These Snickerdoodle Bars have two homemade layers with a cinnamon sugar layer in between. They taste like your favorite snickerdoodle cookies in bar form! Finish them off with a simple glaze for that extra touch.
After you’ve tried these Snickerdoodle Bars, make sure you try this Cinnamon Roll Sheet Cake. It’s also super easy and perfect for cinnamon lovers!
Snickerdoodles are one of my favorite cookies. So it’s only natural that I’d gravitate towards these Snickerdoodle Bars. All the goodness of snickerdoodles, but no rolling cookies. (I don’t know why I don’t make bars more often – they sure are easier!!)
And not one crazy ingredient to be found in this recipe. I’m betting that the majority of you could go into your kitchen right now and be able to make these. Dangerous, yes – but it is a good thing for when those cinnamon cravings hit!!
What You’ll Need
My favorite thing about these cookie bars is that I keep all of the ingredients on hand. So these are easy to whip up on a moment’s notice!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- All-purpose flour – I use unbleached flour, but I’m sure whatever all-purpose flour you have on hand will work.
- Baking Powder – to help with the rise.
- Cinnamon – I actually added this in from the version I originally made because I felt like they needed an even bigger cinnamon punch.
- Salt – to bring out all of the other flavors.
- Cream of Tartar – Have you ever wondered why snickerdoodles have cream of tartar in them? The cream of tartar gives them some of their flavor, but it also helps to keep the bars (or cookies) chewy, so it helps with the texture as well. The original version of these bars that I made did not have the cream of tartar in them, so you could leave it out if you don’t have it, but I do like them better with it.
- Butter – I use unsalted butter. If you use salted butter, just cut back on the amount of salt a little bit.
- Granulated Sugar and Brown Sugar – In cookies, I really like the mixture of white and brown sugar, and it is the same for these cookie bars.
- Eggs – I use large eggs. Bring them to room temperature before making the dough for the best results.
- Vanilla – for a little bit of extra flavor
- Cinnamon Sugar – this mixture makes a layer in the center of these bars for that traditional snickerdoodle flavor.
- Powdered sugar, milk and vanilla – these ingredients make up the glaze. It’s a super simple glaze that adds a great addition of flavor.
Tips for these Snickerdoodle Bars
These snickerdoodle bars are really simple, but here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- For best results, start with all of your ingredients at room temperature.
- For thicker bars, you can bake these in a 9×9 inch pan instead of 9×13. You’ll want to add a little bit more time for baking.
- The dough is thick. Spreading that first layer can be a little tricky. I like to get my fingertips wet and use them to press the dough out.
- You will know the bars are done when the edges have browned and the center doesn’t look shiny anymore. They may still look like they are not completely done in the center, but they will continue to bake as they cool.
- Make sure the bars are completely cool before adding the glaze or it will soak into the bars.
- Store the bars covered at room temperature.
More Snickerdoodle Recipes
Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars
Snickerdoodle Pie
My Favorite Snickerdoodles
Snickerdoodle Muffins
Snickerdoodle Bars
Ingredients
Bars:
- 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Cinnamon Filling:
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 to 2 teaspoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and cream of tartar.
- In a large bowl, beat together the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla.
- Add in the dry ingredients and beat on low until combined.
- Make the cinnamon filling by combining the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan. The batter will be pretty thick - use your hands if needed to spread the batter evenly in the pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar filling mixture evenly over the batter. Drop teaspoon sized amounts of the remaining batter over the cinnamon sugar layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool completely.
- In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of the milk and the vanilla. Whisk, and add more milk if needed to make a drizzling consistency.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars.
- Cut and serve.
Tessa says
Love this. They look so good! Congrats on the little guy too!
Laura Dembowski says
I love snickerdoodles! Turning them into bars sounds even better than the cookies 🙂
Amanda says
These look delish! Sorry about the one car thing… but it sounds like you are totally making it work! 🙂
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says
These look incredible!! I love that you switched it up and made a bar instead of a cookie!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
I love snickerdoodles and have umpteen recipes from nobake bars to baked bars to cookies. I love them! And I love that you made these with what you have on hand. One car family – we’ve been there and yes, those spontaneous trips dont happen and it does really teach you to plan!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
Love the idea of snickerdoodles in bar form!
Annalise says
It’s like you read my mind! Snickerdoodles are one of my favorite cookies too, can’t believe I never thought of making them into a bar.
Cookin Canuck says
How is it possible that your little guy is already 2 months old?! Snickerdoodles are one of my all-time favorite cookies and I love the idea (and ease) of the bars.
kristy says
Snickerdoodles are one of my favorites too! Bars sound like a great idea. And I can totally relate to the one car thing. We did that for a while too. And you’re right – a plan is essential!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Love this idea! I have made a lot of snickerdoodles in my life but never in bar form. Can’t wait to try it!!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
I love putting something together with what I have on hand!
Heidi @foodiecrush says
Since 3rd grade when I made my first snickerdoodle its been a fave. But in bar form? Whoa. Buy me a ticket and put me on that train. 2 months already? How did that happen?
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
I love these simple pantry recipes! Running to the store for a missing ingredient is never at the top of my list of things to do lol
kelley {mountain mama cooks} says
Deb, these look dangerously good. Bars are so easy to make, I need to make them more too! Hope you’re well! xoxo
Alaina @ Fabtastic Eats says
Im with you on that one..I have a 19 month old and four week old..”quick trips” to the store just aren’t part of my day anymore..nor are they worth it..(man it takes a long time to bundle them up and get out of the house!) These sound fabulous! Snickerdoodles are my favorite!
Colleen @ What's Baking in the Barbershop?! says
These look AWESOME. Sometimes you just need to make bars instead of cookies! Slightly less effort involved. And the cinnamon/sugar combo is always a winner!!! I would love one of these for my breakfast right now!