Baking the Goods

menu icon
subscribe
search icon
×

Published: · Updated: by

Frosted Animal Cookies Recipe

Frosted Animal Cookies by Baking the Goods
Frosted Animal Cookies.

Where's the fun in food these days?

It seems like so many food blogs, magazines and restaurants are taking themselves pretty darn seriously nowadays.

Restaurants are serving up hand-foraged urban greens with obscure citrus essence on a bed of some unidentifiable wild root vegetables. Pinterest and blog photos look more like dramatic renditions of Italian Renaissance still-life paintings than actual food for consumption. While the photos are striking, sometimes you just want to see a silly picture of pink and sprinkled Frosted Animal Cookies, ya know?

Let's make taste the target

While I truly admire old-world Italian art, I wanted to bake something that was the opposite of all of that and made for a happy-go-lucky post. What could be further from a meticulously curated deep, dark still-life image of an almond extract, pomelo-infused bostock with muscovado (actually, that could be kind of good)? Frosted Animal Cookies, that's what! Just like those nostalgia-inducing Circus Animal Cookies we all binged on as kids. Pastel pink and white animal-shaped cookies covered in waxy frosting and splashed in bright and cheerful sprinkles. It doesn't get much more fun than this, folks.

Buck the trend; be free like a kid

This frosted animal cookies recipe is for the kid in all of us; the one who wasn't concerned with photo-filtered trends or being more obscure than the next artist. Here's to the kid who crushed a bag of cookies because they were covered in sprinkles and tasted as good as anything our unrestrained childhood minds could imagine. Let's all raise a pink, pig-shaped, frosted, confetti-covered cookie to the fun-loving kid in all of us.

I apologize in advance for the number of photos in this post. I had too much fun photographing this colorful zoo of cookies. But, I have a feeling you all are going to enjoy this Frosted Animal Cookies recipe as much as I do!

a small jar of multicolored Animal Cookie Sprinkles
The fun starts here, with sprinkles.
looking downward into a small jar of sprinkles
If only it was possible to dive into this bottle of cheer.
Animal Cookie Cutter shapes: sheep, unicorn, horse, porcupine, squirrel, and pig shapes
Next on the fun itinerary are animal shaped cookie cutters. I received the adorable copper farm animals from a dear friend as a gift, which started this whole obsession with animal cookie nostalgia. I already had the squirrel, unicorn and what I think is either a porcupine or a hedgehog.
Animal Cookies ingredients all measured out
The same sweet friend sent me these ridiculously cute dash and pinch measuring spoons, there is also a smidgen that isn't pictured. <3
adding a dash from a small, arrow shaped, heart-tipped spoon
I'll take a dash of anything that comes out of this little spoon. Swoon.
adding honey to the cookie mixutre
I incorporated honey into this recipe as I think it gives the cookies that familiar kiss of golden sweetness distinct to the classic cookies.
Butter and Sugar whipped together for the animal cookies
Mix the butter, sugar and honey until they are fully mixed and fluffy like this.
an egg sits in the whipped butter and sugar
Add the egg to the butter and sugar mixture once it is fluffy and smooth.
adding dry ingredients to the animal cookie dough
Once the egg, vanilla, and almond are fully incorporated, add the dry ingredients.
mixed animal cookie dough should be golden with little specks of spice
When the dough is completely mixed it should be golden brown with little specks of spice. Those spices create the graham cracker flavors similar to the original animal crackers packed into the little red train car box.
two cookie dough balls about to be wrapped in plastic wrap to chill
Roll the dough into 2 balls and wrap them in plastic wrap. The dough should chill for at least 1 hour.
Animal Cookie Dough smashed into a disk and ready to roll out
Here comes the fun!

Cutting the dough into animal shaped cookies

animal cookie cutters cutting shapes out of the rolled out cookie dough
Start cutting out your animal shapes. It's best to use cookie cutters that are similar in size to ensure they bake evenly.
cookie dough cut into animal cookie shapes
When cutting, be sure to squeeze in as big of a zoo as you can so you don't have to keep re-rolling a bunch of times.
animal cookie dough shapes laid out on a cookie sheet before baking
The animal cookies won't spread much, so you can squeeze in a lot of them on the baking sheets.
animal cookie shapes on a cookie sheet with toasted edges after baking
Bake up your farm until the edges of the animals just start to turn a golden brown color.
an example of oil-based food coloring
***PAY ATTENTION HERE***
When mixing with chocolate, you must use oil-based food coloring, a water-based version will not work out.

Pink and white chocolate frosting

melting white chocolate chips with a double boiling method
I prefer to use a double boiling method when melting my chips. You can use a microwave if you prefer. I find that the chips melt smoother and stay melted longer when using a double boiler.
adding just a little food coloring to the frosting with a stick
Be careful when adding your food coloring, a little bit goes a long way. I like to use a lollipop stick to add the color one drop at a time.
red food coloring swirling into the frosting to make it animal cookie pink
Slowly add one drop of color at a time and mix until you find your desired color.
dipping an animal cookie into the melted white chocolate
I simply dipped the cookies, face down and one at a time, into the melted chocolate to frost.
A white horse animal cookie, fresh dipped in white chocolate
Single White Horse seeking sprinkles.
white and pink animal cookies, some with rainbow sprinkles
I suggest first covering your white cookies and then adding the food coloring to the second half of the chocolate chips to frost your pink cookies.
adding rainbow sprinkles to a pink animal cookie
I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun it is to decorate this zoo. You'll just have to make them and see for yourself!
letting the chocolate set on pink and white animal cookies with rainbow sprinkles
Once frosted and sprinkled, you need to allow the chocolate to set. This may take an hour or so. Go clean your kitchen.

Glamour shots of the animal cookies with rainbow sprinkles

a close up of a white horse and a pink pig animal cookie
Pigs and horses and sheep, oh my!
a minimal overhead shot of white and pink animal cookies with rainbow sprinkles
The animals go marching two by two! Hurrah! Hurrah!
Animal Cookies Close Up
I cannot get enough of these little animal cookies. The cuteness factor is off the charts!
a pink pig animal cookie with rainbow sprinkles propped up to stand against a plate of animal cookies
This glitzy pig is the cutest thing ever, right?!
Print

Recipe

clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Frosted Animal Cookies

Frosted Animal Cookies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 5 dozen cookies (depending on size)
Print Recipe
Save Recipe

Description

Frosted Animal Cookies that look and taste just like the nostalgic classic we all know and love. 

Ingredients

Units

ANIMAL COOKIES

  • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teas baking powder
  • ½ teas salt
  • ½ teas cinnamon
  • ¼ teas nutmeg
  • ¼ teas cardamom
  • ¾ cups unsalted butter at room temperature (1 ½ sticks)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg at room temperature
  • 1 ½ tbsp honey
  • ½ teas pure vanilla extract
  • ½ teas almond extract

FROSTING

  • 18 ounces white chocolate chips (1 ½ bags)
  • a few drops red food coloring (*oil based)
  • 2 tbsp multi-colored sprinkles

Instructions

ANIMAL COOKIES

  1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom in a medium bowl and set aside.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar and honey together on high speed for about 5 minutes, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  3. Add the egg, vanilla and almond extract and beat for about a minute, stopping the mixer once to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  4. Add the dry ingredients and beat on low speed until the flour has been absorbed.
  5. On a work surface, divide dough and form into 2 equal balls. Shape the balls into disks and wrap separately in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
  6. Let the dough stand at room temperature for 10ish minutes. Remove the plastic wrap. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and sprinkle the top with a bit of flour. Roll out the dough to ⅛-inch thickness. (If the dough cracks while rolling, let it stand at room temperature for a few more minutes.)
  7. Preheat an oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats.
  8. Gently stamp out as many animal shapes as possible from the rolled dough. Transfer the animals to the prepared baking sheets. Re-roll the remaining scraps and stamp out as many animals as possible until the dough is all accounted for. *If the dough starts to warm up and soften too much, chill the cookies on the baking sheets in the fridge for a few minutes to firm back up before baking. 
  9. Fill the baking sheets with the animal shapes, these cookies won't expand too much so you can place them fairly close together on the sheet (at least ½" - ¾" apart).
  10. Bake the cookies for 10-15 minutes (depending on the size of your cookies) until the edges start to turn a golden brown. Transfer the cookies to wire racks and let allow cool to room temperature.

FROSTING THE ANIMAL COOKIES

  1. While the cookies are cooling, prepare to frost and decorate. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Using a double boiler (or using a heatproof bowl over a saucepan), melt half of the white chocolate chips over just simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
  3. Dip half of the cookies, face down and one at a time, into the melted white chocolate. (I only covered the front halves of the cookies) Set the cookies backside down, with the chocolate side facing up, on the prepared baking sheets.
  4. Top with sprinkles while the chocolate is still tacky.
  5. Repeat the process of melting the chocolate with the remaining white chocolate chips. Once smooth and melted, add the *oil based* red food coloring, stirring in one drop at a time, until desired color is reached. Repeat the dipping and decorating process with the pink frosting and remaining cookies.
  6. Allow the chocolate frosting on the cookies to set for at least an hour. Enjoy the fun!

Notes

  1. Recipe adapted from the Williams Sonoma Animal-Cracker Cookies recipe.
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: Cookies

More Cookies

Reader Interactions

Comments

    How'd my recipe work for you? Share your tips!

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Sally says

    Will gel food coloring work as well? And can I leave out the spices? Thanks.

    Reply

    • beckysue says

      Hi Sally. You must use an oil based (not water based) food coloring/gel or it will cause the chocolate to seize up. You can absolutely leave out the spices, I am sure they'd still taste yummy!

      Reply

  2. Melissa @ Treats With a Twist says

    These are SO cute! I have animal cracker cookie cutters I need to whip out! I wish I had a unicorn though 🙂
    And I love the spoons. You have a wonderful friend to send you those!
    Love your description of the trending photography too. Too funny

    Reply

    • beckysue says

      Thanks Melissa! You can find that unicorn at Sur La Table and I think Amazon has some options. It's definitely worth the few bucks. The spoons are so beautiful and finely made, I love them to pieces. Glad you appreciate the description of the trending food photography, I was hoping I wasn't alone in those sentiments.

      Reply

  3. Ali @ Inspiralized says

    Just STOP those were always my favorite growing up! Can't wait to try these!

    Reply

    • beckysue says

      Hi Ali, they are my fav too! You are going to love this version, they taste really similar to the original but even better (IMO). Let me know what you think when you make them. Enjoy!

      Reply

  4. Dina says

    they are adorable. love the shapes!

    Reply

    • beckysue says

      Thanks Dina! I think my favorite has to be the unicorn.

      Reply

  5. Marla Meridith says

    Adorable post! Love this recipe! Pinning & sharing on Facebook later today 🙂
    Where can I get those arrow teaspoons? Please email me at marla at familyfreshcooking dot com 🙂

    Reply

    • beckysue says

      Hi Marla! Thanks for pinning and sharing, I really appreciate the <3. I got the measuring spoons as a gift from a friend in Canada but I'll ask her where she got them and send you an email if I get any info. FYI, I am about to check out your blog. 🙂

      Reply

  6. laurel says

    These are adorable Becky! This is happening at my house this week if we get "snowed in" again. I randomly have about 3 pounds of those sprinkles because I'm crazy. Now I just need to track down a unicorn cookie cutter.

    Reply

    • beckysue says

      Thanks Laurel! These would definitely improve a snow day. I think I got my unicorn from Sur La Table. I totally understand you on the sprinkle overload, no judgements here. Let me know how they turn out!

      Reply