What’s the difference between a Snickerdoodle and a sugar cookie? Snickerdoodles are closely related to sugar cookies, only they are rolled in cinnamon sugar mix and have an extra ingredient added in for a hint of tangy flavor. (Psst… it’s cream of tartar!) The resulting cookie has a lightly sweet and spicy flavor, without using any white flour or sugar.
Ingredients You’ll Need
What’s in Paleo Snickerdoodles?
Almond flour (here’s how to make almond flour) Maple syrup Cream of tartar Arrowroot starch Cinnamon Coconut oil Baking soda & salt
Similar to my Almond Flour Sugar Cookies, this recipe uses arrowroot starch as a binder instead of an egg to keep these vegan and more allergy-friendly. If you would prefer to use an egg instead of the arrowroot, feel free to experiment with it!
How to Make Almond Flour Snickerdoodles
Mix the dough. Add the almond flour, arrowroot, cream or tartar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt to a large bowl. Whisk well to combine the dry ingredients and break up any clumps in the flour. Add in the melted oil, maple syrup, and vanilla, and stir again, until the dough sticks together and looks uniform in texture.
Roll. Mix together the coconut sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Use a tablespoon or 1-ounce cookie scoop to scoop the dough and roll it into balls. (The mixture will be slightly sticky, so don’t be alarmed by that!) Roll each ball in the cinnamon mixture, then place the balls on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat the process with the remaining batter, rolling each ball in the cinnamon sugar.
Bake. Flatten the balls with your hands to help them spread evenly, then bake at 350ºF for 9 to 10 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden.
Let them cool completely on the pan, to help them firm up, then enjoy!
Storage Tips
Almond flour cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days in an airtight container, or you can store them in the fridge for up to 10 days. For an even longer shelf life, store cookies in an airtight container in the freezer, for up to 3 months.
Can I use honey? Yes, you can swap the maple syrup for 1/4 cup of honey in this recipe, if you prefer to use that sweetener. In that case, these cookies will no longer be vegan. Can I use butter instead of coconut oil? Yes! Almond flour doesn’t need much added fat, since almonds are already loaded with healthy fats, but if you’d rather not use coconut oil, then butter will work, too. Just keep in mind that cookies made with butter will not be dairy-free or vegan, if you are trying to accommodate someone with food allergies. Can I leave out the arrowroot? You can swap the arrowroot starch for tapioca starch or corn starch, with similar results. If you’d like to use no starch, my guess is that an egg will also work as a binder for this recipe, but I haven’t had the chance to test that yet to be sure. Let me know if you experiment with it! What is cream of tartar? Cream of tartar is a powdery byproduct of fermenting grapes to make wine. As far as I can tell, it’s dairy-free and vegan friendly, despite the “cream” in the name. It adds a tang to baked goods and also acts as a leavening agent in this recipe, similar to baking soda. Can I skip the coconut sugar? If you don’t want to add extra sugar to the outside of these cookies, you can simply sprinkle the tops with cinnamon, instead. I hope you’ll enjoy these almond flour snickerdoodles as much as I do!
Update note: This recipe was originally posted in November of 2012, but has been updated in Dec 2021 to give you better results. Here’s the original recipe ingredients if you prefer it:
2 cups almond flour 1/4 cup grass-fed butter 1/4 cup honey 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar ground cinnamon, for topping
Mix the dough together and bake at 350ºF for 8 to 10 minutes, with cinnamon sprinkled on top. If you try these healthy snickerdoodles, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like them! — Reader Feedback: Are you a fan of Snickerdoodle cookies? What’s your favorite holiday cookie?
