If you are searching for a delightfully cozy treat with just the right touch of spice and a beautiful crackled appearance, this Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies Recipe will steal your heart. These cookies blend warm cinnamon flavor with a soft, chewy texture and a delicate outer crust, making each bite a comforting celebration of traditional sweetness. Whether you want to impress guests or simply indulge in a homemade snack, this recipe combines simple ingredients and straightforward steps to deliver irresistibly charming cookies that feel like a warm hug on a chilly day.

Ingredients You’ll Need

A close-up view inside a silver mixing bowl filled with a thick, light beige dough that has a smooth but slightly textured surface with swirls and folds. A yellow spatula is partially visible on the left side, coated with the dough. The bowl rests on a white marbled surface, and the dough looks soft and well-mixed, covering the bowl’s sides unevenly. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

The magic behind these Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies lies in the simplicity and quality of the ingredients, each one carefully chosen to bring out unique notes in flavor, texture, and aroma. From rich butter to aromatic cinnamon, every component plays a starring role.

Butter (1 cup, room temperature): Provides a tender crumb and richness that melts in your mouth.
Sugar (1½ cups): Sweetens the dough while helping create a soft texture.
Eggs (2): Bind the ingredients and add moisture for perfect chewiness.
All-purpose flour (2¾ cups): The structural base, giving the cookies their form.
Baking soda (1 teaspoon): Helps the cookies rise and become delightfully fluffy.
Cream of tartar (2 teaspoons): Adds a slight tang and contributes to the crinkle effect when baking.
Kosher salt (½ teaspoon): Balances sweetness and enhances all flavors.
Sugar (¼ cup): For rolling, this adds extra crunch and sparkle on top.
Cinnamon (1 tablespoon): The signature spice that fills the cookies with warmth and aroma.
Brown rice flour (1½ cups): Introduces a light, nutty flavor and helps with texture.
Tapioca starch (1⅓ cups): Keeps the cookies wonderfully chewy and moist.
Xanthan gum (½ teaspoon): Acts as a binder to provide structure especially with gluten-free flours.

How to Make Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

The foundation for those perfect crinkles begins by creaming the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, ensuring a tender and airy cookie. Adding the eggs one by one allows the dough to emulsify and become smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the flours, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt thoroughly—this dry mix is crucial to the cookies’ signature texture. Combine the wet and dry ingredients carefully, folding just enough to bring everything together, then chill the dough for at least an hour. This resting time helps the flavors meld and firms up the dough, making it easier to shape later on.

Step 2: Shape and Coat the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 400°F so it’s perfectly hot when it’s time to bake. Mix the quarter cup of sugar with cinnamon in a small bowl to create that iconic cinnamon sugar coating. Using a cookie scoop or your hands, form balls of dough and generously roll each one in the cinnamon sugar mixture to give them a sweet and glittery surface. Placing the dough balls with enough space between them on a lined baking sheet will allow the cookies room to puff wonderfully without crowding.

Step 3: Bake to Perfection

Bake your cookies for about 8 minutes. You’ll want to catch them just as they rise and develop their charming cracks on top; remove them before the edges brown for a soft, slightly puffy texture. If you long for a crispier bite, feel free to bake a minute or two longer, but watch closely so they don’t overbake. Once out of the oven, let the cookies sit on the sheet for one to two minutes—a subtle step that helps them finish setting—then transfer to a cooling rack. Alternating baking sheets will make sure each batch bakes evenly with rested trays.

How to Serve Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies Recipe

A blue round plate filled with a stack of round, light golden cookies with cracked surfaces, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar giving a fine brown dusting over the top. The cookies have a soft texture with visible cracks and slight puffiness, layered evenly on the plate which rests on a wooden surface partially covered by a colorful floral cloth. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

For a little extra whimsy, try dusting your freshly baked Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies with a fine sprinkle of powdered sugar. This adds a festive snow-like effect that looks stunning and complements the cinnamon sugar coating perfectly. You can also drizzle melted white or dark chocolate over the top for a touch of decadence that pairs beautifully with the warm spices.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with classic beverages like a steaming cup of chai tea, which mirrors the cinnamon notes, or a rich hot chocolate for a cozy indulgence. For brunch or a sweet snack spread, serve them alongside fresh fruit or creamy yogurt to balance the sweetness and spice with refreshing lightness.

Creative Ways to Present

Present your Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies Recipe on a rustic wooden platter dusted lightly with cinnamon powder or nestled in a charming tin with parchment paper. Arrange them with twigs of cinnamon or star anise for an inviting touch. You could even stack them in layers separated by wax paper for gifting or a cookie exchange, adding a handwritten recipe card for your special touch.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, store your Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will keep their soft and chewy texture perfectly for up to a week. Be sure to place a slice of bread inside the container to help maintain moisture and prevent them from drying out.

Freezing

If you want to enjoy these cookies later, freeze the dough balls before baking for up to three months. When ready, simply thaw the balls in the refrigerator overnight and roll in cinnamon sugar before baking as usual. You can also freeze baked cookies by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet, flash freezing, and then transferring to a freezer-safe bag.

Reheating

To refresh stored Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies, warm them in a preheated oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes. This brings back their softness and just-baked aroma, making them taste as delightful as the moment they came out of the oven.

FAQs

Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

Absolutely! This recipe already incorporates brown rice flour, tapioca starch, and xanthan gum, which are common gluten-free ingredients that ensure the cookies maintain their structure and chewiness without traditional wheat flour.

Why do the cookies crack on top?

The crinkled effect comes from the reaction between the baking soda, cream of tartar, and the chilling of dough. As the cookies expand in the heat, the exterior hardens faster than the interior, causing those signature cracks to form beautifully across the surface.

Can I substitute the butter with oil or vegan alternatives?

While butter provides a rich flavor and texture unique to this recipe, you can experiment with vegan butter substitutes for a dairy-free version. However, using oils may affect the texture and spread of the cookies, often resulting in thinner, less crinkled cookies.

What’s the best way to scoop the dough?

Using a cookie scoop helps ensure uniform size and even baking time. If you don’t have one, roll dough by hand into balls, but keep measurements consistent for the best results.

How can I make the cookies crispier?

Simply extend the baking time by one or two minutes, watching closely to avoid overbaking. Also, thinner dough balls will bake to a crisper texture faster.

Final Thoughts

There’s something undeniably comforting about a batch of Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies fresh from the oven, and this Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies Recipe makes it easy to bring that warm, spicy joy into your kitchen. I encourage you to try making these soon — the welcoming aroma alone will make your home feel like the coziest place on earth. Once you take that first bite, I bet these cookies will become a cherished part of your baking repertoire!

Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies Recipe