Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

Cinnamon Sugar Cookies are crisp at the edges, chewy in the center, and coated with a mix of cinnamon, white sugar, and brown sugar that creates a sweet, crackly crust. They’re simple, but at the same time, they're such a fun twist on plain sugar cookies.

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These cookies take very little effort, but thanks to the crunch of cinnamon sugar and the hit of spice, the payoff feels big. Each bite is just the right balance of soft and crunchy.

If you’re feeling indulgent, sandwich two of these babies around a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s a great recipe to make with kids, too, because rolling the dough balls in the cinnamon sugar is a fun, hands-on step that anyone can do.

Ingredient Notes

The ingredients here are simple and likely already in your pantry. The butter should be softened to room temperature so that it creams easily with the sugar. For the coating, a mix of granulated sugar and brown sugar works best since the brown sugar adds flavor, keeping the coating from being one-dimensional.

Ground cinnamon loses its punch over time, so if make sure yours hasn’t been hiding in the back of the pantry for too long. Vanilla extract adds a little richness, but if you happen to have vanilla bean paste, that would also work beautifully here.

How To Make Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

These cookies come together quickly, and the steps are straightforward. Here’s a look at the process.

1. Start by creaming the butter and sugar together until fluffy. This is what gives the cookies their soft texture.
2. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Don’t overmix or the cookies will be tough.
5. Mix the sugars and cinnamon for the coating in a small bowl.
6. Roll the dough into small balls and coat each one thoroughly in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
7. Arrange them on a baking sheet and bake until the edges are golden.
8. Let the cookies cool slightly before transferring to a rack, then enjoy warm or store for later.

Expert Tips for Success

Making cookies is simple, but a few little tricks help make them perfect every time.

• Let the butter come to room temperature before starting. Cold butter won’t cream properly with sugar.
• Use fresh ground cinnamon for the best flavor. Older spices lose intensity.
• Don’t overbake. The cookies should be slightly soft in the center when you pull them out; they’ll firm up as they cool.
• Chill the dough if your kitchen is warm. This keeps the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
• Roll the dough evenly so all the cookies bake at the same rate.

MORE COOKIE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

These cookies are a perfect addition to a holiday cookie platter. Some others you might want to add include Chocolate Caramel Thumbprint Cookies, Flourless Chocolate Cookies, or Honey Cookies. They’re are all easy-to-make recipes, and always hit the mark. 

Black Sesame Cookies are an interesting addition if you want to add something a little different. Old-fashioned Quaker Oatmeal Cookies and Ginger Snap Cookies are great for representing the classics. And try my Pecan Pie Cookies, Air Fryer Hot Cocoa Cookies and Toffee Cookie Bars to shake things up a little.

Cinnamon Sugar Cookies Recipe

Robin Donovan

These cinnamon sugar cookies are crisp on the edges, chewy in the middle, and rolled in a sweet spiced sugar coating that makes them irresistible. They’re quick to mix, easy to bake, and perfect for any occasion, from holiday trays to simple afternoon snacks.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 cookies

Calories 314 kcal

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Ingredients

  

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For the Cookies

• ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• ▢ 1 cup sugar
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating

• ▢ ¼ cup brown sugar
• ▢ ½ cup sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven

  Set the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Make the dough

  Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well combined.
• Combine dry ingredients

  In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
• Mix everything together

  Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture gradually, stirring just until combined. Do not overmix.
• Prepare the coating

  Mix the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl.
• Shape and roll

  Form the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the sugar mixture until coated.
• Bake

  Place the dough balls on the prepared sheet, leaving space between them. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are golden.
• Cool

  Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack.

Notes

• Use freshly ground cinnamon for the best flavor.
• To freeze, roll the dough into balls, coat them in sugar, and freeze on a tray. Store in a freezer bag and bake as needed.
• These cookies pair well with tea, coffee, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 2gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 197mgPotassium: 36mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 494IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg

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