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.
Related Recipes
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.
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!