Snickerdoodles for Vanessa

Although I love to cook, I only bake for special occasions. And today is a very special one; it is my beautiful daughter-in-law Vanessa's birthday.

Happy Birthday, Vanessa! With love...

                                                               Snickerdoodles
                                                                 adapted from
                                                          Good Old- Fashioned
                                                                     Cookies
                                                                 Susan Kosoff 

Cinnamon-Sugar Topping
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cookie Dough
1/2 cup unsalted butter,softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups of all- purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt

1. Position rack in center of oven; preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 or 3 cookie sheets.

2. To prepare Cinnamon-Sugar Topping: Put sugar and cinnamon in a shallow baking pan and gently shake until evenly blended.

3. To prepare Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, and using an electric mixer set on medium speed, cream butter and sugar until lightly and smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla until fluffy.

4. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Add in thirds to cream mixture, blending with a rubber spatula after each additional. Drop rounded teaspoons of dough, a few at a time, into Cinnamon-Sugar Topping. Roll cookies to cover completely, shaping them into balls as you roll.

5. Arrange balls on greased cookie sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a drinking glass.

6. Bake one sheet at a time for 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Using a metal spatula, slide cookies onto wire racks and cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container.

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