Crispy cinnamon sugar cookies with a perfect balance of buttery sweetness and warm cinnamon spice, crunchy on the edges and tender in the center.

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

For rolling: 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add this to the butter mixture, stirring until a dough forms.
In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon for rolling.
Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Coat each ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Flatten them slightly using the bottom of a glass or your fingers.
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are set.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
For extra crispiness, bake the cookies a minute or two longer and let them cool fully on the wire rack.

For a twist, add chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips to the dough.

Increase cinnamon and add nutmeg or cloves for a spicier flavor.

Substitute half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a nuttier texture.

Reduce baking time and avoid flattening dough balls for softer cookies.

Roll cookies in powdered sugar instead of cinnamon sugar for a different coating.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Reheat softened cookies in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes to restore crispiness.

Freeze dough balls before baking or freeze baked cookies up to 3 months.