Back to School, Back to Seventeen

What better way to usher in the first week of school than with a movie night featuring Seventeen Again! AG is not quite seventeen, we still have plenty of time before we get there, but she is a die hard fan of Tia & Tamera, just like her mama. So naturally, a Tia & Tamera movie night was long overdue.

Seventeen Again is such a fun movie, and it definitely makes you stop and think about what you would do if you were given the chance to be seventeen again. Would you do things differently? Would you make different choices? Or would you simply enjoy getting to experience it all over again?

As for me, I'm not sure I'd want to go back. I had a great time being seventeen, but once was enough for me! Especially in this day and age. 😂 I'll happily keep the memories and leave the teenage years where they belong.

I will give parents a little heads-up, though. Although the movie is rated PG, there is one particular scene that some parents may not be quite ready to discuss with their littles. Honestly, I never noticed it as a child, and AG was none the wiser, but every family is different. So, as always, use your best judgment!

This was also Erik's first time seeing Seventeen Again. I'm still not quite sure where he was when these movies came out, but apparently he missed a LOT. 😂 Don't worry, though, we're getting him caught up on all the good stuff, one nostalgic movie night at a time, with plenty of good food along the way.

And tonight, I'm sharing the star of dessert: Second Chance Snickerdoodles.

Tonight's Menu

Back to the Cafeteria Burgers & Hot Dogs
Teen Spirit Loaded Fries
Back Again Broccoli
Sweet Seventeen Strawberry Lemonade
Second Chance Snickerdoodles

Second Chance Snickerdoodles

Soft, chewy, and coated in plenty of cinnamon sugar, these Second Chance Snickerdoodles are the perfect sweet treat for a Seventeen Again movie night. They have slightly crisp edges, soft centers, and that classic snickerdoodle flavor that makes it nearly impossible to eat just one.

The secret to keeping these cookies soft and chewy? Don't overbake them! The centers should look just slightly underdone when you pull them from the oven. They'll continue to set as they cool, leaving you with that perfectly soft middle.

For the Cookies

1 cup salted butter, softened
1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar
⅓ cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar

For the Cinnamon-Sugar Coating

⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Prepare the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.

2. Make the Dough

In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the softened butter for about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.

Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat for another 2 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until everything is smooth and well combined.

3. Add the Dry Ingredients

Add the flour, but don't mix it in just yet.

Sprinkle the baking soda, kosher salt, and cream of tartar over the flour. Give the dry ingredients a quick stir to distribute them, then gently mix them into the butter mixture.

Be careful not to overmix! Mix just until the flour disappears and the dough comes together. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies, and nobody wants a tough snickerdoodle.

4. Make the Cinnamon Sugar

In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Stir until evenly combined.

Don't throw away any leftover cinnamon sugar! You'll use it again after the cookies bake.

5. Shape & Roll the Cookies

Using a large cookie scoop or spoon, portion the dough into balls about 1½–2 inches wide.

Roll each dough ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until completely coated.

Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.

6. Bake

Bake at 350°F for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are just barely set.

The centers may still look slightly shiny and underdone. That's exactly what you want! The cookies will continue baking on the hot baking sheet after they come out of the oven.

Be careful not to overbake them. Slightly underbaking is what gives these snickerdoodles their soft, chewy centers.

7. Shape the Cookies

Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, use the back of a spoon to gently push the edges toward the center of each cookie. This helps create perfectly round cookies while also giving them a thicker, chewier center.

Work quickly—you'll want to do this within about 30–60 seconds of taking the cookies out of the oven, while the edges are still soft.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 3–5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack.

8. Give Them a Second Cinnamon-Sugar Coating

While the cookies are still warm but sturdy enough to handle, place each cookie back into the bowl of cinnamon sugar.

Coat one side, flip it over, and coat the other side.

This extra coating gives the cookies an irresistible cinnamon-sugar finish and makes them look—and taste—even more special.

Then grab a glass of milk and enjoy one while it's still warm. You deserve it!

Freezer Instructions

Want to save some cookies for later? You absolutely can!

Shape the cookie dough into balls and roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place the dough balls in a freezer-safe zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

When you're ready to bake, there's no need to thaw the dough. Place the frozen cookie dough balls directly onto a prepared baking sheet and bake at 350°F, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.

A Few Tips for the Best Snickerdoodles

Don't overmix the dough. Once the flour is incorporated, stop mixing.

Don't overbake. The centers should look slightly underdone when you take them out. This is the key to soft, chewy cookies.

Don't skip the second cinnamon-sugar coating. It's what gives these cookies that extra cinnamon-sugar goodness around the edges.

Enjoy them warm. Technically optional, but highly recommended.

Family Movie Night: Seventeen Again