With just a few simple ingredients and a crazy easy method, this Animal Crackers recipe is a favorite kids snack to make and share. You can make them big or mini in whichever shapes you prefer!
Animal Crackers Recipe
We love a good baking project over here and this easy cookie recipe is a perfect one to make with the kids. The batter is super duper simple to make, even if the kids are helping, and they turn out so good. The crackers are just a little bit crisp and just a little sweet and they are so fun to make in fun animal shapes.
TIP: We like to make them using mini cookie cutters, but any size will work.
Ingredients in Animal Crackers
To make this easy recipe, you’ll need:
- Whole-wheat flour
- Baking powder
- Milk
- Unsalted butter
- Maple syrup
TIP: You can use all-purpose flour if you prefer or if that’s what you have. I like the flavor from whole-wheat, but both will work.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to make this easy animal cookies recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe.
- Add the ingredients to a bowl.
- Mix together with a wooden spoon or your hands. Form a ball.
- Roll out between parchment paper pieces, cut out with mini cookie cutters.
- Bake and enjoy.
TIP: I prefer to roll the dough out between parchment paper since it’s easy, but you can also do it by coating the rolling pin with a little flour to prevent sticking.
Best Tips for Success
- I prefer to roll the dough out between parchment paper since it’s easy, but you can also do it by coating the rolling pin with a little flour to prevent sticking.
- You can use all-purpose flour if you prefer or if that’s what you have. I like the flavor from whole-wheat, but both will work.
- We like to make them using mini cookie cutters, but any size will work.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days at room temperature.
- You can also store any dough you don’t use in a zip top plastic bag, tightly sealed and with as much air removed as possible, for up to a week in the fridge. Let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before using.
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If you try this recipe with or for your kids, I’d love to hear how it went. Please comment below and leave some stars—I appreciate all feedback!
Easiest Animal Crackers Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place all ingredients into a bowl and use your hand to mix together to form a dough. (If the dough is a little crumbly, be sure that it’s throughly combined and then if it’s still crumbly, add 1/2-1 tablespoon additional milk until it comes together.)
- Make a flattened disc of dough.
- Roll the dough ¼-inch thick between two pieces of lightly floured pieces of parchment paper. (The flour will ensure that the cut outs are easy to move.)
- Cut out the dough with a cookie cutter and transfer to the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 7-9 minutes, until lightly browned around the edges.
- Remove from the oven, let cool on the baking sheet for a minute, and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days at room temperature.
- You can also store any dough you don’t bake in a zip top plastic bag, tightly sealed and with as much air removed as possible, for up to a week in the fridge. Let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before rolling out to allow it to soften up.
- I prefer to roll the dough out between parchment paper since it’s easy, but you can also do it by coating the rolling pin with a little flour to prevent sticking.
- You can use all-purpose flour if you prefer or if that’s what you have. I like the flavor from whole-wheat, but both will work.
- We like to make them using mini cookie cutters, but any size will work.
- Gluten-free: Use a 1:1 style of gluten-free baking mix in place of the wheat flour.
- Dairy-free: Use nondairy milk and softened coconut oil in place of the butter.
My baby loves these cookies! I put sprinkles on top.
I asked you the other day about recipes I could use baby cereal in. This is one. I substituted 1/4 cup baby cereal for 1/4 cup of the flour and it came out great.
Awesome!
Amazing recipe! We go to a playgroup once per week where they get a treat bag at the end full of processed unhealthy treats. I started making these for my daughter to have instead. She’s loves them! They are a big hit! Made with gluten free 1:1 flour with no issues.
My daughter (and I) love everything about these cookies! They are by far her favorite! I love that they are easy to make and that they freeze, which is a big bonus. Thank you for sharing such a great recipe!
These are amazing! I was worried with it only being whole wheat flour but the texture and taste is perfect!
I’m so glad!
Would Einkorn flour work here?
I haven’t tried it but I suspect it would—you may just need a little extra milk.
I want to make this and dip it in frosting. I’m wondering if this is ok to send it 2-3 days priority mail
The crackers should be fine. It would depend on the type of frosting though—something like an icing that dries firm would be best for mailing.
they taste amazing!
Hi there! I can’t wait to try out this recipe. Just wondering if the crackers vam be frozen?
Thanks!
Yes they can be frozen.
I love this recipe! My 14 mo loves it too! I feel good about giving her these for snacks plus they are super easy to make. I make them almost every week!
Please tell me these can be frozen ?
Hi! Can you sub honey for maple syrup? Thanks
Sure, for kids over age 1 that is fine.
Yummy and so fun to make! My 1 year old loves them!
I did not have the little (or big) animal shape cutouts so I just used a pizza cutter to cut out little bite size pieces. I didn’t roll (or press rather) them flat enough however as mine got too puffy, but they tasted great!
I ended up splitting my dough into 4 balls and rolling each one into a cylinder. Then I placed it in between two pieces of parchment paper centered on a cast iron tortilla press and pressed down just enough… or so I thought. Next time, I’ll take it all the way down. Then I removed it from the press, peeled back the parchment paper to release the stick on both sides, and then took a pizza cutter, as I said, and cut the pieces out. It tastes great and was quick and easy to do. I’ll be making them again for sure.
I LOVE THEM!
We made them with cookie stamps and they turned out really nice!
I made a double batch but only used 3 tablespoons of maple sirup instead of 4, because we weren’t sure if we’d want to ice them later.
We didn’t but they were still just sweet enough.
Great recipe for a dough stealing toddler as there are no eggs involved!
Will make this again and again 🤍
These are simple and tasty! I added cinnamon and they turned out great! Made my house smell delicious when they were baking.
Can I leave the maple syrup out?
You can but they may be a little bland. Add that amount of milk to ensure they are moist enough.
How is this a gluten free recipe when it contains wheat flour???????
Because there’s a GF option listed in the Notes. That’s the only way I have to flag when it’s easy to make a recipe GF. I hope that clarifies things.
I made these yesterday for a snack for the week and they are a hit! My husband loves them too! I dont have cookie cutters so I just cut them into squares with a pizza cutter and they turned out great!
These are my go to biscuit recipe! They come out perfect every time and my 12 month old loves them 🥰
Super easy to make and tastty!Made with my toddler and now he wants to eat it all!!!❤️
I would like to mail them from Connecticut to Oregon. Do they ship well?
I think they should if you wrap them tightly and securely so they can’t wiggle around much in the package (to help prevent breaking).
Made with King Arthur gluten free measure for measure and they came out great!
I’m so glad!
I am excited to make these for my 20 month old and 6 year old! Thank you for the recipe! Would these freeze well?
Yes, you can put some into a freezer bag, remove as much air as you can, and seal. Freeze for 3-6 months.
Just tried the recipe and it turned out great! I substituted maple syrup with coconut sugar. Dough was a bit soft in the beginning so I popped it in the fridge for a few minutes and then it was easier to roll.
Few ingredients and so easy to make and i love it that it’s not sweet!!! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
I’m so glad to hear that!
The edges weren’t turning golden so i left them in the oven for an extra couple of minutes. Was worried they wouldn’t be crispy but once fully cooled down they were an excellent texture! My baby loves them and i catch myself eating them too. Thanks for the recipe!
Baby girl (19 months) DEMANDS these for snack just about every day. We have itty bitty cookie cutters (like 1 inch) and this made a ton, but they didn’t last long. Thank you!
I’m so glad she loves them!
I actually made these for my goats as treats when they are finished being milked. Easy and they just love them.
Really?! Lucky goats!!
I’m looking up recipes for my goats. 😂😂. I’m spending a small fortune on bags of cookies.
These rolled out so nicely, and my boys loved wiggling the cookie cutters in the dough. I subbed oil for butter, and they were perfect at 8 minutes.
I’m so glad!
Can you substitute with almond flour instead ? If so, same amount required, 1 cup?
I’m not sure that they would hold together the same way as regular flour.
This one is a keeper! My kids loved them. I used Earth Balance vegan butter and So Delicious coconut milk as substitutes (for allergy purposes) and they turned out fantastic. Not too crunchy and not too soft. My 21 month kept asking for more. Thank you Amy!
Awesome Sonia, I’m so glad to hear that and I’m glad the substitutions worked well!
Any suggestions to making these dairy free?
I think nondairy milk and melted coconut milk or vegan butter will likely work! I haven’t tried it, but that has worked well with similar recipes so I have high hopes for this one!
Very nice recipe , you can put sesame / poppy / chia seeds on it or whatever else you like! Thank you for the recipe!