Snickerdoodles!

Just sugar cookies. Snicker doodles are later

Looks yummy regardless. *eats all of them* :X

Still look good, aye! Though yes, I actually don't know about how to correct for altitude at all, though I am sure there is something online for that. That actually could definitely have a variance on how they turned out.

And to check, did you do the mix of shortening and butter? Or just butter?

8oz unsalted challenge butter (microwave melted)
5oz butter flavored shortening.

The flour might /also/ have been off, I need a better scale.
Also, would it work to make the dry part first, then the wet, so I don't have the wet just sitting there for like, 5-10 minutes?

That might have a factor, though it does sound like from the dry aspect that they needed a little more moisture. Normally they get that resting in the fridge, absorbing it from the moisture in there to be less dry.

I'd have to say either to much flour, or not enough liquid (Which, they both counteract each other anyway). Overall the dough shouldn't be very sticky when forming into balls. I do know I've had the bottom of my bowl be a little on the dry side and crumbly. Just enough wet to get sugar on it.

Hand rolling into balls and smashing in sugar works but yeah, I'd say just a touch more liquid somehow in there... which I'd say means a little more egg actually. It could also be related to the higher altitude baking as well. Also Florida has a LOT of humidity too, which is a factor in baking. You can spray them with water to make them more sticky to roll in sugar more easily if you wish and that shouldn't altar them much unless you overdose them, just a light spray.

also, the cookies weren't sticky. I had to hand form the dough into balls in my palm, smash that into the sugar, then set that on the cookie tray

look good cookies

It is, in fact, the way the cookie crumbles.