Snickerdoodle
From Free net encyclopedia
A snickerdoodle is a soft sugar cookie lightly dusted with cinnamon. It has a characteristically crackly surface, and can be crisp or soft, depending on preference. Some variants include nutmeg, raisins, or nuts. Snickerdoodles are a traditional Christmas cookie in North America.
Origins
Snickerdoodles are often claimed to have been invented in the 19th-century United States, but this is disputed — the recipe for the cookies cannot be found in any cookbook of the era. Plenty of recipes for currant cakes and jumbles combining sweet spices, nuts and dried fruits can be found, however, and many of the first snickerdoodle recipes call for these ingredients. Some believe snickerdoodles are a New England recipe with English origins, while others believe they are a creation of the Pennsylvania Dutch. While the origin of the name has been lost, it has been speculated that "snick" may be a reference to St. Nicholas.
Alternately, The Joy of Cooking claims that snickerdoodles are probably German in origin, and that the name is a corruption of the German word for "crinkly noodles" (schneckennudeln).
Recipe
One recipe for the production of snickerdoodle cookies is as follows:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup soft shortening
- 2 eggs, beaten
Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (205 degrees Celsius), mix ingredients, and bake for 10 minutes or until crisp and light brown. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon while hot.