Homemade Animal Crackers (Chocolate & Cinnamon) Recipe
These homemade animal crackers come in two delightful flavors: classic Cinnamon and rich Chocolate. Made with wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour, coconut sugar, and natural sweeteners, these crackers are perfect for a healthy snack. Baked to crispy perfection and shaped with animal cookie cutters, they offer a fun twist to traditional treats while being easy to prepare at home.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes per batch
- Total Time: 1 hour (including chilling and baking time)
- Yield: Approximately 24 crackers per batch (48 total) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
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 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup + 1 tbsp 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 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup + 3 tbsp whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup cocoa powder (Dutch-processed or natural)
Instructions
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, add the butter, coconut sugar, and honey (include cinnamon if making cinnamon crackers). Beat these with an electric hand mixer until fully combined and creamy.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, beating until the mixture is smooth and homogenous.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate small mixing bowl, whisk together the baking powder, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, and cocoa powder if preparing chocolate crackers, ensuring even distribution.
- Combine Dry with Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture, continuing to beat with the electric hand mixer until the dough forms and everything is thoroughly incorporated.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two portions and shape each into a flattened disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up the dough, making it easier to roll out.
- Preheat and Prepare for Baking: Set the oven to 350°F (180°C). Take one disk of dough and place it on a floured surface.
- Roll and Cut Shapes: Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to between 1/8 and 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out animal shapes with cookie cutters and place shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Save and reroll scraps for additional shapes.
- Bake the Crackers: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 12 minutes or until edges begin to brown slightly. While baking the first batch, remove the second dough disk from the fridge to soften slightly.
- Repeat for Second Batch: Once the first batch finishes baking, place them on a cooling rack and proceed to roll out and cut the second batch, then bake as before.
- Cool and Serve: Let the animal crackers cool for at least 5 minutes before enjoying to allow them to crisp up perfectly.
Notes
- Store uneaten crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness.
- You can freeze both uncooked dough (after shaping) and baked crackers for up to 2 months. Thaw shaped frozen dough on a baking sheet for a few minutes before baking.
- Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes improves consistency and makes rolling easier. If the dough is too hard after chilling, dust with flour and gently re-roll.
Keywords: animal crackers, homemade cookies, cinnamon crackers, chocolate crackers, healthy snacks, natural sweeteners, whole wheat cookies
