294467 Fri Oct 17 07:46:12 -0700 2003 12 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1615043 Snickerdoodles--anyone remember them? Got a craving for these, and was wondering...what's with the name? Is it one of the those wacky american things, like apple pandowdy or bubble and squeak (or blueberry buckle) or is there some particular reason behind the name? Fri Oct 17 07:46:12 -0700 2003 0 dixieday 1 1615060 Hey Dixieday-san, Remember them?? They are still my FAVORITE cookie from a cook book that I've ever had, (as long as they are made from the recipe from Betty Crocker's 1950's Cookie Cook Book). Five years ago, when I first came to Tokyo, my Mom made a batch of snickerdoodles as a CARE package. Her customs form stated four dozen cookies in the box. When I received it, I noticed that the customs seal had been broken, and there were only 39 cookies in my package. At least some people in Japan have discovered the miracle that is the snickerdoodle! One of the greatest treats I've ever had on this big, blue marble floating in the universe is fresh-out-of-the-oven crisp snickerdoodles, with my Grandpa's homemade, hand-cranked fresh peach ice cream, (ice cream made with more fresh cream than milk, donated from the cows from the ranch next to my Grandparent's place). As for the cool name, you've had me googling for an hour, and there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. As long as I can still get my snickerdoodle fix, I can live with the mystery. Yoroshiku, Andy Fri Oct 17 10:10:49 -0700 2003 1615043 0 Andy P. 2 1615069 Andy-San, Any chance you'd share the recipe? You can send it to me privately if you don't want a run-in with the Chowhound Recipe Police. Thanks for sharing your snickerdoodle stories! Best, Dixie Fri Oct 17 10:50:53 -0700 2003 1615060 0 dixieday 3 1615078 Hi Dixieday-san, When my Mom gets back from holiday, I'll ask her, very nicely, to send me the recipe. And, I'll post it here, paraphrasing the method enough to fend off the C.R.P. :) Might be a couple of weeks, though. Okay? Cheers, Andy Fri Oct 17 11:17:45 -0700 2003 1615069 0 Andy P. 2 1615086 Snickerdoodles rule! If I had to name a favorite cookie, they would be coupled with each I would list in my top ten list of cookies. I googled for a short bit also and realize it would be like tracing your own family history. Maybe the author of the book "Slump, Grunts and Snickerdoodles; What Colonial America Ate and Why" would give a clue. It's touted to be arriving to America in the 1600's by German Immigrants. Doesn't mean they are German, only documented. Snickerdoodles are a sometimes a sort of shortbread cookie (Scottish) and is often modernly made as a sugar cookie recipe with cinnamon. "The origin of the word: Sugar was added by the Dutch and they called it 'koekje', meaning little cake. The Dutch took them to America in the 18th century and the word became 'cookie.'" (See, http://www.foodreference.com/html/fcookiesorigin.html) "most common of spices, such as cinnamon" (See, http://www.godecookery.com/mythical/mythic08.htm) Cinnamon was probably added for by cooks to a recipe of basic, quick, portable cookie for reasons limerick to me. I looked for the definition of "snicker" (even though I know it) and it showed "To laugh slyly; to laugh in one's sleeve." - among others. http://www.brainydictionary.com/words/sn/snicker221068.html Everyone knows what "doodle" means, but it also means "A trifler; a simple fellow." Go figure. I would suggest that it was named after the time period the of the works of Geoffrey Chaucer (1300-1400's) and possibly Shakespeare (1500-1600's) because they were instrumental in changing our English language to today's recognizable language. The exact origin of "snicker" in unknown, but touted as in 1694. The common definition of "doodle" is listed at in 1936-37, but we knew it as another definition in 1770 when the song "Yankee Doodle Dandy" was penned. The recipes vary slightly, but are basically sugar cookies with cinnamon. (See, http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe.phtml?recid=71) I would summize it to say that the snickerdoodle was a very good cookie then, coveted by many, carried on pilgrimages by many (even if the "pilgramage" meant little Johnny stocking his pockets from mom's oven and running away from home) and remains a very good cookie that will live in infamy as one of life's simple pleasures. God Bless the snickerdoodle. Fri Oct 17 12:05:39 -0700 2003 1615060 0 kc girl 1 1615076 I love snickerdoodles! I am amazed at how many people dont really know about them. My wife did not, but thankfully my mom passed down the recipe to me and I make them all the time. Hot and fresh are the best, but hell a week old still does it for me... lemme dig out my moms recipe and i'll post it. Fri Oct 17 11:06:22 -0700 2003 1615043 0 Baruch 2 1615079 Hey Baruch-san, Please, dig deep, dig fast! This thread has me in craving mode, and it promises to be a cool, rainy Saturday tomorrow here in Tokyo; perfect cookie-making conditions!!! Best, Andy Fri Oct 17 11:21:26 -0700 2003 1615076 0 Andy P. 1 1615083 I've never heard of snickerdoodles before. Obviously I've had a deprived childhood. The attached link purports to show 275 different recipes. If you make one batch a week, you could report back in 5 years or so as to which is the best. And I'm pretty sure bubble and squeak would make a nasty cookie. Link: http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,snickerdoodle+cookies,FF.html Fri Oct 17 11:48:58 -0700 2003 1615043 0 josephsm 1 1615087 Here's a recipe from the Gold Medal Flour Cookbook, featuring the best recipes from the past 100 years. General Mills = Gold Medal = Betty Crocker: Snickerdoodles 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cups margerine or butter, softened 1/2 cup shortening 2 eggs 2 3/4 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the margarine, shortening, and eggs. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Shape dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls. Mix 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon; roll balls in mixture to coat. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until set, 8 to 10 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Makes about 6 dozen cookies. Enjoy! Fri Oct 17 12:23:52 -0700 2003 1615043 0 critter 2 1615229 Thanks so much for posting the recipe. I made them this morning and they took me back to my childhood!!! Sun Oct 19 13:50:07 -0700 2003 1615087 0 Mr. F. 3 1615239 Glad they made your day!!! Sun Oct 19 20:09:18 -0700 2003 1615229 0 critter 1 1615261 Here is an old recipe from a newspaper clipping (newspaper name unknown) from the early part of the 20th century, probably around 1900-1910. It's kind of weird, since it adds raisins, but someone may want to try it. This is verbatim (way past legal copyright dates) - I've only changed "1-2 cup", etc. to "1/2 cup" so no one will add 1 to 2 cups of milk. I haven't tried these (I'm not big into baking), but if any hound does try them, please post the results. Snickerdoodles One cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons butter 1 egg 1/2 cup seeded raisins 1/2 cup milk 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup light brown sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon Beat egg until light, beating in granulated sugar and softened (not melted) butter. Mix and sift flour, salt, and baking powder and add alternately with milk in first mixture. Stir in raisins and drop by teaspoonfuls onto oiled and floured tins. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle thickly over cookies. Bake 15 minutes in a moderate oven. Mon Oct 20 07:31:37 -0700 2003 1615043 0 Sandy 2 1615286 A snickerdoodle without cream of tartar but with raisins?! heresy! Mon Oct 20 10:15:15 -0700 2003 1615261 0 Smokey