Irresistibly Soft & Chewy Cinnamon Cookies: The Easiest Recipe for Perfect Crinkles

Welcome to your new favorite cookie recipe! These incredible cinnamon cookies are designed for ultimate ease and maximum flavor, requiring just a handful of simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. Each bite delivers a delightful combination of soft, chewy interiors and wonderfully crispy, sugary exteriors, making them truly irresistible. If you’re a cinnamon lover, prepare to be absolutely enchanted by their rich, aromatic taste.

*A special thank you to Reynolds for sponsoring this post. All opinions and the joy these cookies bring are, as always, entirely my own.*

I’m thrilled to add this fantastic cinnamon cookie recipe to my ever-expanding collection of cinnamon-infused delights. If your heart beats for cinnamon as much as mine does, you absolutely must explore some of my other beloved creations. Don’t miss out on these incredibly Fluffy Cinnamon Pancakes for a breakfast treat or these perfectly spiced Cinnamon Muffins.

There’s something truly special about recipes that have stood the test of time, passed down through generations, bringing comfort and joy with every batch. These cinnamon cookies are exactly that kind of recipe. They’ve become a highly requested staple in my home, especially during the festive holiday season. From Thanksgiving gatherings to cozy Christmas celebrations, these cookies are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser and create lasting memories.

Meet Your New Favorite: Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies!

You might also know these delightful treats by another popular name: cinnamon crinkle cookies. The “crinkle” comes from the unique technique of rolling the cookie dough balls in a generous coating of cinnamon sugar before baking. As the cookies bake and expand, the sugary crust gently cracks and crinkles, creating a beautiful, rustic appearance that’s as appealing to the eye as it is to the palate. This signature crackled top isn’t just for looks; it adds an extra layer of sweet, cinnamon-spiced crunch that perfectly complements the soft interior. This recipe truly captures the essence of classic crinkle cookies with a fantastic cinnamon twist.

Achieving the Perfect Texture: Soft, Chewy, and Crispy Cinnamon Cookies

What sets these cinnamon cookies apart is their utterly divine texture. Imagine a cookie that’s incredibly soft and wonderfully chewy on the inside, offering a satisfying bite that melts in your mouth. Now, picture that same cookie with an irresistibly crispy, crackly, sugary top that delivers an amazing textural contrast. This unique combination is truly what makes these cookies an absolute dream! To achieve this perfect balance of textures, a few key steps are crucial.

• **Precise Ingredient Measurement:** Baking is often a science, and measuring your ingredients accurately is paramount. Even slight variations can impact the final texture, so grab your measuring cups and spoons and be exact.
• **Chilling the Dough:** This step might seem like an extra wait, but it’s essential for both flavor and texture. Chilling the dough helps solidify the butter, which prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, ensuring they remain delightfully thick and chewy. It also allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
• **The Unmissable Cinnamon Sugar Roll:** For that signature crispy, crackly top, rolling the cookie dough balls in the cinnamon sugar mixture before baking is non-negotiable. This coating caramelizes in the oven, forming that glorious, sugary crust that simply blows me away every single time. Do not skip this step – it’s the secret to their magical exterior!

Expert Tips for Baking the Best Cinnamon Sugar Cookies:

Baking is an art, but with these pro tips, you’ll master this cinnamon sugar cookie recipe in no time. Follow these guidelines for consistently perfect results:

• **Room Temperature Ingredients are Key:** Always ensure your butter, eggs, and any other dairy are at room temperature. This allows them to cream together smoothly and evenly, creating a cohesive dough that results in a better texture in your baked cookies. Cold ingredients don’t emulsify well, leading to a lumpy dough and potentially dense cookies.
• **Opt for Unsalted Butter:** Using unsalted butter gives you complete control over the salt content in your cookies. While a pinch of salt enhances flavor, too much can overpower the delicate cinnamon notes. If you only have salted butter, reduce any additional salt in the recipe by about ¼ teaspoon per ½ cup of butter.
• **Don’t Skip the Chill Time:** Chilling the dough for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour is crucial. This not only makes the dough much easier to handle, preventing stickiness, but it also significantly helps prevent the cookies from spreading excessively during baking. A properly chilled dough yields thicker, chewier cookies with those beautiful crinkles.
• **Stick to All-Purpose Flour:** This recipe is specifically developed for all-purpose flour. I’ve experimented with other flour types, and none have delivered the perfect soft, chewy, yet slightly crispy texture that all-purpose flour provides. Substituting with almond, oat, or whole wheat flour will drastically change the outcome.
• **To Flatten or Not to Flatten:** I personally prefer not to flatten my cookie dough balls prior to baking. I find that leaving them rounded results in a thicker, chewier cookie, which is my ideal texture. Flattening them tends to create a thinner cookie, which some might enjoy, but it’s not my preference for this particular recipe. Feel free to experiment if you like a flatter cookie.
• **Baking Powder vs. Baking Soda:** In this recipe, baking powder is the leavening agent responsible for the cookie’s rise and tender crumb. It cannot be replaced with baking soda, as they react differently with other ingredients and require different acidic components to activate.
• **Granulated Sugar for the Win:** For both the dough and the irresistible cinnamon sugar coating, granulated sugar is essential. Its coarse texture contributes to the crispy crust and distinct crinkles. Powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) has a finer texture and will absorb moisture differently, leading to a much softer, less crispy result.
• **Butter is Irreplaceable:** The rich flavor and tender texture of these cookies come directly from the butter. Do not replace butter with oil or margarine. Oil will result in a flatter, greasier cookie with less flavor, while margarine often contains more water and can affect the spread and overall quality.

How to Make Perfect Cinnamon Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making these delightful cinnamon cookies is surprisingly simple. Here’s a quick overview of the process, with more detailed instructions available in the recipe card below:

1. **Cream Butter & Sugar:** In a large mixing bowl, beat together softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ soft texture.
2. **Incorporate Wet & Dry Ingredients:** Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cinnamon powder, and baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix!
3. **Chill the Dough:** Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour. This step is crucial for managing the dough and achieving the desired cookie texture and shape.
4. **Form Cookie Balls:** Once chilled, scoop out small, uniform portions of the dough and roll them gently into smooth balls with your hands.
5. **Roll in Cinnamon Sugar:** In a shallow dish, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon. Roll each cookie dough ball generously in this mixture until it’s fully coated. This creates the signature crinkly, crispy crust.
6. **Bake to Perfection:** Place the coated cookie balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced adequately apart. Bake in a preheated oven until the edges are firm and lightly golden, and the tops show those beautiful crinkles.
7. **Cool and Enjoy:** Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Then, get ready to savor every aromatic bite!

Creative Variations: Cinnamon Roll Cookies

If you adore the comforting flavors of a classic cinnamon roll, you’ll love this simple twist on our cinnamon cookies. These cookies inherently carry all the warm, sweet, and spicy notes reminiscent of your favorite breakfast pastry. To elevate them even further and give them that unmistakable “cinnamon roll” feel, consider adding a generous dollop of frosting after they cool. A luscious American Buttercream Frosting or a tangy Cream Cheese Frosting (the traditional choice for cinnamon rolls) would be absolutely perfect. You can even make them into delightful sandwich cookies by spreading frosting between two cooled cookies!

Creative Variations: Hearty Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies

For those who love a bit of chew and wholesome goodness, transforming these into cinnamon oatmeal cookies is incredibly easy and delicious. Simply add ½ cup of old-fashioned rolled oats directly into the cookie dough mixture along with the dry ingredients. The oats will add a lovely texture and a subtle nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with the cinnamon. Adjust baking time by a minute or two if needed, as oats can sometimes affect moisture absorption.

Creative Variations: Cozy Apple Cinnamon Cookies

Embrace the classic pairing of apple and cinnamon with this delightful variation. To make apple cinnamon cookies, take 1 medium-sized apple (such as a Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peel it, core it, and cut it into very small, approximately ¼-inch pieces. Gently fold these tiny apple pieces into the cookie dough after you’ve mixed in the dry ingredients. The apple adds a wonderful moistness and bursts of fruity flavor that complement the warm spices perfectly.

A Note on Mexican Cinnamon Cookies

While these cookies are bursting with cinnamon flavor, it’s important to note that they are not the traditional Mexican version. Mexican cinnamon cookies, often similar to wedding cookies or “pan de polvorón,” typically have a distinct, crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread-like texture and are usually coated in powdered sugar. This recipe focuses on a soft, chewy, and crispy American-style cinnamon sugar cookie with its characteristic crinkled top.

For a truly effortless baking experience and perfect results every time, I wholeheartedly recommend lining your baking pans with Reynolds Cookie Baking Sheets. I can’t stress enough how much difference they make! Not a single one of my precious cookies stuck to the sheets – which is a huge “YAY!” in my book. These baking sheets are incredibly convenient because they are already pre-cut to fit standard baking pans, saving you time and hassle. Beyond that, they’re wonderfully strong and durable, allowing you to easily pick up a whole sheet of freshly baked cookies from the hot tray and transfer them straight onto a cooling rack without any tearing or worries.

Explore More Delicious Cookie Recipes

If these cinnamon cookies spark your love for baking, you’ll be thrilled to discover more delightful cookie recipes from my collection. Each one is a tested favorite, perfect for any occasion:

• Molasses Cookies (Soft and Chewy): A wonderfully spiced cookie with a rich, comforting flavor, perfect for fall and winter.
• Classic Snickerdoodles Cookies: Another cinnamon-sugar classic, known for its distinct tangy flavor and soft, chewy texture.
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: The ultimate combination of salty-sweet goodness, packed with two beloved flavors.

Recipe: Easy Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies