Snickerdoodle bars recipe close up.
These easy-to-make snickerdoodle bars have a soft chewy center with a little bit of crunch on the outside. A cinnamon and sugar mixture is baked on top of the bar. Your family will gobble them up!

Recipe updated: April 3rd, 2024

A soft and chewy snickerdoodle bars recipe you must make for your family and friends! And with the cinnamon and sugar that is sprinkled on top, these bars are oh-so fantastic! You will not be able to eat just one! They are that good! What’s also good is our pumpkin snickerdoodle cookie recipe, regular sugar cookies, and ranger cookies. And our favorite cookie is s’mores cookies with chocolate chips. Yum!

Snickerdoodle bars on a plate.

🍴 Key Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter – softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 and 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon of table salt

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

  • 1 and 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Ingredients for snickerdoodle bars.
Ingredients for snickerdoodle bars.

👩‍🍳 How to Make Snickerdoodle Bars

These step-by-step instructions are accompanied by detailed photos for enhanced clarity and guidance.

Step 1. Preheat Oven

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2. Soften the Butter

Take 1 cup of unsalted butter (that’s two sticks) out of the refrigerator and let it set a room temperature until it is soft. That should take about 15 minutes or so. If you don’t have time to do that, you can put the butter into a small microwave-safe bowl, then melt the butter for 30 seconds in the microwave just until soft. After that, set it aside for now.

Softened unsalted butter in a bowl.
Softened unsalted butter in a bowl.

Step 3. Add the Sugar and Butter to a Bowl

In a medium bowl or large bowl, add 1 and 1/2 cups of granulated sugar together with the melted butter.

Tip: You can use a bowl of an electric mixer or bowl of a stand mixer, then use the mixer to blend the ingredients. Start out on low speed and gradually work up to medium speed. The ingredients should be combined after that, usually only taking a minute or two when using a hand mixer.

Combine the sugar and the butter.
Combine the sugar and butter.

Step 4. Mix the Sugar and Butter

With a spoon, wooden spoon, or rubber spatula, stir the sugar and butter together thoroughly until it is nice and creamy. You can use the electric mixer if you prefer to do so.

Mix the sugar and butter thoroughly.
Mix the sugar and butter thoroughly.

Step 5. Add the Eggs and Vanilla Extract

In the same bowl with the sugar and butter ingredients, add 2 large eggs and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Mix it thoroughly until combined.

Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the sugar and butter mixture.
Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the sugar and butter mixture.

Step 6. Prepare the Flour Mixture

In a small bowl, combine flour (2 and 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour) together with 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of table salt. Stir until well blended.

Prepare the flour mixture.
Prepare the flour mixture.

Step 7. Add the Dry Ingredients to the Wet Ingredients

Slowly add the dry ingredients (flour mixture) to the wet ingredients (butter and sugar mixture) while stirring.

Tip: Do not add too much flour all at once to the wet ingredients. It is harder to stir the lumps and clumps that will form. A little flour at a time is much easier to mix.

Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture.
Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture.

Step 8. Mix Dough Until Well Blended

Continue to stir, including the sides of the bowl, until all the dry ingredients and wet ingredients are blended into a snickerdoodle cookie dough.

Stir the flour mixture and sugar mixture until well blended.
Stir the flour mixture and sugar mixture until well blended.

Step 9. Prepare the Baking Pan

Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. You can use any type of nonstick spray. Examples are olive oil spray, vegetable oil spray, or canola. You can place a sheet of parchment paper in the baking dish if you prefer to do so. No cooking spray would be needed then. Also, if you don’t have a 9×13-inch baking dish, you can use a couple of smaller pans.

Note: This recipe doesn’t require chill time, but if you are super busy and need to take a break, you can chill the dough at this time in the refrigerator for about an hour or so. If you do chill the dough, make sure to cover it tightly with plastic wrap so it won’t dry out.

Spray a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Spray a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 10. Put the Cookie Dough in the Baking Pan

Spread the snickerdoodle cookie dough in an even layer in the prepared pan. Spread it around as best as you can, but it doesn’t have to be perfect.

Tip: Having a few higher spots and lower spots like crevices in the dough makes the snickerdoodle bars have a nice cracked surface effect after they are done baking. The best way to do that is to use your hands and press the dough down in the pan.

Spread the snickerdoodle cookie dough in the baking pan.
Spread the snickerdoodle cookie dough in the baking pan.

Step 11. Make the Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture

In a different bowl, add 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of granulated sugar together with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Mix until the cinnamon sugar mixture is blended thoroughly.

Combine the sugar and cinnamon.
Combine the sugar and cinnamon.

Step 12. Make a Cinnamon Sugar Layer

Take the bowl of cinnamon and sugar mixture and sprinkle it evenly over the top of the unbaked cookie dough. Remember, we haven’t baked the cookie dough yet.

Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon on top of the cookie dough.
Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon on top of the cookie dough.

Step 13. Bake at 350 Degrees Fahrenheit

The next step then is to bake the snickerdoodle bars. Put the baking pan into the preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 22 to 26 minutes. Do not overbake. We baked ours for 24 minutes, so just keep an eye on your snickerdoodle bars while they are baking in the oven. After baking, take the snickerdoodle bars out of the oven and set the pan on a wire rack until cooled.

After that, cut the snickerdoodles into squares. We cut ours to make 24 bars, but you can cut the bars into any size you prefer.

Bake at three hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit for twenty-two to twenty-six minutes. Do not over bake.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 22 to 26 minutes. Do not overbake.


⭐️ Recipe Variations

  • After these chewy snickerdoodles are baked, lightly sprinkle powdered sugar over the top of the bars while they are still in the baking dish before you cut them into squares.
  • To make the best snickerdoodles even better, drizzle powdered sugar icing or cream cheese frosting over the top of the snickerdoodle bars after baking.
  • Make cookie shapes and put the cookie dough on a cookie sheet, then bake. If you do this, the baking time may have to be adjusted.
Snickerdoodle bars on a plate.
Snickerdoodle bars on a plate.


🙋 FAQs

How do I Store Snickerdoodle Bars?

You can cut the bars in the baking dish and leave them in there, or you can transfer them to a plate. Cover the baking dish or plate with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. If your baking dish has a lid, cover it with that. You can leave the bars covered on the countertop for a couple of days. After that, put them in the refrigerator for a couple more days or freeze them.

Can I Freeze Snickerdoodle Bars?

Yes, you can freeze snickerdoodle bars in the freezer. Use an airtight container that is safe for the freezer. These snickerdoodle bars should last about 3 or 4 months in the freezer. You can wrap two or three bars individually in freezer bags and only take out the amount you need when the craving hits.

Snickerdoodle bars on a plate.
Snickerdoodle bars on a plate.

💡 Final Thoughts

With chewy centers and cinnamon and sugar on top, these snickerdoodle bars are a delight to eat! They are super easy to make in a matter of minutes. So, the next time you are wondering what to make for dessert or just a treat for the kiddos, this snickerdoodle bar recipe should be your #1 choice! When you see these snickerdoodle cookie bars disappear before your eyes, you will be amazed.

These easy snickerdoodle bars can be made for bake sales and potlucks, or special occasions such as birthday parties and bridal showers too. They are especially popular during the holiday season.

Snickerdoodle bars on a plate.

📄 Recipe Card

Snickerdoodle bars recipe close up.

Snickerdoodle Bars

Avatar for FloFlo
These easy-to-make snickerdoodle bars have a soft chewy center with a little bit of crunch on the outside. A cinnamon and sugar mixture is baked on top of the bar. Your family will gobble them up!
5 from 5 votes
Cost $4
Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 26 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings 24 Bars

🫕 Equipment

🧂 Ingredients
  

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

👩‍🍳 Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Soften the butter at room temperature or in the microwave for 30 seconds.
  • Add the softened butter to the sugar. Mix thoroughly.
  • Add the eggs and the vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly.
  • In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
  • Add the flour mixture a little at a time to the sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract mixture. Mix thoroughly.
  • Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
  • Spread the cookie dough evenly in the baking pan.
  • Mix the sugar and cinnamon together.
  • Sprinkle the sugar-cinnamon mixture over the top of the cookie dough.
  • Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 22 to 26 minutes. Do not overbake.
  • Place on a wire rack to cool. Cut into squares.

*️⃣ Recipe Notes

  • We baked these snickerdoodle bars for 24 minutes.
  • After baking, try sprinkling some powdered sugar on top of the bars while they are still in the pan.
  • Or for something extra, drizzle some icing on top of the bars after baking.
  • Make cookie shapes instead and bake on a cookie sheet. The baking time would have to be adjusted.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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5 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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