Chewy Circus Animal Sugar Cookies

Circus Animal Sugar Cookies stacked on a white serving platterWhat?” I hear you asking. “What’s the point of putting cookies in a cookie?” Well, you see, these are two very different kinds of cookies. Animal cookies are crunchy, lightly sweet, coated in colorful frosting and topped with sprinkles. But the cookie I’m mixing them into with is a classic sugar cookie, which is soft, chewy, and moist.

Combining these two very different cookies was quite easy. All I did was chop up a bunch of animal cookies and stir them into my sugar cookie dough, along with some extra sprinkles to make them even more festive and colorful. Then I chilled the combined dough, scooped it out onto my cookie sheets, and baked it as usual.Side view of 4 cookies stacked

The resulting two-in-one cookie has the soft, chewy texture of the sugar cookie, punctuated by crunchy, colorful nuggets of crushed animal cookies. It’s like eating two delicious classic cookies at the same time. PS. I’m still having a blast coming up with new animal cookie desserts. I can’t wait for you to see all my Circus Animal Cookie Creations! Keep a eye out on the blog for new recipes.Chewy Circus Animal Sugar Cookies stacked on a white plate with bite out of top cookie


Are circus animal cookies the same as animal crackers?

  • Nope! Animal crackers are crunchy like a cracker and lightly sweet. Animal cookies have a satisfying snap, but they don’t crumble like crackers, and they’re topped with that sweet frosting and sprinkles. Both are favorites with kids (because what animal-shaped cookie isn’t?), but they’re definitely not the same.

I’ve never seen circus animal cookies at the store. Where can I buy them?

  • The most popular brand, Mother’s Circus Animal Cookies, is available at Walmart, Target or Amazon.

Do you have any other sugar cookie recipes with different kinds of mix-ins?

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How to make Chewy Circus Animal Sugar Cookies

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars in a stand mixer or with hand mixer.Sugars and butter in mixing bowl with a side bowls of animal cookies, vanilla, sprinkles and eggs in carton
  2. Add egg and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy.Egg being added to cookie batter in mixing bowl, with a small bowl of cookies, and sprinkles on the side
  3. Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and sprinkles. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and beat until combined.Flour and sprinkles being added to cookie batter in mixing bowl, with a small bowl of cookies, and sprinkles on the side
  4. Mix in chopped cookies and continue stirring just enough to mix them in completely. Chill the dough for 20 minutes.Crushed animal cookies being added to cookie batter in mixing bowl, with a small bowl of cookies, and sprinkles on the side.
  5. Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop cookie dough onto an un-greased baking sheet.Cookie batter balls, on a baking pan
  6. Bake 10-11 minutes. Allow to cool on cooling rack.Chewy Circus Animal Sugar Cookies on a cooling rack

Measuring cups and spoons:  Each cup’s “ml” and cup sizes have passed clearly engraved marking, and you can quickly identify the cup scale according to the color of the handle.
Cookie ScoopsThis set of scoops comes in 3 different sizes for all your scooping needs!
Cookie Drying Rack: These are great for cooling all you cookies.

5 from 14 votes

Chewy Circus Animal Sugar Cookies

These Circus Animal Sugar Cookies are a two-in-one cookie with a soft, chewy texture, punctuated by crunchy, colorful nuggets of crushed animal cookies.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup salted butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup sprinkles
  • 2 cups chopped circus animal cookies

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars in a stand mixer or with hand mixer.
  • Add egg and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy.
  • Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and sprinkles.
  • Add flour mixture to butter mixture and beat until combined.
  • Mix in chopped cookies and continue stirring just enough to mix them in completely. Chill the dough for 20 minutes.
  • Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop cookie dough onto an un-greased baking sheet.
  • Bake 10-11 minutes. Allow to cool on cooling rack.

Video

Notes

These can be cooked on parchment paper or silpat mats but not necessary. Store in airtight container once completely cooled.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 230mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 296IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    So delicious! I subbed half the animal crackers for white chocolate chips. The first time I made these the sprinkles dyed the dough, so the second time I added them very last with the crackers and I didn’t have that problem. A wonderful recipe!

  2. Can You Make This A Day Before You Need To Bake Them?

    1. I haven’t tried that yet Claire, I have only made them right away.

  3. christine decastro says:

    I didn’t care for the sprinkles so the second time i made them i substituted choc chips. Also I had to bake them for 16 minutes before they looked cooked.