Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars

You only need 40 minutes to whip up these buttery Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars packed with sugar and cinnamon flavors.

These amazing bars taste just like cinnamon cookies and have amazing soft crumbs, and come in a bar form. Perfect to feed a crowd and make no mess in the kitchen.

My personal tip to make Snickerdoodle bar cookies soft and chewy is to use softened butter instead of melted butter and stick to the original recipe with cream of tartar – it makes all the difference!

Love snickerdoodles and looking for something softer? I have delicious Snickerdoodle recipes like my cake mix Snickerdoodle cookies or thick Snickerdoodle cookies with white chocolate.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• This great recipe makes a large batch – a whole 24 bars.
• A simple, versatile, and delicious treat for the whole family, a picnic, or a potluck.
• Amazing recipe for the fall season and Christmas too!
• Super simple to make – no chilling, scooping, kneading, or using fancy equipment.
• A real-time saver for any busy mom having kids running around the house!

Ingredients Notes

Bars

• Flour mixture: all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. You can use gluten-free flour but it may lead to a more crumbly texture.
• Cream of tartar – the original ingredient of the Snickerdoodle cookie bars recipe that actually gives that signature tang and softness. It is an acidic white powder that works as a stabilizer and leavening agent.
• Unsalted butter softened. Snickerdoodle bars have to be buttery, end of discussion. I use two whole sticks of butter and these bars turn out perfectly.
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar. Light brown sugar adds moisture, chewy texture, and subtle caramelized notes, while dark brown sugar has an even deeper toffee flavor to it.
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract

Cinnamon-Sugar Topping

• Granulated sugar
• Ground cinnamon

Kitchen Equipment

• 9×13 baking dish
• Oil or non-stick cooking spray for greasing
• Large mixing bowl
• Stand mixer with the paddle attachment or electric mixer and a large bowl
• Offset spatula for spreading

How To Make Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars Recipe

1: Prepare Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). 
2. Prepare a 9×13 baking dish with a light coating of butter or oil or line it with parchment paper. You can use nonstick spray too.
3. Combine the dry ingredients. Add flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl. Whisk together and set aside.
4. Cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together in a separate bowl or a bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle or butter beater attachment, until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
5. Add eggs and vanilla extract, and beat.
6. Slowly add the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Overmixing will make an overly dense tough cookie bar.

2: Add The Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

1. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan – spreading it into an even layer.
2. Mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl and then sprinkle evenly over the top of the dough.

3: Bake The Cookie Bars

1. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are set, the top is golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or just with a few moist crumbs. It is better to slightly undertake these bars than overbake them!
2. Let cool completely in the pan, then transfer to the wire rack before cutting into bars. You can cut just square bars or make cute rhombus-shaped bars.
3. Serve warm with some vanilla ice cream and a glass of milk.

Storage

Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the fridge for 5-6 days.

You can also freeze Snickerdoodle bars in a freezer bag for up to 3 months after you let the bars cool completely and wrap them tightly in one layer of plastic wrap and foil. They can be frozen stacked with layers of parchment paper in between.

Let them thaw and warm up at room temperature or warm up in the microwave.

Substitutions & Variarions

• Mix-ins. Add cinnamon chips and ground nutmeg (or pumpkin spice) into the dough – it will add a ton of warmth to the recipe. You can also use chocolate chips, dried fruit, or chopped nuts.
• You can add egg yolk to make the dough even fluffier and softer.
• Add lemon zest for zesty light flavors!
• To make snickerdoodle bars chewier without cream of tartar you can add baking powder to the dough.
• If you want a little crisp on the bottom or edges, you can sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture on the bottom in the prepared baking pan
• Make a frosting. Classic buttercream or cream cheese frosting – it will be mouthwatering! Make sure to let the bars cool completely before frosting otherwise the frosting will melt.
• Sweet tooth? Drizzle some simple icing on top of the baked Snickerdoodle bars.

Popular Questions

Why Do They Call It A Snickerdoodle?

The name “snickerdoodle” likely comes from the German word “Schneckennudeln,” meaning “snail noodles,” which referred to a schneckennudeln cookie that had cinnamon topping and was really soft.

This term gradually evolved into “snickerdoodle” as it crossed cultures and eventually became associated with the cinnamon-sugar-coated cookies we enjoy today!

Why Do Snickerdoodles Need Cream Of Tartar?

Cream of tartar is used in snickerdoodles to give them their signature tangy flavor and chewy texture. It also helps to activate the baking soda, making the cookies soft and fluffy. But you can substitute it with baking powder, although you will lose the tanginess.

Are Snickerdoodles An American Thing?

Yes, snickerdoodles are considered an American staple in sweet treats! They have been enjoyed in the United States for generations and are especially popular during the holiday season. Their unique name and delicious taste make them a favorite among cookie lovers, myself (and my whole family) included.

If you love this snickerdoodle-inspired recipe, you’re going to love these other recipes with that snickerdoodle flavor too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Great Bar Recipes

100-Hour Brownies

Snoball Brownies

Churro Bars

Churro Cheesecake Bars

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