It’s a fuller house than normal at my local café this morning. The patio is empty, everyone has set up shop inside. Sixty-six degree overcast weather tends to send San Diegans to shelter. A mixed bag of flip flop- and Ugg-wearing patrons with their laptops open (or, in my case, iPad) tune out the whir of the espresso machine and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” on the oldies radio station and tap into some free wi-fi.
I look forward to these two hours at the coffeehouse each week. My older child is playing at preschool, her baby brother is entertaining the babysitter. It’s my “me time”. I indulge in a hot beverage (come to think, my hazelnut latte could use a refill), send emails and draft blog posts. Next to a day at the spa this, to me, is bliss.
Especially on otherwise dreary days like this, crispy, chewy, cinnamon-sugar coated Snickerdoodles look like a spot of sunshine. I found this recipe on the back of a bag of flour, but they taste just like the ones my mom would make for us after school (for all I know, it could be the same recipe). They melt in your mouth, just like I remember.
I sometimes {heart} gray days.
Snickerdoodles
From the back of the Gold Medal all-purpose flour package
Makes about 5 dozen cookies
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
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 400°F.
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 by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls. Mix 3 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon; roll balls in mixture. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely on wire rack.
One of my Facebook fan page readers just asked me yesterday if I knew of a good Snickerdoodle recipe. I kid you not. I have forwarded her your way – “Go. Go now! Kathy is awesome.” On another note, how did I not have you included in my Blogroll? That problem has been rectified…
How perfect! I’ll rectify my blogroll at my earliest convenience as well. 🙂
Snickerdoodles are wonderful cookie creations. Your time at the coffee shop sounds blissful indeed 🙂
Hey the time to yourself *is* precious– Always make time for you!
Love the picture & am now craving Snickerdoodles! This looks like the recipe I always have used too. Thanks for the share.
I remember my mom used to make Snickerdoodles when I was a kid. Most people here in the Western states aren’t familiar with ’em – but I think they’re starting to catch on. If you go to a Borders book store in the cafe you can get a pretty good Snickerdoodle. They have ’em (if you’re lucky!) at Starbucks, too. Of course these aren’t homemade. But they still have that cinnamon-sugary goodness on top. Yum!
Really? I didn’t realize they were regional, but sometimes I miss those distinctions having grown up in California with parents from New York. 🙂
Just discovered your website, and it’s lovely. Snickerdoodles are the ultimate classic recipe for enjoying a grey day… especially here in New York. These cookies will be great for a crisp Fall temperatures with a cup of tea. Thanks for sharing.
I haven’t made this recipe for years, but tried it tonight as part of a package of cookies I’m sending to my daughter’s boyfriend who is in Afghanistan right now.
It was one my mother made at Christmas time and I had written it down in my recipe book, but I got the proportions wrong. I was pretty upset and then remembered that she had told me she got this one off the back of a flour bag. Googled for it not expecting anything and was overjoyed to find it here.
Thank you!!
You made my day ( and probably the day of some soon to be happy guys in Afghanistan).
That’s a wonderful story, Janice – I hope they enjoy them over there!