Even better than the cookies, these Snickerdoodle Blondies are buttery, soft, and have that classic signature snickerdoodle tang! These cinnamon-sugar coated blondies may be the best way to eat Snickerdoodles yet. Recipe includes a how-to video!
This snickerdoodle blondie recipe is actually one of the first recipes I ever shared on the blog (scroll down to the bottom of the page for a link to the original so you can have a good laugh at my early photography attempts). It’s one of my favorites, too. An easy-breezy recipe that can be mixed up (without a mixer!) in less than 15 minutes and finished baking in under 30.
This recipe is the perfect marriage of my classic, buttery snickerdoodle cookies (only without the bother of dough-chilling or scooping) and my chewy blondie recipe. Subtly tangy, topped off with a generous shower of cinnamon and sugar, a tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookie crumb, I think you’re going to love these.
What Makes these Snickerdoodle Bars So Good…
Most of the ingredients we’re using are pretty standard ones you’ll be familiar with if you’ve made any of my other bar or cookie recipes. However, there are a two ingredients that are especially key here for the best snickerdoodle blondies.
Butter
No shortening, which so many old-fashioned cookie recipes use. We’re also melting our butter, which not only makes it easy to stir our batter together by hand (no mixer required), but also makes these snickerdoodle blondies especially soft and chewy and infuses every molecule with buttery flavor. As with many of my recipes, I opt to use unsalted butter and add salt so that we have full control over the flavor.
Cream of tartar
This is a big one. One of the questions I get asked most often about this recipe is “I don’t have cream of tartar, can I leave it out?”, to which I always say no, not really.
Technically you could leave it out and these bars would still turn out… They’d still have the same texture, softness and chewiness. Since we’re not baking cookies and our batter is contained in a baking pan, we don’t really need to worry about the chemical/leavening role that this ingredient typically plays in snickerdoodle cookies. However, not everything in baking is always about chemistry. The important role that the cream of tartar plays here is for taste. This ingredient provides a signature tang that makes these taste like actual snickerdoodles and not just sugar cookie bars. If you leave it out, you miss out on that classic flavor.
Then, of course, it goes without saying that a heavy topping of cinnamon and sugar is in order 👆🏻
Tips
- We’re using melted butter, but make sure to let it cool before you add your sugar to it. Butter that is too hot will melt your sugar, and you could end up with a greasy dough that doesn’t bake properly in the oven.
- I use a metal baking dish, a glass one would be fine but the bars may need to bake for longer.
- Snickerdoodle blondies should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh for at least 3 days.
- And, again, don’t leave out the cream of tartar (see notes above!).
Today’s recipe is really so simple to make that I don’t have much else to say here!
Enjoy!
More Bar Recipes to Try:
- Copycat Cosmic Brownies
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Homemade Brownies
- Peanut Butter Blondies
- Gingerbread Cookie Bars
Let’s bake together! Head on over to my YouTube channel where I’ve already uploaded over 200 recipe videos that you can watch for free!
Snickerdoodle Blondies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter melted and cooled until no longer warm to the touch
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoon (30 ml) milk
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- 2 ¾ cups (345 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Topping
- 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C).
- Grease and flour (or line with parchment paper) a 13x9 pan. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, and milk. Stir well.1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar, 2 Tablespoon (30 ml) milk
- Add in eggs and vanilla extract and stir until combined.2 large eggs, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cream of tartar and salt.2 ¾ cups (345 g) all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon cream of tartar, ¾ teaspoon salt
- Stir dry ingredients into butter mixture until combined.
- Spread batter evenly into prepared 13x9 pan and prepare topping.
Topping
- In a small bowl, whisk together granulated sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over snickerdoodle blondie batter.3 Tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Bake on 350F (175C) for 25-28 minutes or toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or with moist crumbs (not wet batter).
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
*This recipe was originally published in May of 2014 and has been updated to add more notes, a step-by-step video, a splash of vanilla extract, and new photos. Feel free to entertain yourself with some examples of my early photography from the original post.
Stefanie Walsh
I made these for a taco night party. The entire pan was demolished! EVERYONE loved them and one said they were the perfect texture. Awesome recipe… definitely a new go to!
Sam
Hmm, I think I need to start having taco parties, that sounds awesome! I’m SO glad that you loved the blondies, Stefanie! Thank you for commenting to let me know how they turned out! 🙂
kay campbell
delicious and SUPER fast to make…..my favorite part is the crispy edge pieces!!!
Loukia Kaouri
Can we add brown sugar instead of white?
Sam
That will be fine! They will taste a bit less like true snickerdoodles but the taste will still be good. Hope you love them!
Joya
Quick question…do you think margarine sticks would work in place of butter?
Sam
Hi Joya, usually I don’t like using margarine in place of butter, but since it’s being melted here anyway I think it will be fine. I’d love to know how it turns out! 🙂
Richard Lovegood
My first attempt making these I used a hand held electric mixer to combine all ingredients in the appropriate order. When the batter was ready, I was a little concerned because the feel was more of a bread-dough consistency. I pressed on and baked it anyway. It turned out amazingly well!! It was a huge hit, and all four of my kids loved it! My wife gave her huge approval as well and wanted to know when the next time i will be making these, lol! I think for next time i will fold in the flour with a spatula and see if I get fluffier results. Thanks!!!!
Sam
So glad that you and your family loved them, Richard!! 🙂
They are really popular with my family, too!
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen
OH YUM! These snickerdoodle blondies looks AMAZING, Sam! Love how quick and easy they are! And that cinnamon sounds incredible!
Sam
Thank you, Anu! 🙂
Thao @ In Good Flavor
I’m so tempted to go make myself some of these right now, but it’s almost midnight and I should be in bed. These bars look incredible! I’m pinning so I can make them later! 🙂
Sam
Thanks so much, Thao! 🙂
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen
I cringe when I look back to my early photos too. These turned out incredibly well. I love the way the blondies look against the blue. Yum!
Sam
Thanks so much, Christin!
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu
This is the coolest idea ever! Way to make a blondie ever better! I adore any cinnamon flavoured treat!
Sam
Thanks so much, Jessica!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Snickerdoodles and blondies are two of my favorite sweets.. and that is saying A LOT because sweets aren’t typically my thing. I have never thought of putting them together! I am SUPER excited we are friends and you went ahead and thought of that geniusness for me! AND you provided a recipe! Woot woot! These are seriously the jam, Sam! (Didn’t mean to rhyme) love love LOVE! I went and looked and your first photog. Sesh. Of these bad boys amd honestly I didn’t think it was aweful! But I cringe at ALL my photos… so I understand! Thanks for sharing this, girlfriend! Can’t wait to get on this and stuff my face! <3 Cheers!
Sam
Haha! I’m so, SO glad you like these, Cheyanne! I bet you will love these, and thanks for the kind words! 🙂
Mira
Love dessert bars and these look awesome! So creative, I need to try them!
Sam
Thanks, Mira!
Emanuele @ Guyslovecooking
I can definetely see the improvement! Well done.
I also have a few recipes that did not deserve the pictures they got. I may embark in a resurrection program too 🙂
Sam
Thanks so much, Emanuele! 🙂
Aimee / Wallflower Girl
These sound so tempting!
Sam
Thanks, Aimee!
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness
Haha! I was actually JUSt looking back on some of my old pictures from my blog and it really isn’t pretty!
Love the look of these blondies. I love the snickerdoodle flavor, and this looks way easier than my usual cookie form!
Sam
Thanks, Cathleen!!
Amanda Kohr
Sam, these look so soft and buttery! Snickerdoodles have always been one of my favorites…They’re especially perfect at this time of year, alongside a tall glass of lemonade. Thanks for sharing!!
Amanda
Sam
Thanks, Amanda!!