I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but I’m starting to become a vanilla girl through and through.
I mean, I love me some chocolate – don’t get me wrong. But as much as I’ve turned into a vanilla girl, I think the blame probably lies in the fact that I’ve also become quite the chocolate snob. Dark and expensive tends to be my chocolate preference. Maybe a little bacon or sea salt when I’m feeling sassy, and just straight when…well, when a girl just needs some chocolate ifyouknowhatImean.
But back to vanilla. I love vanilla bean anything…that extra OOMPH! of vanilla flavor tends to really rev my engine. But I’ve never actually made anything with vanilla bean because quite honestly I can’t justify spending $12 per bean, which seems to be the going rate at the stores in Colorado. Enter the wonderful Christina who pretty much saved my life when she offered to send me some vanilla beans from her stash. Not only did she add some much-needed flavor to my baking life, she pretty much single-handedly made sure that I would FIND the justification in the $12 vanilla bean.
These cookies aren’t chocolate – no, they are clearly a buttery white cookie covered in cinnamon-sugar love and baked to perfection. But what you don’t see – what’s at the heart of these little babies – is a vanilla flavor so profound and deliciously speckled throughout them that I dare you to not let your inner vanilla-lover shine through. DARE!
- 1 cup butter at room temperature
- 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar, plus more for rolling (about another 1/3 cup)
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- seeds from one vanilla bean (here’s a fantastic video on how to do so)
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375 and line a baking sheet with parchment or a Silpat. Cream together the butter and 1 1/3 cups of sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix well. Add the vanilla bean seeds and combine thoroughly so that vanilla love gets spread throughout the cookie. Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix until all of the dry ingredients are incorporated. Scoop out the cookies by the tablespoonful and roll into balls. In a small bowl combine the remaining sugar and the cinnamon and roll the cookies in it. Place them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet and bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden and the cookies are puffed and delicious. Let cool for about 5 minutes before devouring.
Definitely making these. Maybe today! Pinning too…
I made cinnamon snickerdoodles for the first time last week and loved them so these sound super appealing! These look gorgeous, your photography is lovely 🙂
Definitely bookmarking this, my boyfriend is like you and prefers vanilla to chocolate!
I made cinnamon snickerdoodles for the first time last week and I loved them so these are super appealing! They look gorgeous, your photos are lovely 🙂
Definitely being bookmarked, my boyfriend is like you and prefers vanilla to chocolate!
You had me at vanilla bean, you sealed the deal at snickerdoodles.
This is one of those reasons I love homemade vanilla ice cream and homemade tapioca. *sigh*
This snickerdoodles recipe looks aMAZing. The texture is outa this world. I cannot wait to try it. And I loved my old snickerdoodles recipe….
Ohmygosh these plus a hot cup of coffee would make the BEST breakfast ever… just one thing… I don’t have any 🙁 probably should make some today! I got some vanilla beans as a gift and I don’t want to use them because of the fact they ARE SO EXPENSIVE! I need to get over it and make these asap!
Mmm these are so tasty sounding!
I love chocolate, but I am definately a vanilla girl at heart! My favorite ice cream? No contest…vanilla all the way! I love snickerdoodles, and the addition of the vanilla bean is genius. I can’t wait to try this recipe!
I bought about 10-15 vanilla beans on eBay for about $20. Idk if they are like super amazing grade vanilla but I used them in creme brûlée and panna cotta with excellent results.
Also you might want to look into vanilla bean paste. It’s $11 for a good sized jar at Williams Sonoma and I have also seen it at TJ Maxx/Marshal’s/Ross if you have those in your area!
Definitely gonna make these. Snickerdoodles are my favorite and I am absolutely team vanilla. 🙂
I think it was that Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla that turned me into a vanilla girl as well! Definitely!
I saw these first on FB and had to run (metaphorically, of course) over here to grab the recipe! I adore snickerdoodles, and the addition of vanilla bean is sort of genius. Fantastic recipe, Heather 😀
Yum!! So glad you put them to use! 🙂
Also, Bluebell ice cream is pretty much the best thing on the planet. I can’t find it in California and it makes me sad.
Happy Valentine’s Day! 🙂
These look so soft and pillowy!!! I’m a vanilla girl– unless the chocolate is in bar form, I always go for the vanilla option (cake, ice cream, etc.).
Even knowing the amazing taste real beans give off, it’s STILL hard to spend that $12 on a lone bean! We went to Tahiti on our honeymoon and I remember wanting to grab them off the trees (plants?/bushes?) and bring them home with me…they were everywhere! I don’t think customs would’ve appreciated it though.
These look wonderful!!
Oooh, these look so puffy!! I am a vanilla looover. YUM.
I’m with ya on the cost of vanilla beans-I need to find my own Christina to send me some 🙂