If you’ve been looking for the best sourdough snickerdoodles, this is the recipe you’ll come back to again and again. This is my children’s absolute favorite snickerdoodle cookie! (We call them snickernoodles haha)

These chewy sourdough snickerdoodle cookies have soft centers, crisp edges, and that irresistible cinnamon sugar goodness we all love in a classic snickerdoodle cookie.

What makes this snickerdoodle cookie recipe special is the subtle signature tang from sourdough starter discard. This slight tang that gives depth without overpowering the warm cinnamon flavor.

If you love experimenting with sourdough cookie recipes beyond sourdough bread, this is a great way to expand your collection of sourdough recipes. Just by using simple ingredients you already have in your kitchen.

Here are more sourdough discard recipes for inspiration!

Why You’ll Love These Chewy Sourdough Snickerdoodles

There are so many reasons these will become your favorite way to use sourdough starter discard:

• They have a chewy texture with soft centers and crisp edges.
• The cinnamon sugar coating creates that classic snickerdoodle finish.
• The sourdough adds a perfect balance between sweet and slightly tangy.
• They use pantry staples… no extra cost or complicated steps.
• They’re one of the best sourdough discard recipes for a quick sweet treat.

Unlike some sourdough cookies that develop a strong sour flavor, these have a gentle signature tang that enhances the cinnamon without taking over. They taste like a classic snickerdoodle… just better and so soft and fluffy!

And if you’ve ever tried brown butter sourdough snickerdoodles, you know how delicious depth of flavor can transform a cookie. This recipe keeps things simple while still delivering that perfect cookie every time. P.S. You can make them into brown butter snickerdoodle cookies!

If you're looking for more sourdough recipes, check out these Easy Homemade Sourdough Discard Bagels and White Chocolate Sourdough Discard Scone Recipe for more sourdough discard recipes

Ingredients

You’ll find that these perfect sourdough snickerdoodle cookies use everyday pantry staples.

• Unsalted butter (room temperature butter)
• Sugar
• Brown sugar
• Sourdough starter discard (or active sourdough starter)
• Egg
• Vanilla Extract
• All-purpose flour
• Cream of tartar
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Ground Cinnamon

Make your own sourdough starter using this step-by-step guide

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How to Make Sourdough Snickerdoodles

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a prepared baking sheet or sheet pan with parchment paper.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using an electric hand mixer in a large mixing bowl), cream the unsalted butter, cup sugar, and brown sugar together. Mix on low speed at first, then increase until light and fluffy (about 3–4 minutes.) Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula so everything combines evenly.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the sourdough starter discard (or active starter), egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until fully combined. If using an electric mixer, keep it on low speed to avoid overmixing.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl or medium bowl, whisk together the purpose flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix just until incorporated. Do not overmix. That’s key to chewy cookies.
5. Roll in Cinnamon Sugar: In a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon-sugar mixture for the cinnamon sugar coating. Use a cookie scoop to portion tablespoons of dough into cookie dough balls. Roll dough between your hands to form smooth cookie balls. Roll dough in the cinnamon sugar coating until fully covered.
6. Bake Cookies: Place cookie balls 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheet. Bake cookies for 10–12 minutes. The edges should look set, but the centers will appear slightly underbaked. That’s how you get those soft centers. If needed, bake for extra minutes carefully, but avoid overbaking. Allow cookies to rest on the sheet pan for 3–4 minutes before transferring to a wire rack or cooling rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

Try this Cinnamon Sugar Sourdough Bread Recipe

Tips for the Best Sourdough Discard Snickerdoodle Cookies

• Chill the Dough: Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes for thicker chewy sourdough snickerdoodles.
• Long Fermentation Option: For deeper flavor and added health benefits, refrigerate dough overnight for long fermentation.
• Extra Chewy: Add one egg yolk in place of part of the egg.
• Brown Butter Version: Melt butter in a small saucepan for brown butter sourdough snickerdoodles. Then mix and bake according to recipe.
• Freezer Friendly: Store unbaked cookie dough balls in a ziploc bag and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator and then roll in cinnamon sugar and bake normally. Very easy!

Storage for Soft Sourdough Snickerdoodle Cookies

Store cool cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days.

You can also:

• Freeze baked cookies.
• Freeze cookie dough balls for quick baking later.

FAQs

Can I use active sourdough starter instead of discard?  Yes! Both active sourdough starter and sourdough starter discard work well. Active starter will give a slightly lighter texture, while discard adds more of that slight tang. You can also mix the dough, let it rest to ferment for a few hours, and then roll in cinnamon sugar before baking normally.

Will these taste sour?: No. The sour flavor is subtle and balanced by the brown sugar and cinnamon flavor. It enhances rather than overwhelms.

Can I make these without a stand mixer? Absolutely. Use a large bowl and an electric hand mixer or even mix by hand with a sturdy spatula.

Can I turn this into cream cheese snickerdoodles? You can experiment by adding softened cream cheese, but that will slightly alter the texture and baking time.

Can I turn this into brown butter snickerdoodle cookies? Yes, of course. Go ahead and melt and brown the butter, let cool slightly, and then blend it with the sugars. Continue recipe as written.

Enjoy These Easy Sourdough Snickerdoodles

There’s something deeply comforting about pulling a tray of perfect sourdough snickerdoodle cookies from the oven. The cinnamon sugar goodness, the chewy texture, and that subtle signature tang create the perfect balance between nostalgic and new.

If you’re just beginning your sourdough journey, this recipe is a gentle place to start. It’s forgiving, flexible, and turns extra discard into something warm, comforting, and worth sharing with family and friends.

If you’ve been building your collection of sourdough discard recipes or exploring new sourdough cookie recipes, these chewy sourdough snickerdoodles deserve a permanent place in your recipe box. They truly are the best sourdough snickerdoodles… warm, soft, and full of cozy flavor!

From one home cook to another, I hope you enjoy this recipe!

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