The Best Classic Cinnamon Sugar Cookies Recipe
If you’re craving a cookie that’s simple, sweet, and unbelievably comforting, these classic cinnamon sugar cookies are about to become your new go-to treat. With their soft centers, buttery edges, and that irresistible cinnamon-sugar sparkle, they’re the perfect blend of cozy and delicious. Grab a glass of milk and get ready—this is one recipe you’ll want to bake again and again!
There’s something extra comforting about a cookie that’s simple, soft, and coated in sweet cinnamon sugar—and this classic recipe delivers all of that cozy goodness and cinnamon flavor in every bite.
These cinnamon sugar cookies are beautifully crisp on the edges, soft in the middle, and rolled in just the right amount of spiced sweetness.
Best of all, they come together quickly with basic pantry staples, making them the perfect go-to treat whenever a cookie craving hits!
What I love most about this recipe is how effortlessly it fits into any season. Bake a batch in the fall for a warm, spicy treat, or enjoy them in the spring and summer when you want something sweet but not too heavy.
They’re easy enough for beginners, fun to bake with kids, and versatile enough to dress up for holidays, gift-giving, or everyday snacking.
Whether you’re making them for a cookie exchange, a cozy movie night, or just because you deserve something delicious, these classic cinnamon sugar cookies are guaranteed to become a year-round favorite. Grab the full recipe and all my best tips for achieving that perfect cinnamon-sugar sparkle!
If you want more simple, tasty cookie recipes, try my Hot Cocoa Cookies or Simple Oatmeal Molasses Cookies.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the key ingredients in these cinnamon cookies. For full recipe details, please check out the handy printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!
- Unsalted Butter – softened, room temperature
- Sugar – this recipe uses both granulated sugar and brown sugar.
- Egg – large, room temperature
- Vanilla Extract – pure or imitation
- All-Purpose Flour
- Ground Cinnamon – warm, sweet, and slightly spicy, with floral or citrus notes
How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
2. Make Dough: Cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl or stand mixer bowl. Add egg and vanilla extract and mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, add flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. Whisk dry ingredients together until mixed.
4. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix with a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
5. Prepare Cinnamon Sugar: Prepare the cinnamon-sugar mixture by adding the brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon in a small dish. Mix thoroughly.
6. Shape the Cookies: Using a spoon or cookie scoop, take a small amount of dough and roll it into a ball about 1 inch in diameter.
7. Roll in Cinnamon Sugar: Roll the cookie dough balls in the cinnamon sugar mixture, making sure they are completely coated.
8. Bake: Place the balls on the baking sheet. Ensure they are about 2 inches apart. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown on the edges.
9. Cool: Remove from oven and allow them to cool for about 2 – 3 minutes on the cookie sheet. Then transfer to a wire cooling rack. Cool cookies completely.
10. Enjoy: Serve or store for later.
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies Notes And Expert Tips
- Bring the butter and eggs to room temperature before you begin mixing. Room temperature ingredients create a smoother batter, which produces a lighter, fluffier final product and more consistent baking times.
- Overmixing cookie dough develops too much gluten, which makes the cookies tough, dense, and may spread out too much while baking.
- Baking the cookies until they are just brown around the edges and lighter in color will keep them nice and chewy instead of hard and crunchy!
- Cooking times may vary by oven, so keep a close eye on the appearance of your cookies.
How To Serve Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
- Cinnamon sugar cookies are perfect any time of year for birthdays, housewarming gifts, movie nights, and any “just because” occasion!
- These Cinnamon Sugar Cookies are perfect for your annual cookie exchange party. Whoever receives them will be delighted.
- Serve them as treats at your child’s school for their class parties. Kids can’t resist them.
- Place them on a Christmas plate wrapped with plastic wrap and a bow, and deliver to your neighbors.
- Put them in the cookie jar for your kids to enjoy after school, on Christmas, or during summer break. 🙂
Variations Of Cinnamon Sugar Cookies To Try
Here are some fun ways to adjust this recipe to fit your needs or preferences! Here are a few of my favorites:
- Icing – Drizzle with some powdered sugar icing. YUM-MMMMY!!! You might find that it tastes like a mini-cinnamon bun.
- Colored Sugar – Sprinkle with some colored sugar for any holiday occasion.
- Toppings – You can also drizzle the cookies with some melted white chocolate or caramel.
- Chopped Nuts – Drop in some chopped nuts such as pecans, walnuts, pistachios or almonds.
Make It Gluten-Free
Replace the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour at a 1:1 ratio.
Make It Dairy-Free
Replace the unsalted butter with a dairy-free or vegan version such as Country Crock or Earth Balance.
Make It Sugar-Free
There are sugar replacement options for both granulated sugar and brown sugar! Monk fruit is a great option too!
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies Storage
Place the cookies in an airtight container or plastic storage bag for 4 – 5 days at room temperature.
Freezing Instructions – Put cookies in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and place in the freezer for 2 – 3 months. Allow cookies to thaw at room temperature after removing them from the freezer.
Make-ahead directions – I recommend rolling the dough into balls and freezing them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Then place the frozen dough balls in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag for 2 – 3 months until ready to bake.
Allow the frozen dough balls to thaw before baking or bake them from frozen, but add 3-4 minutes to the baking time.
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies FAQs
Yes, you can do it one of two ways. You can mix the dough and place it in an airtight container overnight, and bake the next day. Or you can place the cinnamon-coated dough balls on a baking sheet, cover with plastic, and refrigerate them to bake the next day.
They are very similar in appearance and taste, but the biggest difference is that Snickerdoodles are rolled in granulated sugar and cinnamon versus the combination of two sugars and cinnamon that these cookies are rolled in.
It is not necessary to chill the dough, but if you want to and have the time, it can help the cookies from ‘spreading’ during the baking process.
More Delightfully Yummy Cookie Recipes To Try
- Buttery, Melt-In-Your-Mouth Pecan Snowball Cookies
- Easy Vanilla Crinkle Cookies (Cake Mix Recipe!)
- Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Cookies
- Rice Krispie Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Matcha Snickerdoodles Cookies
Pin For Later!
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
These classic cinnamon sugar cookies are simple and irresistible with soft centers, buttery edges, and irresistible cinnamon-sugar sparkle!
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar, brown sugar and ground cinnamon.
- Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 inch in diameter, use an ice scooper if you prefer) and then roll each ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture, ensuring they are well coated.
- Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
