Giggle Cookies, a.k.a. Snickerdoodles
Today is a wonderful day! It's the birthday of BOTH my parents. Yep, they have the same birthday. Adorable, huh???
I am going out for dinner with them tonight in Newport, and I wanted to bring them a sweet little treat. I decided to make something my mom used to make us all the time when we were kids. She called them "giggle cookies," but you'll know them better as Snickerdoodles.
Why did we call them giggle cookies? Well, my mom always told us that they had a secret ingredient in them that makes you laugh. I still remember being a kid and trying to get out of my mom what the secret ingredient was, but she'd never tell! The crazy thing is - she wasn't lying! Somehow, these cookies always made my brother and I crack up as soon as we took a bite. We couldn't stop laughing the entire time we ate the giggle cookies.
In school, we had a day each week when one parent would bring in snacks to the entire class. I was so proud the day it was my mom's turn and she brought in the famous "giggle cookies." I remember sitting there grinning ear to ear while my entire preschool class laughed hysterically through snack time. Best mom ever!!
So, today I share with you my mom's recipe for "giggle cookies."
Giggle Cookies a.k.a. Snickerdoodles
Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes Serves: 28 (makes 28 large cookies)
Ingredients
2 3/4 Cups Flour
2 Tsp Cream of Tartar
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 Cup Shortening
1 1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
8 Tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a bowl, sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter, shortening, and sugar.
Mix at medium speed until well combined - about 3 minutes.
Add eggs, one at a time, continuing to mix at medium speed. Scrape down side of mixing bowl between eggs.
Switch to low speed, and slowly add flour mixture a little bit at a time. Mix until well combined.
In a shallow dish, mix 2 tbsp sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon. Roll dough into walnut sized rounds and then roll mixture into the sugar/cinnamon mix. Make sure you coat the entire outside of the dough ball.
Place cookie balls 2 inches apart on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I usually end up with 8 cookie balls per sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool, and enjoy!
I haven't had these things in years, and eating them this afternoon brought me straight back to my childhood. They are sooooo gooooood!!!! I can't stop eating them now. Don't worry, I already set a bunch aside for my parents and for my brother and his wife :)
I hope you love them! What was your favorite cookie as a kid? Share in the comments below!
