Snickerdoodles are a special treat enjoyed by people of all ages for generations.
Whether you’ve grown up with them or are just discovering their magic for the first time, you may be wondering exactly what they taste like.
The answer is not as simple as you think because snickerdoodles are more than just a cookie – they’re a culinary experience.
In this article, we will delve deep into the world of snickerdoodles, exploring the ingredients used to make them, their flavor and their texture in order to give you an understanding of what makes them so special and why they have earned their place as a classic treat in the world of baked goods.
The Ingredients of a Snickerdoodle
Snickerdoodles are not your average cookie, and the secret to their distinctive taste lies in the carefully selected ingredients.
- Flour
- Butter
- Sugar (brown and white)
- Cream of tartar
- Cinnamon
- Salt
Flour forms the foundation of the cookie, while sugar adds a satisfying sweetness to this base. The addition of butter creates a rich and creamy texture while cream of tartar lends a tangy flavor and a chewy texture.
Finally, the generous dusting of cinnamon adds a warm and spicy flavor that gives snickerdoodles their signature taste.
Together, these ingredients combine to create a one-of-a-kind cookie experience that is simple hard to forget.
The Flavor Profile of a Snickerdoodle
Snickerdoodle get its flavor from a complex combination of three different elements of flavor supplied by three separate ingredients: sweet (sugar), sour (cream of tartar) and spicy (cinnamon).
Whenever you make a snickerdoodle, this is the interplay that happens.
First, there is sweetness from the addition of regular sugar (and a much complicated sweetness) brought in by the addition of brown sugar, but then this sweetness is balanced by the tanginess supplied by cream of tartar, which creates a slight sourness and chewiness in the cookie.
But the real star of the show is actually cinnamon – the generous dusting of this spice towards the end of preparation, adds warmth and depth to the flavor of the cookie.
The interplay between sweet, sour and spicy makes snickerdoodles a characteristic taste that is difficult to describe using a single word.
But let’s not get carried away, it’s not just the flavors that make snickerdoodles stand out – the texture is equally important.
When baked correctly, snickerdoodles bear a soft and chewy texture on the inside, with a delicate crumb that practically melts in your mouth.
All of these elements work together to create a cookie masterpiece.
The Taste of a Snickerdoodle in Comparison to Other Cookies
While snickerdoodles are in no doubt a delicious cookie to have, it’s also helpful to compare them to other popular cookies to get a better idea of their unique taste.
The first we’ll be comparing them against is the popular chocolate chip cookie.
These are a favorite and classic, and just like snickerdoodle, loved by people of all ages for generations, but the two stacked side by side have a completely different flavor profile.
Chocolate chip cookies are generally sweeter and richer than snickerdoodle, and they target the chocolate as the main focus of the cookie.
Then we have Oatmeal raisin cookies which are another popular choice of cookies, but they’re typically denser and heartier than snickerdoodles.
Sugar cookies bear nearly a similar texture to snickerdoodle, but where they differ significantly is that they lack the tanginess and spice that make snickerdoodles stand out.
Different Variations of Snickerdoodles
Snickerdoodles are actually quite versatile and can be adapted with little tweaks to suit a wide range of tastes and dietary needs of people.
For those in the gluten-free cargo, there are snickerdoodle recipes that use a different type of flour such as almond or coconut flour.
Vegans are also included into the snickerdoodle party too, as they can also enjoy snickerdoodles by using their direct substitutes for butter and eggs such as vegan butter and flax eggs.
For the creative minds also, those who want to try out something different, they can choose to incorporate pumpkin puree and spices picked up in fall like nutmeg and ginger for a seasonal twist called “pumpkin spice snickerdoodles”.
And of course it doesn’t stop there, you make as many tweaks as you want in the snickerdoodle recipe to make it your own, but whatever you do, never substitute the cinnamon and cream of tartar. These are truly what makes it a different type of cookie.
Frequently Asked Questions About Snickerdoole
Why Do People Love Snickerdoodles?
There are so many reasons why people love snickerdoodles! Here are a few:
Snickerdoodle boasts a unique flavor profile: Like we have said in the article, snickerdoodles have a distinctive flavor profile characterized by three different elements of flavors: spiciness, sourness and sweetness, and it is the complex interplay between these elements that cement their unique taste and sets them apart from other types of cookies.
The Snickerdoodle recipe is quite versatile: As we have mentioned in the article, snickerdoodles has a very versatile recipe that can be adapted to suit a wide range of dietary needs and tastes. This freedom of versatility ensures that nearly anyone can enjoy the delicious taste of a snickerdoodle, no matter what their preferences are or dietary restrictions may be.
It evokes nostalgia: For many, snickerdoodles evoke feelings of warmth and comfort which reminds them of their childhood memories or family traditions.So consuming a snickerdoodle can be a way to connect with this past and feel a sense of nostalgia.
Why Do They Call It Snickerdoodle?
Basically, nobody really knows for sure how the name “snickerdoodle” came into being, but there are a few theories spread here and there, of course!
One theory is that the name is a corruption of the German word “schneckennudel,” which literally translates to “snail noodle” in english. This could be because the cookie is shaped in the form of a snail using thin strips that resemble noodle.
Another theory is that the name “snickerdoodle” is simply a whimsical invention with no particular meaning or origin attached to it. It’s possible that the name was created to sound fun and catchy, making the cookie more appealing to buyers.
What Is The Smell Of A Snickerdoodle Cookie?
Snickerdoodle can be described as having a warm scent highlighted by cinnamon.
When making Snickerdoodle, the first time you’ll come in contact with the scent is as you whisk the dry ingredients together — you can almost catch a loadful whiff of it.
As you bake the cookies in the oven, the cinnamon scent becomes more pronounced and fills up the entire space with a nostalgic aroma that reminds people of the past.
The real secret behind the specific aroma of snickerdoodle lies in the master combination of cinnamon and sugar which almost always creates a fragrance that is both sweet and spicy at the same time.
Does Snickerdoodle Have Chocolate?
No, snickerdoodle does not contain chocolate as an ingredient, otherwise, that would make it another version or chocolate chip cookies.
Snickerdoodles is basically another version of sugar cookies but with a statement of its own — the final roll of the dough in a cinnamon sugar mixture which gives it the characteristic soft texture on the inside and a warm and cinnamon flavor.
You can, however, find some variations of snickerdoodle recipes that include chocolate chips or even cocoa powder as an ingredient, but it must be said that these in a true sense, cannot be considered as traditional snickerdoodles because of the chocolate addition.
What Does Snickerdoodle Cake Taste Like?
From the name, you can easily guesstimate how a snickerdoodle cake would taste — somewhat like a snickerdoodle.
This is because it is flavored with the key spices and ingredients traditionally used in making snickerdoodle cookies and these such as cinnamon and cream of tartar.
Snickerdoodle cake is typically light and fluffy and has a tender crumb with a slightly tangy flavor supplied by the cream of tartar used.
Some snickerdoodle cake recipes even include a cinnamon-sugar swirl or a cinnamon-sugar topping which adds a crunchy texture and extra sweetness to the cake.
Does Snickerdoodle Have Nuts?
No, the traditional recipe for a snickerdoodle does not contain nuts as an ingredient. It only has the basic ingredients as we have mentioned above.
However, it is still possible to find come across variations of the cookie or even some snickerdoodle-inspired desserts that have various types of nuts such as pecans and walnuts incorporated in then as an additional ingredient.
