One of the best skill sets you can possibly invest in for long-term preparation is canning. Canning has been around for ages, and when done properly produces food that is delicious, shelf stable, and most importantly safe. It’s possible to can nearly anything, from fruits and vegetables to soups and even meat. Beef, chicken, pork, ... Read more
In a bugout scenario, you are likely to spend a lot of time in your vehicle as you travel from one destination to the next. This means a vehicle well-stocked with survival supplies is one of the most important components in a bugout plan – and food is the most essential supply that you can stockpile.
Before you start tossing groceries into the trunk of your car, it’s important to note that not all foods are great for storing in vehicles. For example, chocolate protein bars are great meal replacements, but the chocolate is likely to melt and get all over the place.
A food that is good for vehicle storage needs to have a long shelf-life, have lots of nutrition, and be easy to prepare. With those qualifications in mind, here are 20 emergency foods that you should keep in your vehicle.
Beef jerky is a tasty snack that is high in protein and calories. It’s also a food that has a shelf-life of up to two years and can withstand the temperature extremes that occur in most vehicles.
Calories per ounce: 88 calories
Protein per ounce: 9.4 grams
2. Bottled Water
Bottled water isn’t a food per se, but it is one of the most important things you can store in your vehicle if you are preparing for a bugout scenario. While the human body can go weeks without food, it can only go a matter of days without water before dying from dehydration.
In addition, water is a necessary ingredient for preparing many of the other food items you might store in your vehicle. Whatever food items you decide on, make sure a large package of bottled water is on the list.
3. Breakfast Bars
Typically made out of oats and some kind of dried fruit, breakfast bars are a nutritious and filling snack that has a long shelf-life and is convenient to eat on the go.
Calories: Varies by brand
4. Instant Coffee
Given how much energy a bugout scenario requires, you are going to need all of the energy-boosters that you can get. Unlike ground coffee, which only has a shelf-life of a few months, instant coffee can be stored for up to twenty years without spoiling.
Best of all, instant coffee is also much easier to prepare. These two qualities make instant coffee an obvious choice for storing in your vehicle.
Calories per ounce (when added to water): 1.5 calories
5. Instant Oatmeal
As long as you have a way to boil water, instant oatmeal is a meal that is quick and easy to prepare. Instant oatmeal also has a shelf-life of up to two years, making it an ideal food item for long-term storage. Instant oatmeal isn’t very high in fats or protein, but it does offer a lot of filling carbs.
Calories per ounce: 105 calories
Carbs per ounce: 21 grams
6. Macaroni and Cheese
If you’ve found this list devoid of your favorite foods thus far, you may be happy to learn that delicious macaroni and cheese is also a great food for storing in your vehicle. Mac and cheese is a tasty food item that can be quickly prepared.
It’s also a food item with a long shelf-life and one that is very filling and rich in calories. Of course, it’s also another food that requires boiled water to prepare.
Calories per ounce: 108 calories
7. Mixed Nuts
Mixed nuts make for a convenient snack that is high in calories and protein. They require no preparation to eat and can give you a quick boost of energy when you need it the most.
Calories per ounce: 170
Protein per ounce: 5 grams
8. MREs (Meals Ready to Eat)
If you’ve ever served in the military, chances are you're familiar with MREs. These pre-packaged meals can easily be purchased in bulk by civilians. MREs are easy to store, have a long shelf-life, and require essentially no preparation, making them an ideal food item to store in your vehicle.
While the macronutrients of MREs will vary from meal to meal, they are typically filling and nutritious, even if they aren’t the best tasting cuisine in the world.
9. Multivitamins
Multivitamins may not count as a food, but they are still a beneficial thing to store in your vehicle along with food items if you want to ensure you are getting the nutrients you need. During a bugout scenario, your diet is going to be very restricted, and getting all of your important nutrients without being able to eat fresh meat and vegetables is going to be a challenge.
A good multivitamin can supplement a limited diet and ensure that you are still getting the nutrients you need to remain strong, energetic, and healthy.
Calories per ounce: NA
10. Peanut Butter Pouches
Peanut butter is a food that is rich in both protein and calories, and buying it in pouches is the most convenient way to store and eat it. If you are looking for an energy-boosting snack that packs plenty of calories and protein into a lightweight, easy to store package, then peanut butter pouches are an ideal choice.
Calories per ounce: 182 calories
Protein per ounce: 6 grams
11. Pemmican
Pemmican is one of the oldest and most calorie-dense survival foods in existence, made from dried meat, rendered fat, and sometimes dried berries. It was relied on by Native Americans and early explorers because it packs an enormous amount of energy into a very small, lightweight package. Pemmican holds up well in vehicle storage and has a shelf-life that can stretch to several years when properly sealed.
Calories per ounce: 167 calories
Protein per ounce: 9 grams
12. Pepperoni Sticks
Similar to beef jerky, pepperoni sticks are a shelf-stable meat snack that holds up well in the temperature swings that occur inside a vehicle. They're higher in fat than jerky, which makes them more calorie-dense and satisfying when you need sustained energy. Look for individually wrapped sticks, which will last longer once opened and are easy to eat on the go.
Calories per ounce: 150 calories
Protein per ounce: 9 grams
13. Pinto Beans
Pinto beans are a prepper staple thanks to the fact that they are filling, easy to prepare, and have a shelf-life that is near indefinite. Pinto beans are also high in both calories and protein, and they are one of the healthier food items that can be stored in a vehicle for an extended period of time.
Of course, in order to prepare pinto beans, you will need water, a container, and the ability to start a fire.
Calories per ounce: 89 calories
Protein per ounce: 6.1 grams
14. Powdered Gatorade
Storing powdered Gatorade in your vehicle will give you a tasty alternative to bottled water. It’s also full of energy-boosting sugars to get you through the day and has a two-year shelf-life if left unopened.
Calories per ounce (when added to water): 7.9 calories
Sugars per ounce (when added to water): 1.6 grams
15. Protein Bars
As the name suggests, protein bars are one of the best ways to quickly consume a large amount of protein on the go. Protein bars are also very filling, high in calories, and quite tasty as well.
If you are looking for a convenient food item that offers plenty of bang for your buck when it comes to protein and calories, protein bars are a great option.
Calories per ounce: Varies by brand
16. Ramen Noodles
Ramen noodles don’t offer much in way of nutrients, but they are a tasty snack that can be stored for years without spoiling. Ramen noodles are also high in sodium, enabling you to replace the sodium you lose through sweating.
While Ramen noodles can be eaten without any preparation, they will be much more enjoyable if you have a way to boil water.
Calories per ounce: 127 calories
Sodium per ounce: 577 mg
17. SPAM
SPAM is neither the healthiest nor the best tasting meat product, but it is one of the only meat products that can be stored outside a refrigerator for up to five years without spoiling. If calories and protein are what you are after, SPAM isn’t that bad in terms of nutritional value either. Be sure to get the kind that come in pouches.
Like Ramen noodles, the high sodium count of SPAM can also help you replace the sodium that you lose through sweating during the strenuous process of bugging out.
Calories per ounce: 92 calories
Protein per ounce: 3.6 grams
18. Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds require a little more effort to eat than most foods, meaning they aren’t exactly the best way to fill up quickly. With that said, sunflower seeds do offer a number of other benefits that make them a great food to store in your vehicle.
For one, sunflower seeds are a healthy snack that is high in sodium. Sunflower seeds are also enjoyable to eat and can be a stress reliever during long car rides.
Calories per ounce: 91 calories
19. Trail Mix
Like mixed nuts, but with more variety, trail mix is a tasty, calorie-rich snack that is easy to store and requires no preparation to eat. The dried fruits in trail mix offer plenty of energy-boosting sugars while the mixed nuts offer protein and healthy fats.
Just be sure to purchase trail mix that doesn’t contain chocolate or anything else that might melt in a hot car.
Calories per ounce: 142 calories
Protein per ounce: 402 grams
20. Tuna Pouches
Canned tuna has long been a prepper staple, but tuna pouches are an even better option for vehicle storage. They're compact, require no can opener, and are easy to eat straight from the package. Tuna pouches are high in protein and have a shelf-life of up to three years, making them a great addition to any vehicle emergency kit. Be sure to get the kind in oil, not water.
Maybe you’ve had soft and chewy cookies before, but you’ve never had a Soft and Chewy Snickerdoodles recipe like this. When I make a cookie, it has to be soft. Biting into a soft and chewy cookie is probably one of the best things in the world. I’m going to show you how to make these cookies. You can make them any time of the year, and they’ll be delicious for any occasion. My grandkids really enjoy making these cookies with me! So, let’s get started with making them. The secret is the creamy butter; there’s no shortening in this recipe.
What are snickerdoodles?
Snickerdoodles are classic American sugar cookies rolled in a cinnamon-sugar mixture before baking, giving them their signature crinkled tops and irresistible sweet-spiced coating. Unlike plain sugar cookies, snickerdoodles get their tender, pillowy texture from cream of tartar, a secret ingredient that adds a gentle tang and keeps every bite soft. They’re one of the easiest, most crowd-pleasing cookies you can make, and they’ve been a staple in family kitchens for generations. Best of all, kids love helping roll the dough balls in cinnamon sugar, making this a true bake-together recipe.
These cookies don’t take many ingredients, which is really nice! I love baking, but it’s hard to bake when there are a ton of ingredients involved. If you want to be lazy and use a few ingredients, go with this cookie recipe. Whether you take these cookies to a potluck or make them for a special family or neighborhood occasion, you can’t go wrong. In case you missed this post, Soft Cream Cheese Frosted Sugar Cookies
Kitchen Items Needed
Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer (Costco has a great buy on them for Mother’s Day 2026)
Every ingredient in a snickerdoodle plays a specific role in creating that perfect chewy texture and warm, spiced flavor. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each one matters.
Butter, softened
Butter is the rich, creamy foundation of these cookies. Using a full cup gives the dough incredible flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth quality. It’s important that your butter is truly softened to room temperature, not melted, not cold, so it creams smoothly with the sugar to create a light, fluffy base that bakes up with perfectly crispy edges and a tender center.
White Granulated sugar
White sugar does double duty in this recipe. In the dough, it sweetens and helps the cookies spread to just the right thickness. A portion also goes into the cinnamon-sugar coating that every snickerdoodle is famous for. Don’t be shy when rolling; a generous coat is what gives these cookies their signature crunch on the outside and soft chew on the inside.
Eggs
Eggs provide structure, richness, and moisture to the dough. Two whole eggs give the cookies just enough body to hold their shape while baking, without making them dry or cakey. They also help bind all the ingredients together into a smooth, cohesive dough that’s easy to roll into balls and coat evenly.
Cream of tartar
This is the ingredient that separates a true snickerdoodle from a plain cinnamon sugar cookie. Cream of tartar is an acidic leavening agent that reacts with baking soda to give the cookies a gentle lift and a subtle, distinctive tang. Perhaps most importantly, it’s what keeps snickerdoodles beautifully soft and chewy rather than crispy. Do not skip it!
Baking soda
Baking soda works hand in hand with the cream of tartar to make the cookies puff up slightly as they bake. Together, these two leavening agents create just the right amount of rise, enough to give the cookies a light, tender texture without making them fluffy or cakey. Make sure your baking soda is fresh for the best results.
Salt
A small amount of salt might seem insignificant in a sweet cookie recipe, but it plays a crucial balancing role. Salt enhances and deepens all the other flavors in the dough, making the sweetness taste more complex and the butter more pronounced. Without it, the cookies can taste flat or one-dimensional.
Vanilla extract
Vanilla extract adds warmth, depth, and a subtle floral aroma that rounds out the cookie’s flavor. It pairs beautifully with the cinnamon and butter to create that cozy, bakery-style fragrance that fills your kitchen as these cookies bake. Use pure vanilla extract if you can — the difference compared to artificial vanilla is well worth it.
All-purpose flour or Bread Flour
Flour provides the structure that holds everything together. The amount here is carefully balanced — enough to give the cookies shape and prevent excessive spreading, but not so much that they become dense or dry. Measure by spooning flour into the measuring cup and leveling it off rather than scooping directly from the bag, which can pack in too much and result in tough cookies.
Cinnamon-sugar coating
No snickerdoodle is complete without its signature cinnamon-sugar roll. To make the coating, combine 2 tablespoons of white sugar with 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon in a small shallow bowl. This simple mixture is what gives snickerdoodles their beautifully spiced, sparkly crust and that warm, slightly crunchy exterior that contrasts so perfectly with the soft, chewy center. When rolling your dough balls, press them firmly into the mixture and turn to coat every side generously; the more evenly coated the dough ball, the more gorgeous and evenly spiced your finished cookie will be.
Why this recipe works
The magic of a great snickerdoodle is all about the balance of fat, leavening, and acid. A full cup of softened butter creates a rich, spreadable dough that bakes up with slightly crispy edges and a gloriously chewy middle. The cream of tartar and baking soda work together to create the perfect lift and tang, and rolling the dough balls generously in cinnamon sugar is what delivers that iconic sparkly, spiced crust. This is also a wonderfully family-friendly recipe; kids absolutely love rolling the dough balls, making it a perfect weekend baking project for all ages.
Tips for perfect snickerdoodles
Make sure your butter is properly softened, not melted, so it creams light and fluffy. Don’t overbake: snickerdoodles are done when the edges are just set, and the centers still look slightly underdone; they’ll firm up as they cool. For extra-thick and chewy cookies, refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before rolling. Always use fresh cream of tartar; an old jar can affect both rise and texture.
Step One: Gather Ingredients – Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place a sheet of parchment paper on your cookie sheet or grease it with vegetable spray.
Step Two: Cream Ingredients
Cream the butter, sugar, eggs, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and vanilla.
Step Three: Add Flour & Mix
Add the flour and mix thoroughly.
Step Four: Make Sure The Ingredients Are Fully Mixed
This is what it looks like when you are ready to make the one-inch balls of cookie dough.
Step Five: Scoop into Cookie Balls
I use a cookie scoop to make the cookie balls about 1 inch in diameter. Roll the cookie balls in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. You can make the cookies a bit darker by using more cinnamon. Here’s my cookie scoop: Purple Cookie Scoop and my Cookie Spatula
Step Six: Bake
Bake for 10 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Don’t over-bake. Cool on a cooling rack.
Cinnamon-Sugar Coating: 3-6 teaspoons cinnamon with 1/2 cup of white sugar (stir until mixed). I used 6 teaspoons of cinnamon today.
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Place a sheet of parchment paper on your cookie sheet or grease it with vegetable spray.
Cream the butter, sugar, eggs, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and vanilla.
Add the flour and mix thoroughly. I use a cookie scoop to make the cookie balls about 1 inch in diameter.
Roll the cookie balls in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake for 10 minutes. Do not over-bake.
Frequently asked questions
Can I freeze snickerdoodle dough? Absolutely. Roll the dough into balls before coating, freeze on a baking sheet, then transfer to a zip-lock bag for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, roll in cinnamon sugar and bake from frozen, adding 2–3 extra minutes to the bake time.
What if I don’t have cream of tartar? In a pinch, replace the cream of tartar and baking soda with 2 teaspoons of baking powder. The cookies will still taste great, but the texture and flavor will be slightly different; you’ll lose some of that classic tang.
How do I keep snickerdoodles soft after baking? Store them in an airtight container at room temperature with a slice of white bread inside. The bread releases moisture, keeping the cookies soft and chewy for up to 5 days. They also freeze beautifully once baked.
Can I make these gluten-free? Yes, a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend works well here. The texture may be slightly more delicate, but the flavor and chewiness hold up beautifully.
Do you love making cookies as much as I do? I love teaching my grandkids how to measure, mix, scoop, and bake cookies. It’s one more way to teach them how to cook from scratch. This recipe originally called for 1 cup of shortening, but I swapped it for butter. Butter makes your cookies like bakery-grade cookies. Now, if you like a crispy Snickerdoodle, I would stick with the shortening. I love a soft and chewy cookie. These taste just like a famous Snickerdoodle cookie made in Southern Utah for a fraction of the price. May God bless this world, Linda
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