By Wendy Stoltz / Last Modified On January 15, 2023

This is the best gluten-free snickerdoodles recipe for your holiday or everyday baking adventures. They are soft, chewy, tender cookies, flavored with warm cinnamon and the creamy tang you expect from a gluten-free snickerdoodle. They are made without gluten filled flour, and taste just as good as any gluten containing version. 

When was the last time you had a really good snickerdoodle cookie? I truly hope that it was recently, but if it's been a while because you haven't found the perfect gluten-free version, I'm about to change all of that for you. 

GLUTEN-FREE SNICKERDOODLES RECIPE

Gluten-free snickerdoodle cookies are always on my Christmas cookie platter, and I make them regularly throughout the year as well. 

Do you like Cookies? I have more gluten-free cookie recipes! Gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are my standby recipe, the one I make whenever I need a bake-sale entry or I'm taking a treat to a sick friend.  Try something different with my gluten-free lemon cookies or soft gluten-free sugar cookies with icing. 

WHY YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE THESE GLUTEN-FREE SNICKERDOODLES 

Perfect crumb texture - Gluten-free Snickerdoodles are thick, chewy cookies with the perfect crumb texture. They are crispy on the outside thanks to a generous coating of cinnamon sugar. 

Create a tradition - Kids love rolling the snickerdoodle dough through cinnamon sugar, so enlist the help of little ones if you have some around. These will become a family tradition, and a favorite memory in no time. 

Easy to make - This recipe has been thoroughly tested, and I'm confident that I've created the absolute best gluten-free snickerdoodle cookie recipe. I'm also confident that it's an easy to make recipe.

INGREDIENTS FOR GLUTEN-FREE SNICKERDOODLES

Gluten-Free Flour Blend - This snickerdoodle recipe was tested using Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour Blend. I've been really enjoying using this product lately, and I get very good results with all types of baked goods. You can use other blends, but your results may vary. Leave a comment if you do so we know how it went! 

Xanthan Gum - You only need to add this if your flour blend doesn't include any. Bob's Red Mill does include Xanthan, so I leave it out. 

Cream of Tartar - See note below about this important ingredient. Cream of tartar is an acidic powder that gives these cookies their classic tangy flavor and works with baking soda to create an airy, chewy texture. 

Baking Soda - Baking soda is the other leavener in our cookies, this is a must for the perfect textured gluten-free snickerdoodle. 

Kosher Salt - Salt goes into all my baking recipes, it adds flavor, and amplifies the other flavors in any recipe. 

Cinnamon - Want to know my trick for the most delicious snickerdoodles? I add cinnamon to the cookie dough and to the coating. 

Sugar - What's a cookie without sugar, right? White sugar helps to create a beautiful cream-colored cookie that is crispy around the edges. 

Butter - The start of all the best cookies is softened butter. Allow your butter to sit on the counter until it's soft enough to mix. 

Pure Vanilla Extract - I suggest using the best quality vanilla extract that you can reasonably afford. It makes a huge difference, particularly here where vanilla and cinnamon are the only flavors. 

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT CREAM OF TARTAR

The most important ingredient in snickerdoodles is cream of tartar. It’s an ingredient that isn’t used in many baking recipes, but in these cookies, it is responsible for making these cookies chewy and giving them their specific tangy flavor.

Without cream of tartar, snickerdoodles are just sugar cookies.

If you don’t use cream of tartar often, I suggest buying a new container of it before making these cookies. Once opened, cream of tartar loses its effectiveness, and your cookies won’t turn out right if your cream of tartar is too old.

The reason that cream of tartar is so important is kind of scientific. You can read more here if you like. Otherwise, just trust me! Fresh cream of tartar will make or break your snickerdoodle baking experience.  

EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THIS GLUTEN-FREE SNICKERDOODLES

Mixing bowls - These Pyrex mixing bowls come in handy.

Whisk - This OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Balloon Whisk works well.

Electric mixer - Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer with Whisk is perfect for using in these sorts of recipes.

If you have any questions about making gluten-free snickerdoodles, please leave a comment and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN-FREE SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES

This recipe for gluten-free snickerdoodles is easy! Mix up the dough, roll balls in cinnamon sugar, and bake. Keep reading for the details. 

1. Combine gluten-free flour blend, xanthan gum (if using), cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Whisk until combined and set aside. In another bowl, add the softened butter and granulated sugar. Cream with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. 
2. Add the egg and pure vanilla extract, then mix until combined. 
3. Gradually add in the flour mixture, mixing in between each addition, just until combined and no streaks of flour remain. 
4. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to make it easy to handle. 
5. In a small bowl, combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon to make the cinnamon sugar mixture.
6. Scoop the dough into 1 oz. balls using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon. You should get approximately 24 dough balls. Gently roll each ball of dough in the cinnamon sugar mixture. TIP: Be generous with the cinnamon sugar mixture. 
7. Then place cookie dough balls onto parchment lined baking sheets, leaving at least three inches between each cookie. 
8. Bake the cookie dough balls in a preheated oven, as directed in the recipe card below. You can bake two sheets of cookies at a time, so long as you rotate them halfway through. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling. 

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions in these gluten-free snickerdoodles, please see the recipe below. 

SNICKERDOODLES TIPS AND TRICKS

Buy Fresh Ingredients: Fresh baking soda and cream of tartar are key to making the best gluten-free snickerdoodles. 

More is Better: In the case of the cinnamon sugar mixture on the outside of snickerdoodles, this is especially true. Make sure to fully coat each cookie dough ball. This will give you the sweet crust that you want. 

Chill: The dough needs to be chilled for about 30 minutes after mixing. This will ensure that it is easy to handle, not so sticky, and will hold together well when you turn it into cookie balls. Chilling also keeps the cookies thick by not allowing the butter to melt too quickly in the oven. 

Space Them Out: Snickerdoodles will puff up in the oven and then fall down and spread out. Be sure to leave ample room around each cookie so that they can do so without sticking together.

Don’t Overbake: Overbaked Snickerdoodles are not ideal. The soft, chewiness of these gluten-free cookies will be perfect if the cookies are pulled out of the oven just before they start to brown on top.

WORKING WITH GLUTEN-FREE FLOURS

When working with or measuring gluten-free flour, spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level.  Do not scoop your measuring cup into the gluten-free flour. 

This will ensure that you are compacting the flour, and that your measurements are accurate.

HOW CAN I MAKE GLUTEN-FREE SNICKERDOODLES DAIRY-FREE?

You can replace the butter in this recipe with a vegan butter product made for baking. I have in the past baked with Earth's Balance Baking Sticks, but I have not tested any non-dairy butters with this recipe yet. If you try it, please leave a comment to let me know how it worked for you. 

HOW CAN I MAKE GLUTEN-FREE SNICKERDOODLES VEGAN?

As above, use a vegan butter product of your choice to make vegan gluten-free snickerdoodles.

WHAT SIZE SHOULD SNICKERDOODLES BE?

You can make gluten-free snickerdoodles in any size, but for this tested recipe I’ve made medium sized cookies. Each ball of dough is approximately 1 oz. in weight, or 1 heaping tablespoon. Try using a medium, #40 cookie scoop, filled not quite all the way to get the perfect amount of dough.

If you make larger cookies, be sure to leave ample room around each dough ball for the cookies to spread out. 

HOW DO YOU STORE GLUTEN-FREE SNICKERDOODLES?

Store gluten-free snickerdoodles at room temperature for 2-3 days. After that, they will start to dry out. I like to put wax paper or parchment paper in between layers of cookies to avoid things sticking together.

HOW DO YOU FREEZE GLUTEN-FREE SNICKERDOODLES?

For longer storage, freeze baked cookies. Freeze them on cookie trays first, then transfer to a freezer-safe container for storage.

CAN I MAKE THESE GF SNICKERDOODLES AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes, you can either make them and then store them in an airtight container to be consumed within 2-3 days. Alternatively, freeze them and bake them on the day you need them. 

WHY ARE MY SNICKERDOODLES DRY?

Generally, dry snickerdoodles have been overcooked. Next time, reduce the baking time by 2 minutes.

It's also important to measure gluten-free flour correctly to get the right texture. Be sure to spoon your flour into your measuring cup rather than scooping the measuring cup into the bag of flour.

WHY ARE MY SNICKERDOODLES FLAT?

There can be a number of reasons for flat snickerdoodles. One reason that gluten-free snickerdoodles will flatten too much is that the cookie dough balls are too warm when you start baking. Chilling the cookie dough balls before baking should fix this.

The other reason could be that your cream of tartar or baking soda wasn't fresh. Start with fresh ingredients next time. 

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GLUTEN-FREE CINNAMON SUGAR COOKIES AND SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES?

So, it comes down to one magic ingredient. Snickerdoodles have cream of tartar in them for that tanginess we all love. Other than that, they're the same. 

WHAT CAN I USE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CREAM OF TARTAR?

You can use 2 teaspoons of baking powder in place of the cream of tartar and baking soda. It is, however, going to taste different.

CAN YOU FREEZE COOKIE DOUGH?

Yes, you can freeze raw cookie dough. This gluten-free snickerdoodles cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. I like to prepare them up until step 7. Place the snickerdoodle cookie dough balls on a baking sheet to freeze and then transfer them into an airtight container.

WHY IS A SNICKERDOODLE CALLED A SNICKERDOODLE?

It is believed that the name comes from the German term Schnecke Knödel which, when translated, is “snail dumpling.” Others say it comes from Dutch origins. Both refer to a small, snail-like shape.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN GLUTEN-FREE SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES ARE DONE?

This gluten-free snickerdoodle recipe is done when they start to brown on top, take them out of the oven immediately. You don't want to overbake these.

CAN I MAKE THESE GLUTEN-FREE SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES WITH ALMOND FLOUR?

I don't recommend using almond flour, it is not the correct flour for this recipe. Almond flour is just too heavy and not developed for this type of cookie. 

Did you make these Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies? Please leave a comment below letting me know what you thought.