Animal Cookies

Remember those circus animal cookies you loved as a kid? Yes, this is a recipe to make those childhood favorites from home!

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Animal Crackers Recipe

My kids love those store-bought animal cookies, but we all know they aren’t the healthiest thing in the world. But I love making this recipe for them because I know exactly what ingredients are in them, plus they’re whole wheat!

And who am I kidding, I always love an excuse to use these adorable cookie cutters! And with this recipe, the animal cookies actually hold their shape.

Ingredients for Circus Animal Cookies

• Butter – I always use salted butter, but if you only have unsalted butter you can just add a pinch of salt to the dough.
• Brown Sugar – The brown sugar really gives the cookies a great, deep flavor. But if you’re all out, you can substitute granulated sugar if needed.
• Eggs
• Vanilla Extract – This is my favorite vanilla to bake with.
• Whole Wheat Flour – Yep, we’re talking unbleached whole wheat flour. I use whole wheat flour for this recipe because it gives the cookie that iconic graham cracker taste.
• Baking Powder

How to Make Animal Cookies

1. Begin by preheating your oven to 350° F (180° C).
2. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
3. With an electric hand mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light in color and fluffy in texture.
4. Then, add in the eggs and vanilla and mix until thoroughly combined.
5. Now add in the whole wheat flour and baking powder and continue to mix until a firm dough forms.
6. Once your dough is ready, sprinkle some flour on a clean surface. This is where you will roll out your dough, so the flour is to make sure the dough doesn’t stick to your counter.
7. Place the dough onto your clean, floured surface and roll the dough out with a rolling pin until it’s about 1/4 inch thick.
8. Using cookie cutters, cut the dough into your preferred shapes. These are the cookie cutters I used to get these cute little animals!
9. Place the cut-out cookies on your prepared baking sheet.
10. Bake the cookies in your preheated oven for about 9-11 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn golden brown.
11. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the pan before removing.
12. Enjoy!
13. Store your animal cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Why are my animal cookies spreading and not holding their shape?

This usually means that you didn’t use enough flour. However, climate and humidity can play a role in this too. If your cookies spread too much, just add a bit of extra flour next time (about 1/4 cup) and that should fix it!

Are animal crackers a healthy snack?

I probably wouldn’t describe them as healthy, but they’re definitely much healthier than many other kid snack alternatives.

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