Homemade Circus Animal Cookies
This homemade Circus Animal Cookies copycat recipe will be one of your favorites! These crunchy animal cookies are covered in colorful chocolate and topped with sprinkles. They have the perfect amount of sweetness and crunchiness to impress even the pickiest eaters.
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Step back into your childhood by making your own circus animal cookie. When I was a child, I would eat these little cookies, and I would always have a smile on my face. Who doesn’t love Mother’s Cookies?
Now, we can make these nostalgic circus cookies at home with this copycat recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The homemade version tastes better than the Original Circus Animal Cookies
- Easy to make!
- Simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
- A crowdpleaser!!! Your friends and family will be impressed you made these.
- Nostalgic. Tastes like childhood.
Key Ingredients
- Flour: All-purpose flour is the base for these cookies. No need to go out and buy fancy flour.
- Sugar: For sweetness. Every sweet treat needs sweetness.
- Kosher Salt: Flavor enhancer that all foods need. Salt is a MUST.
- Baking Soda: Gives a bit of a rise to the cookies. Only a small amount is needed.
- Vanilla Extract: Gives a lot of flavor to the circus animal cookies!
- Candy Melts: White and pink candy melts for that classic look! You can also use melted chocolate.
- Nonpareils Sprinkles: Give it that classic circus animal cookies look. Also provides a nice texture while eating.
Overview: How To Make Circus Animal Cookies
Make The Cookie Dough
To make our favorite cookies, we use a true shortbread cookies recipe. This provides the crunchy snap we’re looking for.
Shape The Cookies
After rolling out the dough, we use animal cookie cutters which gives the classic animal shapes for the cookies. However, no need to stick with these cutters. You can use other cutters and other shapes. Make these cookies your own!
Bake The Cookies
Bake at 350℉(177℃) for about ten minutes. The cookies should be golden brown.
Decorate The Cookies
Dip the cookies in white and pink candy melts. Then cover them in colorful sprinkles.
How To Store Homemade Circus Animal Cookies
Store the circus animal cookies in an airtight container. You can place them at room temperature for up to one week.
If you need to store them for longer, you can freeze them for up to two months.
Other Copycat Recipes You May Like
Homemade Choco Tacos – Best and Easy
Perfect Starbucks Rice Krispie Treat Dream Bars
The Best Starbucks Chocolate Cake Pops
Easy Starbucks Toffee Doodle Cookies
Homemade Circus Animal Cookies
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Ingredients
For The Cookies
- 2 Cups (240 g) All-Purpose Flour
- ¼ tsp (0.25 tsp) Salt
- ½ tsp (0.5 tsp) Baking Soda
- ¾ Cups (170.25 g) Butter room temperature
- ¾ Cups (150 g) Granulated Sugar
- 1 (1) Egg room temperature
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Vanilla Extract
Coating
- 1 Bag (1 Bag) Pink Candy Melts
- 1 Bag (1 Bag) White Candy Melts
- 2 Tbsp (2 Tbsp) Nonpareils Sprinkles
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer), add butter and beat with the paddle attachment for one minute or until fluffy. Add the graduated sugar and mix until combined. Then, add the egg and vanilla until combined.
- Make Cookie Dough: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on medium for one to two minutes until a dough is formed. Do not overmix. You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Shape The Dough: Flour a clean work surface. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a 1-inch disk. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour. The chilled dough will be easier to work with when using the animal cracker cookie cutters.
- Preheat your oven to 350℉. Line two full-sheet baking trays with parchment paper.
- Cut Out Cookies: Time to roll out the dough again! Place the chilled dough between two large pieces of parchment paper (each the size of a full baking sheet). Roll out the dough until it is 1/8th-inch thick. Then, use your animal cookie cutters to cut out the animal shapes. Transfer the cookies onto the prepared baking sheets. Use a toothpick or fork and poke a few holes at the top of each cookie. This helps prevent the cookies from rising too much.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Make sure the center of the cookie is fully cooked. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- Decorate the Cookies: Line a large cookie sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. Follow the instructions on your candy melts package to melt them in the microwave. Then, dip one side of the animal cookie into the melted candy. Sprinkle a pinch of nonpareils on top and place on the prepared sheets to dry completely. Repeat for all of the animal crackers.
Notes
- Check out my blog for a helpful recipe video
- Special Tools: Circus Animal Cookie Cutters | Rolling Pin
- To Store: Place the circus animal cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If you need to store them longer, you can place the cookies in the freezer for up to one month.
- Candy Melts: If the candy melts are too thick, an easy fix is to add a bit of coconut oil. Add one teaspoon of coconut oil at a time to reach the desired consistency.
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