A snickerdoodle is a type of cookie that's soft, slightly chewy, and rolled in cinnamon sugar before baking. The cookie itself is made from a simple dough similar to sugar cookies, but what makes it special is that coating of cinnamon and sugar that creates a sweet, spicy crust.

When you bite into a fresh snickerdoodle, you taste the warm cinnamon first, then the buttery, tangy cookie underneath. That slight tanginess comes from cream of tartar, an ingredient that gives snickerdoodles their characteristic flavor and helps create their crackled, wrinkled surface.

The name sounds silly, and nobody knows exactly where it came from. Snickerdoodles have been an American favorite since at least the 1800s, showing up at bake sales, cookie exchanges, and holiday gatherings.

If you've only had store-bought snickerdoodles, you might not understand what makes them special. Homemade ones, eaten while still slightly warm, are completely different: the outside is crisp with cinnamon-sugar, while the inside stays wonderfully soft.