Introduction

These homemade animal crackers offer a delightful twist on a classic treat, featuring both cinnamon and chocolate varieties. Perfectly crisp and mildly sweet, they make a fun snack for kids and adults alike.

A close-up of a small giraffe-shaped cookie held between a woman's thumb and forefinger, showing light brown color with detailed patterns forming the face, spots, and legs of the giraffe. In the blurred background, there is a white plate filled with more assorted cookies in light and dark brown shades, resting on a white marbled surface. A cinnamon stick lies diagonally in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

Cinnamon Animal Crackers:

½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup coconut sugar
¼ cup honey or maple syrup
1 egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup + 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Chocolate Animal Crackers:

½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
¼ cup coconut sugar
¼ cup honey or maple syrup
1 egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¾ cup + 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup cocoa powder (Dutch-processed or natural)

Instructions

Step 1: In a medium mixing bowl, beat the butter, coconut sugar, and honey together with an electric hand mixer until combined. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then beat until smooth. For cinnamon crackers, add the cinnamon at this stage.
Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together the baking powder, all-purpose flour, and whole wheat flour. For chocolate crackers, include the cocoa powder as well.
Step 3: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, beating with the electric mixer until fully incorporated.
Step 4: Divide the dough into two equal parts and shape each into a flattened disk. Wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. The dough can chill up to 24 hours, but if chilled longer than 4 hours, let it soften slightly before rolling.
Step 5: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Place one disk on a floured surface and roll out with a floured rolling pin to ⅛ to ¼ inch thickness. Cut into animal shapes using cookie cutters and arrange about 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Re-roll scraps to cut additional shapes.
Step 6: Bake for about 12 minutes until the edges begin to brown. While baking the first batch, roll out the second disk and cut shapes. Once the first batch is done, bake the second batch.
Step 7: Let baked crackers cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Tips & Variations

Chill the dough thoroughly to make it easier to roll and less sticky. If it becomes too hard, dust with flour and roll again.
For a sweeter taste, adjust the amount of honey or maple syrup slightly to suit your preference.
Use a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour to add a subtle nuttiness and better texture.
Try adding a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness if desired.

Storage

Store leftover animal crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. You can freeze both the uncooked dough (after cutting into shapes) and the baked crackers for up to two months. When ready to bake frozen dough shapes, place them on a baking sheet and let thaw briefly before baking.

How to Serve

A white scalloped square plate filled with many small animal-shaped cookies in two colors: light brown and dark brown. The cookies are stacked unevenly with animal faces such as giraffes, lions, elephants, monkeys, and hippos clearly visible. The plate sits on a white marbled surface, accompanied by a wooden spoon on the right side and a white textured cloth partially seen on the top left. The cookies have simple and cute carved details making each animal recognizable. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular sugar instead of coconut sugar?

Yes, you can substitute regular granulated sugar or brown sugar for coconut sugar in equal amounts. Brown sugar will add a richer flavor, while granulated sugar will keep the taste more neutral.

What if I don’t have whole wheat flour?

If whole wheat flour is unavailable, you can use all-purpose flour only, but the crackers may be slightly less textured and wholesome. Consider adding a tablespoon of oat flour or ground nuts for added flavor.