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Absolutely Adorable Homemade Animal Crackers

4.74 from 53 votes
My Homemade Animal Crackers recipe is so easy that even a 16-month-old can make them... and I know, because Baby George helped! They're big, crunchy, and sweet like the store-bought animal crackers you know and love.
Homemade Animal Crackers arranged in a grid on some parchment.

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Hi Bold Bakers!

Consider this my homage to store-bought animal crackers—a long-time favorite for a lot of families, including my own! But this recipe is particularly special for me because it was my first time baking in the kitchen with George lending a helping hand! 

George (and I!) adore our Sprout’s Sous Chef Toddler Tower—I’m honestly sorry I didn’t get it sooner! He is climbing up and down the tower from morning to night to help his parents at the counter. I’ll sacrifice a banana, orange, or carrot and let him stand with us and chop it up. It’s really given us all hours of entertainment, and he loves having a job to do. 

These homemade animal crackers taste similar to a graham cracker because I include whole wheat and cinnamon, and George loves them! He gets them as a potty training reward—and I get them as a reward for helping potty train!

Animal Cracker Shapes being cut out of the simple to make dough.

What Are Homemade Animal Crackers?

Animal crackers are a classic staple in plenty of households with young children. They’re cutely shaped as circus or zoo animals, taste delicious, and easy for little hands to hold on to. But if you check out the ingredients on the back, you may pause before giving them to your little one. 

Making homemade means you know exactly what goes into your crackers—I use a combination of sugar, honey, vanilla, AP flour, whole wheat flour, and cinnamon. Plus, you get the experience of making a wonderful treat together! Oh, and did I mention that these are BIGGER Animal Crackers than normal?

What You Need To Make Homemade Animal Crackers

Raw animal crackers waiting to bake.

How To Make Homemade Animal Crackers

Making these easy-to-buy crackers are actually extremely easy-to-make at home too! Here is how you make homemade animal crackers (get the full, printable recipe with measurements below):

  1. Cream the butter, sugar, and honey in a large bowl until they are well combined. Then, beat in the egg and vanilla.
  2. Next, add the dry ingredients and mix to form a dough.
  3. Wrap the dough in cling wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. You can use the dough straight away, but I find it is a little easier to roll when it has chilled for a bit.
  4. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  5. Roll half of your dough out on a floured surface until it is about 1/4-inch thick. 
  6. Using Animal Cookie Cutters or any cookie cutters, cut out the dough into shapes. Place your crackers onto your prepared baking sheets.
  7. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown around the edges. Allow them to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before enjoying! 

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Homemade Animal Crackers

  • Always have some crackers ready to bake! Make the dough, cut out the shapes, and freeze the cookies. Then, you can bake them off fresh in batches.
  • I like the addition of whole wheat, but I don’t recommend using 100% whole wheat and no white flour as it will make for heavy dough.
  • Here are the Animal Cookie Cutters that I used!

Freshly baked animal crackers.

How Do I Store Homemade Animal Crackers?

Homemade animal crackers will keep fresh in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to a week! See my note about always having some ready to bake by freezing the dough above! 

Try These Other Recipes!

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!

Full (and printable) recipe below!

My son Georgie holding out an animal cracker for you to try.

Watch The Recipe Video!

Homemade Animal Crackers Recipe

4.74 from 53 votes
My Homemade Animal Crackers recipe is so easy that even a 16-month-old can make them! They're big, crunchy, and sweet like the store-bought animal crackers you know and love.
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 25 cookies
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 12 mins
My Homemade Animal Crackers recipe is so easy that even a 16-month-old can make them! They're big, crunchy, and sweet like the store-bought animal crackers you know and love.
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 25 cookies

Ingredients

  • 9 tablespoons (4½oz/129g) butter (at room temperature)
  • ¼ cup (2oz/57g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (5oz/142g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (5oz/142g) whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and honey until well combined.
  • Add the egg and vanilla, and beat in.
  • Next, add the dry ingredients: the flours, baking powder and cinnamon and mix to form a dough.
  • Wrap the dough in cling wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. (You can use it straight away but it's a little easier to roll when it has chilled for a bit).
  • Pre-heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Roll half of the dough out onto a floured surface, about ¼ inch thick.
  • Using Animal Cookie Cutters or any cookie cutters cut out the dough into shapes. Place the crackers onto prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown around the edges.
  • Let cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheets before enjoying. Stored cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.
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Maria Fairview
Maria Fairview
1 year ago

These look lovely! Cookie cutting stamps, as you said, are adorable (just like your little sous chef😉)! I’m thinking of getting some stamps for my 1yr cousin, should be great🤩

Pat
Pat
1 year ago

This is such a precious video. Georgie is such a cutie. He reminds me of my blond blue-eyed son. ❤️

Patricia Wood
Patricia Wood
9 months ago

Most fun I’ve had baking in awhile! Recipe was super simple to put together. The dough formed nicely and these baked off just right. Can’t wait to share with my favorite toddler, but these are a fave for the adults in the house too.

83C49B8C-EE95-4FC7-B1DD-A950182CEE4B.jpeg
Cyndi
Cyndi
1 year ago

He is adorable. Applause to you!

Judy Corbutt
Judy Corbutt
1 year ago

Awesome video .. Georgie is too cute. Hey maybe with the extra vanilla he created a new animal cracker recipe.

Kay Martin
Kay Martin
1 year ago

he is beautiful!, and so big already.

Kacey
Kacey
4 months ago

What could i substitute for the honey? So they are safe for my baby under 12 months old.

Maryellen
Maryellen
6 months ago

Love these cookies! I made a batch for my toddler a while back and want to make another and I’m curious, can I add hemp seeds or anything of the like to the batter for added protein? Or do you have any suggestions for nutritional add ins/spices (turmeric etc) because we are entering the picky toddler phase but he will always eat these!! Trying to hide some nutrients along the way in his diet! Thanks!!!

Tonee
Tonee
7 months ago

Can the whole wheat flour be substituted for oat flour? If so is it a 1:1 substitution?

Last edited 7 months ago by Tonee
Candace
Candace
8 months ago

As the Mama of a 2 year old little boy I positively loved watching this video. My little man loves to help in the kitchen. This recipe will be next on our list for sure!

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About Us

Meet Gemma

About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

 

Weeknight Family Favorites Chapter from the Bigger Bolder Baking Every Day Cookbook