Snickerdoodles Like Mom Used to Make

 Snickerdoodles - the one cookie that reminds me of home. I smell them, I see photos of them, or if a friend makes them I miss my Mom within a milisecond. My Mom made the best Snickerdoodles in all the Universe. No, seriously! She really did. I know she used the recipe from her grandma, and I'm pretty sure it was the same I found today because they taste EXACTLY the same. I was so happy to open my cookbook and see the recipe that we had used when I was a kid. I remember being in the kitchen with Mom during the holidays and baking Snickerdoodles. They were amazing straight from the oven, and even better a day or two (if they made it that long) later.

So, since I'm so far from my Mom I had to bring some home into our home this Christmas. So, I did. I put as much love into mine, as she did her's. The only thing missing were my Mom & Dad to enjoy them with. But, I got to take some out of the oven while I was on the phone with them and bite into it. Flashing back to my childhood and giggling with my family during the holidays.

I miss you Mom & Dad. I try to recreate all the love and togetherness we had growing up. I hope you'll get to visit sometime. Until then, I'll bring you into our lives in the things we do.

Here's the recipe I used to make the delicious cookies from Betty Crocker's cookbook.

Snickerdoodles

Heat oven to 400ºF.

Makes about four dozen

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Used for the dough to be rolled in:

1/4 cup sugar (4 tablespoons)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:
Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, shortening and eggs in large bowl. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cooking pan.

Cook 8 – 10 minutes or until set

I set the timer for eight minutes, then watch them very closely. The ovens here in Germany do not cook the same as they did back home in America. So, watch for the cookies just begin to form cracks and thier color is a light brown, and remove them. Cool them on the cookie sheet about 2 minutes then remove to rack to cool completely. Then eat & enjoy. Grab a cold glass of milk and eat!

There are a ton of recipes for Snickerdoodle's online, but trust me - this one is the real one. These are just like the ones I had from 1970-something until I left Texas in 2010.