Before I really got into baking, every once in a while my husband would pick up a pack of the big, soft snickerdoodle cookies at the bakery in the grocery store…and they would only last a couple of days. “Why do you get these?!” I’d fuss at him, while stuffing yet another one in my mouth. He would just laugh and say, “Because they’re awesome!” Well duh, of course they are. Pretty much anything with cinnamon is amazing…especially when it’s in cookies.
A couple of years after that, my mom told me about a seasonal item she found at Wal-Mart in the baking aisle…cinnamon chips. I sat there for a moment in silence, and asked, “Wait, you mean like chocolate chips, but they’re cinnamon?” and she responded, “Yep, that’s right!” Wow. Just, wow. I HAD to see these for myself. For a while, they really were just a seasonal item, and the only time I ever saw them at the store was around Christmas time, but I noticed last week while shopping that they were there. Really?! I thought to myself as I was walking past. Then the thought came Wait, why did you pass them? Get your butt back there and grab a bag!! Well, okay. Don’t worry, I wasn’t having these conversations out loud in the store…then again, that might not be uncommon for Wal-Mart, would it? Doubtful.
Take a good look at this stack, because it’s dwindling quickly. When I told my husband that I was doing a twist on Snickerdoodles, he seemed a little doubtful. Silly boy. When he asked when he could have one and I responded, “As soon as they’re done baking,” that made him happy. So, literally a minute after they came out of the oven and I’m transferring them to a cooling rack, he’s hovering over my shoulder and asking if he could have one. As he gobbled that first cookie down, he grumbled happily, then reached for another one. He walked away and took a shower, then came back about 20 minutes later and said, “Man, those cookies are awesome.” AH HA!!! I knew it! I may have to hide these until our cookout tomorrow. Cinnamon lovers, look no further…
Ultimate Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe:
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cups light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 bag cinnamon chips
For cinnamon/sugar topping:
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda and cinnamon in small bowl, set aside. In a large bowl, cream together butter and both sugars with electric mixer, beating at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, vanilla and pudding mix, continue beating. Blend in flour mixture, then stir in cinnamon chips. In a small separate bowl, stir together the cinnamon and sugar mixture for the topping. Using a cookie scoop, roll dough into balls, then cover the tops with cinnamon/sugar topping. Place on cookie sheet, bake for 10/12 minutes, or until a light golden brown. Transfer to cooling racks to cool completely, store in airtight container.
