Ayanna, my oldest grandchild, got me into Snickerdoodles over the past several years. I love oatmeal raisin cookies and have for much of my 71-years. However, I do not know what got me into craving Snickerdoodles, but I do.

Therefore, making Snickerdoodles for my two youngest grandchildren, Jack and Owen, seemed a natural. However, merely giving them cookies that I made ruins almost all the joy. I love watching their little minds get excited about the process of making things. We have done pies, cakes, blueberry pancakes, and the list goes on.

Therefore, one day while babysitting for them in Indy, we made Snickerdoodles. Part of their excitement about making those cookies is probably the name, Snickerdoodles. In the culinary world, there is a great debate about the etymology of the word. Some claim that it comes from the German word Schneckennudel, which means snail noodles. Snail noodles are a German pastry or roll.

Schneckennudel

However, many diss that notion. This group believes that the name is merely a made-up one, which merely contains a strange but interesting sound to the word. While my expertise is not in the etymology, the explanation of the Schneckennudel seems a non-starter. The Schneckennudle looks more like a cinnamon bun. I prefer the funny sounding name, which Jack and Owen liked saying.

Thus began our Snickernoodle-day.... While Owen rolls the cookie dough in the cinnamon and sugar, Jack realizes that the cinnamon sugar mixture tasted good even without the cookie.

Then back to the serious work at hand of rolling the
dough and placing the cookie on the baking tray.

Then Owen realizes that he missed the rolling step while
Jack patiently waits his turn to coat the cookie.

Jack now realizes that the baking sheet is full.

Owen is sure that he could get another Snickerdoodle on the baking sheet.

Then they showed me where large cookie sheets were kept
in the kitchen, which resolved a major spacing issue.

Jack, looking like a questioning Louis Pasteur, examines one
particular Snickerdoodle. Owen also seems somewhat concerned.

Then Owen examines another one as Jack continues to wonder.

After several minutes of examining their Snickerdoodles, their
prized masterpieces went into the oven for a mere 10-minutes.

"Papa, this is pretty good. Can we have another?"

Owen knows that asking for another is not worth the effort.

Betty Crocker's Snickerdoodle Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose or unbleached flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Then place in the refrigerator for an hour

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400°F.
2. Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, shortening and eggs in large bowl. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.
3. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

"Campbell's Cooking Class"

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09/01/14