Snickerdoodle Cookies: First Day of School Treat!

The first day of school is tomorrow for all of the kids in our neighborhood, including our neighbor. He starts the fifth grade tomorrow morning, which means he starts middle school! Needless to say, he is rather nervous and not so sure about this big change. I thought that some sweet Snickerdoodle encouragement would help him be more excited about the first day!

You should always have some pretty ribbon on hand for impromptu gifts!

Do you remember your first day of middle school? I do. I remember feeling so overwhelmed with changing classrooms every hour, not knowing many of the kids from the other elementary schools, and being very intimidated by the eighth graders wandering the halls. I think I got lost about 3 times in the first day! I remember thinking that all of the projects, tests and papers the teachers told us about on the first day would all have to be done by the end of the week! By the second week I felt far more comfortable with all of the changes, and actually began to enjoy the different possibilities middle school held, including old friends, new friends, new opportunities, and a new sense of individuality.

I hope that our neighbor has a wonderful first day of school...and I hope the Snickerdoodle cookies help to sweeten the day!  

Shafer snuggling. 

Cort in her comfy bed!

This recipe is from Crisco. I was going to use a different recipe, but got home from the grocery store without butter! So luckily I always have Crisco on hand (a must have pantry staple for those emergency cookie situations). They turned out very tasty! Again, as with most cookies, take them out a bit before you think they are done, as they will continue to cook, and you really want Snickerdoodles to be chewy and not crispy.

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Ingredients for Cookies:
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
1 stick or 1 cup of vegetable shortening, I used Crisco
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons of milk, I used skim
1 teaspoon of vanilla
2 3/4 cups of all purpose flour
2 teaspoons of cream of tartar
1 teaspoon of baking soda
3/4 teaspoon of salt

Ingredients for Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture:
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
2 teaspoons of cinnamon

Steps:
1. Gather all of your ingredients.

2. Mix together the 1 1/2 cups of sugar, shortening, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons of milk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

3. Mix this sugar mixture in an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

4. In a separate bowl, combine the 2 3/4 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 3/4 teaspoon of salt.

5. Slowly add the flour mixture into the sugar mixture.

6. Mix until just combined.

7. In a small bowl, combine the 1/2 cup of sugar with the 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.

8. Take a small piece of dough and roll in your hands to make a ball.

9. Roll each piece of dough in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

10. Arrange on a cookie sheet and cook at 400 degrees for about 8 minutes.

11. Enjoy all by yourself, or share with someone who needs a smile!