Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Butter Recipe (2024)

Enjoy my popular Snickerdoodle cookie recipe – they are the best no butter cookies and cookies without butter!

Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Butter Recipe (1)

Last week I was craving some yummy cinnamon and sugar coated Snickerdoodle cookies like my grandparents used to make.

I was excited to make some when I discovered I was out of butter, one of the main ingredients in my recipe. Arggghh.

I’m a determined sort of gal soI scoured the web for a recipe for Snickerdoodle cookies without butter. It wasn’t easy, but I eventually tracked one down!

I’m sharing my no butter cookie recipe with y’all below because they turned out so soft and delicious, that you would never guess they don’t contain butter.

Turns out that Snickerdoodle cookies without butter might be even more delicious than those made with butter!

How To Make Cookies Without Butter

I’m trying to make more of our snack foods as opposed to buying them, both to save money and keep scary ingredients out of our house.

This has beenmy go-to cookie recipe for a while now and it is so much easier to make compared to other cookies since it is butter free.


If you are wondering how to make cookies without butter, you’ll be happy to know that you make them just like any other Snickerdoodle cookie.

You mix up the dough, roll it into a ball in your hand, roll in cinnamon sugar to coat, and bake.

The only challenge to making cookies with oil instead of butter is that they might flatten out too much if you place them on a hot pan.

My suggestion is to use a cool pan each time.

Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Butter Recipe (3)

This will help your cookies keep their shape and not flatten out!

No Butter Cookies Tips & Tricks

Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Butter Recipe (4)

I bake ALL of my cookies on a silicone baking mat like this set of mats from Target.

I’ll never go back to dirty pans or parchment paper again. My silicone baking mat might be my most-loved kitchen item.

Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Butter Recipe (5)

I use a small cookie scoop like this one to get consistently sized cookies. This makes them cook evenly and all turn out perfectly every time.

Rolling the cookie balls in cinnamon sugar is a critical step in getting perfect cookies.

Yes, it is a bit time-consuming but I promise it is worth it. Don’t skip this step!

And last, the dough will seem a bit greasy compared to traditional cookie dough.

Don’t be alarmed – they will turn out fine. If they seem WAAAAYYY too greasy though, you may have under-measured your flour.

I suggest adding a tablespoon or two of flour and see if that helps.

Follow the cookie recipe without butter instructions below for amazing results.

Why These Cookies Are Amazing

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First, these cookies are way cheaper to make than traditional cookies made with butter.

I knew that vegetable oil is cheaper than butter, but when I actually did the math I made a discovery: Butter is actually six times more expensive than vegetable oil!

So not only are these cookies with oil instead of butter delicious, but they are also frugal.

To keep this cookie recipe without butter simple and easy to make with ingredients on hand, I have omitted the cream of tartar called for in some traditional recipes.

This ingredient is supposed to make the cookies rise better but I think you’ll find that these Snickerdoodle cookies without cream of tartar are plenty light and fluffy without it!

Some people claim that the cream of tartar gives Snickerdoodles a characteristic “tang”, but honestly I’ve never noticed that.

I have made this recipe with and without cream of tartar and I can’t tell them apart.

How To Get Thick & Chewy Butter Free Cookies

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Sometimes oil based cookies spread on the pan and turn out flat and hard.

Here are my secrets to getting thick and chewy no butter Snickerdoodles:

  • First, be sure to roll the cookies into a ball and coat thoroughly with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Then place them on the pan at least 2 inches apart and slightly press them down with your hand. They should still be mostly in a ball shape.
  • Be sure to bake them on a cool pan each time – a warm pan will make the cookies spread and flatten out.
  • Do NOT overbake! They should still be soft when you take them out of the oven. They will finish cooking on the pan.

If you follow these suggestions you will get nice thick Snickerdoodle cookies without butter.

Variations & Substitutions

You can use many different oils in this recipe

As you can find in the almost 100 comments below, there are MANY substitutions and variations you can make on these no butter cookies!

• Here are some common substitutions people have tried and that appear to work:

• Using rice bran oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil in place of vegetable oil

• Using almond flour or gluten free flour in place of all-purpose flour

• Substituting 2 packets of hot cocoa mix for 1/2 cup of sugar

• Replacing the teaspoon of vanilla extract with 1/2 tsp of almond extract

And if you’d like to try a chocolate variation, check out my new chocolate cookies without butter recipe here.

As you can see there are many options for making Snickerdoodle cookies with oil instead of butter.

These butterless cookies even come together in 5 minutes and in one bowl (now that’s my kind of baking). Here is the recipe so you can give them a try.

Check out these related posts:

  • Easy Pumpkin Zucchini Bread Recipe
  • Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake
  • Jiffy Cornbread Waffles

I hope you enjoy this cookie recipe without butter!

Any questions? Please read through the comments below for answers or leave a comment below.

Yield: 4 Dozen

Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Butter Recipe (10)

Easy Snickerdoodle cookies without butter. Classic cinnamon sugar cookies with oil.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time10 minutes

Total Time20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • For Sugar Coating:
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Mix the oil, sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth. Add the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon on top, then mix everything together to form a thick dough.
  3. Form the dough into walnut-sized balls and roll each ball in the sugar coating.
  4. Place cookies a few inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet, flattening them slightly if desired.
  5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until slightly brown on the bottom. Do not overcook or they will be hard as rocks!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

48

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 101Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 54mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 7gProtein: 1g

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Leah Crocker Althiser

CEO at Frugal Travel Productions LLC

Leah Crocker Althiser has become an expert at budget travel over the course of her 30 years of planning trips. She has a Masters degree in Education (M.Ed.) and has been creating online content for over 10 years.

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Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Butter Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do my Snickerdoodle cookies get hard? ›

Snickerdoodles might turn out hard if they are overbaked or if the dough is too dry.

Why don t my snickerdoodles crack? ›

If yours aren't cracking, your oven may not be hot enough or your ingredients may not be fresh enough! Are snickerdoodles supposed to be undercooked? I always recommend slightly underbaking your cookies and then letting them finish baking through cooling on the pan.

How do you make cookies more moist? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

Why did my Snickerdoodle cookies not flatten? ›

If you reduce the amount of butter or oil in a recipe, your cookies won't spread as much. If you add too much flour, your cookies won't spread as much. If your cookies have more brown sugar than white sugar, they won't spread as much. It's a careful balance.

What makes homemade cookies hard? ›

Hard cookies: you are over mixing, baking too long, baking at too high a temperature, or some combination of these. Cakey cookies: not enough brown sugar, too much or too little egg, too much flour, maybe you used baking powder instead of baking soda?

How do you fix snickerdoodle dough? ›

There are a few things you can do to fix dry and crumbly cookie dough. There are a few things you can do to add liquid to your cookie dough if it is too dry and crumbly. One option is to add milk, water, or another liquid until the dough is the right consistency. You can also try adding melted butter or shortening.

Are snickerdoodles supposed to be soft when they come out of the oven? ›

They puff in the oven and then settle back down while cooling into a soft, thick, supremely chewy cookie with a gorgeous crinkly top. They've received nothing but rave reviews!

How do you know when snickerdoodles are done? ›

How do you know when the cookies are baked? The snickerdoodle cookies will only take about 10 to 12 minutes to bake, so be sure to keep your eye on them! It's best to rotate the cookies after about 6 minutes so that the cook evenly. The cookies are done when the edges are just set and the centres are soft and cracked.

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

Light corn syrup is another ingredient that you can add to cookie dough that will help it stay softer longer. The corn syrup you buy at the grocery store is not the high-fructose corn syrup that soft drinks are made with; it's a sugar that is liquid at room temperature and helps other sugars say liquid at high heat.

What is the secret to soft chewy cookies? ›

If you enjoy your cookies soft and chewy, chances are likely the recipe contains a common ingredient that serves a very specific purpose. No, it's not granulated sugar, nor the butter. It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch.

What ingredients keep cookies moist? ›

To keep it simple, cookie recipes that contain a lot of butter, brown sugar or egg yolks are going to yield soft and chewy cookies, because those ingredients add moisture and retain it for a longer amount of time.

Why does snickerdoodle dough need to be refrigerated? ›

Refrigerating snickerdoodle dough lets the butter resolidify and prevents the cookies from flattening out in the oven. I recommend giving the dough at least 45-60 minutes of chilling time in the fridge before baking.

Is snickerdoodle cookie dough supposed to be sticky? ›

The snickerdoodle dough can be sticky and tough to handle. I like to grease my hands with cooking spray so they are easier to handle. Refrigerate. Also, after you have rolled one tray of snickerdoodles, place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes.

How do you keep snickerdoodles from spreading? ›

“When chilled cookies bake, the butter stays in a solid form longer, slowing the spread,” says Dawn. “30 to 60 minutes in the refrigerator does wonders, and you can bake the cookies right from the fridge.” Not only will chilling help the fats firm up and the flour hydrate, but it also helps the flavors develop.

How do you soften hard snickerdoodle cookies? ›

Microwaving them. If you cover your cookies with a wet paper towel and nuke them for a few seconds, they should soften up enough to eat.

How do you soften snickerdoodle cookies? ›

Another way to soften cookies is by placing the cookies in an airtight container with a damp paper towel. The paper towel will release moisture and help to soften the cookies without making them too soft or mushy. Another way is to place the cookies in a plastic bag with a slice of apple or a damp tea towel.

How do you soften snickerdoodles? ›

Bread releases moisture into the air, while sugar (present in large quantities in cookies), absorbs moisture out of the air. Don't have any white bread? Use a slice of apple instead. Just slip a wedge in with your cookies, cover, and let sit overnight.

Why do my cookies get hard right after I bake them? ›

They go from soft to hard because they start to dry out, and it begins as soon as you pull them from the oven. (Yikes.) Whatever moisture is left in the cookies is always in a state of evaporation. At the same time, the sugars and starches are solidifying.

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