photo 7-8).
Cool completely on cooling wire rack (photo 9).
To make the Eggnog Icing
Combine all the icing ingredients (photo 10).
Drizzle lightly on the cooled Snickerdoodles (photo 11-12).
ICING PRO TIPS
The best way to ice a cookie:
- Place cookies it on a cooling rack that is seated above a lined rimmed baking sheet.
- Lightly drizzle the cookie allowing any extra icing to drain to the baking sheet below. This prevents the cookies from sitting in icing and getting soggy.
- Remove the lining (parchment paper, wax paper or foil work great) and discard after icing the cookies.
Allow the icing to harden for 1-2 hours until firm. Sprinkles can be added when the icing is freshly drizzled too.
How to Store Eggnog Snickerdoodles
Without Icing: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
The Snickerdoodle cookies can be stored in the refrigerator up to 1 week. Allow them come to room temperature after chilling for best flavor and texture.
With Icing: Store in airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week.
How to Freeze Snickerdoodles
Cookie Dough
- The cookie dough balls can be frozen (without the sugar coating).
- Place the balls on a rimmed cookie sheet and freeze overight.
- Then add to a freezer bag or freezer container to freeze up to 3 months.
- Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and proceed with rolling the Snickerdoodles in the sugar mixture and baking.
Baked Cookies
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
More Christmas Recipes You’ll Love
- Fully Loaded Christmas Cookies Recipe
- Chocolate Peppermint Dipped Meringue Cookies
- Forgotten Cookies
- Divinity Candy
- Christmas Crack
- Wassail – a Classic Holiday Drink
- The Best Eggnog Recipe – A Boozy Party Punch
- Eggnog Magic Cake
Recipe
Eggnog Snickerdoodles Cookies
Ingredients
Snickerdoodles
- 1 cup Brown sugar lightly packed
- 1/2 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter softened
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 cup Eggnog
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 3 cups All purpose flour (regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure blend)
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
Sugar Mixture
- 1/2 cup Granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
Icing (optional)
- 3/4 cup Powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons Eggnog
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl with a hand held mixer (or in a stand mixer) cream together both sugars, and softened butter until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
- Add the eggs, eggnog, and vanilla; mix until just combined.
- Add flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and salt; blend together until fully incorporated. Do not overmix.
- Refrigerate dough for 30-60 minutes or until you can easily roll dough in hands without it losing its shape.
- While dough is refrigerating, make sugar mixture by combining granulated sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Stir until fully combined and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet (or 2) with parchment paper or a silpat.
- Once dough is slightly hardened, make a ball of dough that is about 1-inch in size.
- Roll the ball into the sugar mixture, making sure to coat it completely. Repeat for the remaining dough.
- Place the prepared baking sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes.
- Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheet out of the oven then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before topping with icing (if desired).
- Allow cookies to cool completely before topping with icing.
Icing Instructions (optional)
- Combine al licing ingredients: powdered sugar, eggnog, cinnamon, and nutmeg and stir until all of the ingredients are mixed together.
- Drizzle onto the top of each cookie once they are completely cooled. Garnish with sprinkles if desired. NOTE: It takes 1-2 hours for the icing to set completely on the cookies. Do not over drizzle with icing.
Notes
– Store cookies in an airtight container for up to one week.
– the Icing is optional; the cookies taste great without it too!
Nutrition
Eggnog Snickerdoodles are a favorite holiday cookie recipe!
Originally published: December 10, 2019
Lindsay Cotter says
These cookies were a big hit at our party!
Sam says
These cookies were just perfection. My whole family loved them.
Lyanna Soria says
Those eggnog snickerdoodle cookies look quite tasty. I definitely need to make this for Christmas.
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
Just when I thought I couldn’t love snickerdoodles any more!