Holiday Snickerdoodles

Nothing says Christmas like snickerdoodles.

Snickerdoodles are delicious cinnamon sugar cookies, and they're my favorite kind of cookie. I tried them for the first time when I was in college. A good friend of mine baked them one night when a group of us were hanging out, watching TV, and I fell in love with it.

This snickerdoodle recipe is from the Food Network website, but it is the best one I've tried.

Ingredients:

For the topping:

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

For the cookie dough:

• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

In a small bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon and set aside.

To make the cookie dough, stir together the dry ingredients.

In a bowl with a paddle attachment, cream the butter. Add the sugar and continue to mix, then add the eggs, corn syrup, and vanilla, and mix thoroughly. Add the dry ingredients and mix until blended. Chill dough 1 hour if it's sticky or difficult to handle.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Roll balls of dough about the size of a walnut then roll them in the cinnamon sugar to coat. Place on an un-greased sheet pan 2 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until puffed up and the surface is slightly cracked. Let cool on the sheet pan a few minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.

Tomorrow: look out for an exclusive recipe from the Mount Vernon Estate!