Snickerdoodles

Once upon a time (a few weeks ago), all my friends decided to leave me.  Some went to San Diego, others went to Harvard, and then there were those that just wouldn't respond to my IMs.  I was a very very sad Vivian that weekend.  I was so lonely that I actually baked with my little sister and her friend.  And voila, snickerdoodles were born.

I still remember the first time I had a snickerdoodle.  It was "bring your kid to work day," so my mom brought me along.  Her coworker  Sabrina offered me several cookies, but it was the snickerdoodle that caught my ear.  I imagined a cookie oozing with caramel goodness and dipped in chocolate--just like the candy bar.  So you can picture the confusion and disappointment I had when she handed me a flat cinnamon-sugar cookie.

I couldn't even finish it and handed the rest to my mother.  Well, that was a stupid mistake because I can't get enough of it now!  My parents are actually mad that our butter supply is dedicated solely to these cookies now.  Haha.  It has a cakey, fluffy texture which I absolutely love.  Substitute this for shortening if you want--either way, it's tasty!


Ingredients
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tspn cream of tartar
1 tspn baking soda
1 cup butter
1 1/3 cups plus 1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tspn vanilla extract
1 1/2 tspn ground cinnamon

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375F.  In a large bowl, stir together flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and 1 1/3 cups sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Beat in flour mixture until well blended.
3. In another bowl, combine cinnamon and remaining 1/4 cup sugar.  With your hands, shape the dough into 1 inch balls.  Roll in cinnamon-sugar to coat.
4. Place balls, 1 inch apart, on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake until set and lightly golden and slightly crinkly on top, about 12 minutes.