Snickerdoodles

In continuing with Christmas in July, Life as Mom is having a virtual cookie exchange today.  By posting a Christmas cookie recipe on your blog or in the comments section on her site, you can enter to win a copy of "Christmas from Heart of the Home" by Susan Branch.  I have a couple of Susan Branch's cookbooks and they are lovely works of art as well as great cookbooks!  I wouldn't mind having this one in my collection.

So, I thought I'd share with you a favorite cookie recipe for Snickerdoodles.  Although I don't make them very frequently these days (this is our everyday cookie recipe of choice around here), they do hold special memories in my heart.  Growing up, these were some of my favorite ones to eat AND to make.  As a child, I just loved rolling the dough around in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.  It's a great recipe to make with kids!

Snickerdoodles

Source: Better Homes & Gardens

Makes 36 cookies

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for about 30 seconds or until softened.  Add about half of the flour.  Then add the 1 cup sugar, egg, vanilla, baking soda and cream of tartar.  Beat until thoroughly combined,  scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally.  Beat in the remaining flour.  Cover and chill about 1 hour until the dough is easy to handle.
2. In a small bowl, combine the 2 Tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon.  Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat. 
3. Place balls on ungreased cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.  Bake at 375 for 10-11 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.  Remove cookies; cool on wire racks.