Gluten Free Animal Crackers

Homemade Gluten Free Animal Crackers are the cutest treat for kids and adults alike. Made with simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of crispy, crunchy cookies in no time. Customize your crackers by adding your favorite flavors like cinnamon or dipping them in a simple cookie icing for an extra special treat! Ideal for parties, snacks (think lunch box treat), or just because.

Recipe Ingredient Notes

Gluten Free Flour: This Gluten Free Animal Cracker Recipe is very forgiving when it comes to your choice of Gluten Free Flour. I have tested it with Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1, King Arthur Measure for Measure and my own Gluten Free Flour Blend. The animal crackers made with Bob's Red Mill took a bit longer to dry out on their second bake. I intentionally did not use Cup4Cup in this recipe testing since they have changed their formula and I only have bags of their old formula on hand. All gluten-free flour blends used to test this recipe contain xanthan gum. 

Butter: This recipe uses cold unsalted butter straight from the fridge. If you happen to have an European Style Butter, like Plugra, on hand, I recommend using it. The higher butter fat content will create even crispier animal cracker. The cold butter doesn't fully incorporate into the cookie dough; instead, it breaks into tiny pieces throughout. This technique creates light and flaky layers in the cookies, similar to a pie crust. I have not tested the recipe with dairy free butter.

Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar gives the gluten free animal crackers a more delicate crumb. Some people also call it confectionary sugar or icing sugar.

Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Bean Paste: I love enhancing the flavor and aroma of animal crackers with vanilla bean paste or a high-quality vanilla extract. The paste is a concentrated blend of vanilla extract and vanilla bean powder, offering a thick, syrup-like consistency. Its flavor is more intense than standard vanilla extract. Above all, it adds a gourmet touch with visible vanilla bean specks throughout the final product.

Milk Powder: It adds extra protein, sugar, and fat to the dough, which can enhance browning and contribute to a crisp texture. The lactose (milk sugar) in milk powder caramelizes during baking, leading to a golden-brown, slightly crispy exterior. Whole Milk Milk Powder or Non-Fat Milk Powder works here.

Citric Acid: While it may seem like an unusual ingredient, a small amount of citric acid is essential to activate the baking soda in this recipe. Don't worry - it won’t add a citrus flavor to the animal crackers, as the amount used is so minimal. Instead, it helps to balance the flavors and improve the overall texture. Citric acid is widely available and is sold at every grocery store. Look for it in the canning section or the bulk spice section of health food stores. It’s a crucial ingredient that should not be omitted.

Recommended Tools

To successfully make gluten free animal crackers at home, you will need a few kitchen tools:

• Digital Kitchen Scale: a digital kitchen scale is a must-have to make this recipe (or any of my recipes).
• Rolling pin: To roll out the animal cracker dough I recommend using a rolling pin. This way it has an even thickness and will bake even.
• Animal Shaped Cookie Cutters: Believe me when I say you can use any cookie cutter to make animal crackers at home. I use 3D Animal Cracker Cookie Cutters in the shape of elephant, lion, zebra and giraffe.
• Additional: You also need 2 sheet trays, a few sheets of parchment paper, 2 cookie cooling racks and a small offset knife to transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheet.

What are Animal Crackers?

Animal crackers are a very popular snack here in the US. They are crunchy cookies, lightly sweetened and shaped like a variety of animals, including lions, elephants, bears, and giraffes. Though called "crackers," they are more similar to biscuits or cookies in terms of texture and taste.

Originating in the late 19th century, animal crackers were inspired by European animal-shaped biscuits. They quickly gained popularity in the United States as a favorite snack for children, often packaged in small, colorful boxes that feature zoo or circus themes.

Animal crackers have a mildly sweet flavor with hints of vanilla and sometimes a touch of spice, like cinnamon or nutmeg. They taste similar to sugar cookies but are less rich and sweet. The crisp and crunchy texture makes them light and enjoyable, perfect for snack time or a fun treat. There are also Frosted animal crackers which are a delicious variation of traditional animal crackers. They feature the same crunchy, lightly sweetened cookie base shaped like various animals, but with a sweet frosting coating and sprinkles that adds extra flavor and sweetness.

The closest variation of Animal Crackers available in Austria and Germany are the famous Bahlsen Leibniz Butterkekse. And to be honest, these are the cookies I had in mind while developing my version of Animal Cackers.

Do homemade gluten free animal crackers taste like my childhood favorite cookies?

Honestly, I can’t compare my version to 'real animal crackers' since I've only tried gluten-free variations like Glutino Animal Crackers from the grocery store. However, during countless recipe tests, several friends sampled my homemade animal crackers and unanimously agreed they taste better than the store-bought ones. It’s easy to see why. My gluten-free animal crackers are made with simple ingredients and are free from unwanted ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, palm oil, and preservatives.

I can guarantee you one thing: my adorable gluten-free animal crackers are easy to make, and these homemade treats will bring back cherished childhood memories. Additionally, they are fun to make with little ones.

How to make Gluten Free Animal Cracker Dough

Please make sure to use cold butter in this recipe for gluten free animal crackers. Cold ingredients ensure the dough will not spread. This technique is the same as the one to make my gluten free cut out cookies.

1. In a small bowl combine the gluten free multi purpose flour, milk powder, baking soda and kosher salt. Make sure to whisk or sift the ingredients together to ensure there are no pockets of baking soda hiding in your finished animal cracker dough.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the powdered sugar, citric acid, and cold butter. With the mixer running on low, mix until the butter is well coated with sugar, but avoid creaming the butter and sugar together. Incorporating air into these ingredients will cause the dough to spread.

3. In a small bowl measure out the cold water and combine it with the vanilla paste or vanilla extract.
4. Add the water-vanilla mixture to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed, just enough to combine the ingredients. The mixture may appear curdled at this stage, as there are no dry ingredients to absorb the liquid yet.
5. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle attachment.

6. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and with the mixer running on low, mix everything together. This may take up to a minute but the dough will slowly come together. While you may consider increasing the speed, I recommend mixing the dough at a low-medium speed to avoid incorporating air into the dough.
7. Transfer the gluten free animal cracker dough to a clean kitchen counter and bring it together in a smooth dough. Wrap the dough in some plastic wrap or parchment paper and place it in the fridge for 5-10 minutes to allow the flour to hydrate.

Rolling Out & Baking Animal Crackers

During the countless tests of this animal cracker recipe, I found that the cookies turned out the best if you allow the cutout crackers to chill in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before baking them at a high temperature. Keep in mind some delicate shapes (like the giraffe) can brown a lot quicker than others (for example elephant). Therefore I like to pair the elephant with the lion on the sheet tray and the zebra with the giraffe. But clearly, this depends on which animal cookie cutters you choose to use.

1. Line two baking trays with parchment paper. The number of trays needed will depend on the size of your cookie cutters, but be sure not to overcrowd them.
2. Divide the dough in half and place one-half on a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the gluten-free animal cracker dough to about ¼ inch (6 mm) thick. I prefer working with just half of the dough at a time which makes rolling easier.
3. Use a cookie cutter to cut the dough into your desired shapes. Aim to cut the cookies as closely together as possible to maximize yield. You can re-roll any scraps as needed.

4. With a small offset knife, transfer the crackers to the prepared baking sheets. Although the cookies shouldn't spread much, avoid overcrowding the pan.
5. Once the baking pan is full, place it in the fridge while you cut out the remaining crackers. This helps the cookies set before baking.
6. After all the cookie dough has been rolled out and cut (filling about two baking sheets), allow the cookies to chill in the fridge while you preheat the oven to 375°F.
7. Once the oven is fully preheated to 375F, bake the animal crackers one sheet at a time. Keep the second tray in the refrigerator.
8. Bake the animal crackers at 375°F for 8-9 minutes. Baking time depends on the size of the cookie cutters used. The treats should appear dry on the surface and the edges should just start to get a golden hue. Keep especially a close eye to delicate shapes since they can brown very quickly.

9. Remove the baked crackers from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a cooling rack.
10. After all the animal crackers are baked and on cooling racks, reduce the oven temperature to 225F. I also open the oven door for 5 minutes to let it cool down quicker. Then, place the crackers (still on the cooling racks) back into the warm oven. I place the cooling racks directly on the oven racks to ensure the bottoms of the crackers dry out as well.
11. Bake the crackers at 225F for 45 - 60 minutes. Then turn off the oven and allow the crackers to cool completely in the oven. This helps ensure the treats are fully dry and crunchy.

Storage & Freezing

Animal Cracker Dough: I only refrigerate the dough for gluten free animal cracker for up to 3 days. I experienced that after longer storage the dough becomes crumbly and dry. And unpleasant to work with. Make sure to tightly wrap it in plastic wrap which limits drying out.

Baked Animal Crackers: Keeping crispy and crunchy cookies crunchy can often be a challenge. Especially if you live in a hot or humid part of the world.

What works best for me is to store any leftover gluten free animal crackers in a very airtight container with a tight-fitting lid. Keep the container in a cool, dry place at room temperature. Avoid storing them in the refrigerator, as this can introduce moisture and make the cookies soft. If stored properly these cookies should stay crisp and crunch for several days.

To absorb excess moisture, you can place a food-safe silica gel packet in the container. While I have not tried this myself (yet), we all have seen those tiny gel packets in store bought treats. Nevertheless, this is just an additional idea to keep animal crackers crispy.

Freeze Baked Animal Crackers: Freezing is an excellent option for storing any leftover baked animal crackers. Place the crackers in an airtight container or a resealable freezer bag, then store them in the freezer. They can typically be kept for up to 3 months without losing quality. When you’re ready to enjoy the frozen animal crackers, simply remove the desired amount from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature. If they lose some crunch, you can re-crisp them in the oven.

Freeze Unbaked Animal Crackers: If you want to freeze the dough in cookie shapes, use your cookie cutter to cut out the shapes. Then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze them for about an hour until firm. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or resealable freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake the frozen animal cracker dough, you can bake them straight from the freezer. There’s no need to thaw; just add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time. Keep an eye on them to ensure they bake evenly. Enjoy your homemade animal crackers!

Frosted Gluten Free Animal Crackers

There is (almost) nothing cuter than frosted animal crackers topped with some colorful nonpareil sprinkles. I use a very basic, egg-free cookie icing to frost my animal crackers. It does contain a tiny amount of corn syrup which helps the icing to set and give it a beautiful gloss. To color the icing use your favorite food colors. Just make sure they are gluten free. (I use a drop of red to create pink from the Betty Crocker™ Classic Gel Food Colors variety pack. They are gluten free and widely available)

FAQ - Gluten Free Animal Crackers