Introduction

Homemade frosted animal crackers are a delightful twist on a classic treat. Crisp cookies coated in colorful candy melts and topped with sprinkles make these a fun and festive snack everyone will enjoy.

The image shows many small animal-shaped cookies in pink and white icing decorated with colorful round sprinkles. The cookies are shaped like elephants, giraffes, and horses, spread around and on a large white oval plate that has a small white bowl filled with more colorful sprinkles on it. Some cookies rest on a stack of white plates, one is on a silver decorative serving spoon, and others are scattered on a white marbled surface with small white flowers placed around for decoration. A white lace cloth is partly visible near the bottom left, adding texture to the scene. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
3½ tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon egg white (room temperature)
⅔ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1/16 teaspoon baking powder
½ bag pink candy melts
½ bag white candy melts
Rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 325℉ and line two sheet pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 3: Beat in the egg white and vanilla extract until well combined.
Step 4: Add the flour, salt, and baking powder, then mix on low speed just until the ingredients are combined. Do not overmix.
Step 5: Form the dough into a ball and place it onto a piece of parchment paper. Cover with another piece of parchment paper and roll out to about 3/16 inch thickness.
Step 6: Use animal-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies. Remove excess dough from around the shapes.
Step 7: Carefully lift the cut cookies and place them on the prepared baking pans. Gather scraps, re-roll, and continue cutting until all dough is used.
Step 8: Bake the cookies for 17 minutes or until they begin to lightly color around the edges.
Step 9: Let the cookies cool completely on the pans before frosting.
Step 10: Melt the pink and white candy melts separately following the package instructions, typically in microwave-safe bowls.
Step 11: Dip each cooled cookie halfway into the melted candy melt and place on a lined sheet pan.
Step 12: Immediately sprinkle rainbow sprinkles over the candy coating before it sets.
Step 13: Allow the frosting to dry completely before serving or storing.

Tips & Variations

For easily rolled dough, chill the dough briefly if it becomes too soft to handle.
Try using different colored candy melts to match seasonal themes or parties.
Use almond extract instead of vanilla for a slightly different flavor.
Store the cookies in a single layer to prevent decorations from sticking together.

Storage

Store the frosted animal crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Keep them in a cool, dry place to maintain the candy coating’s texture. If the coating softens, allow the cookies to sit at room temperature to firm back up before serving.

How to Serve

The image shows a stack of animal-shaped cookies coated in smooth pastel pink and white icing, each decorated with small, round colorful sprinkles scattered on top. There are two layers shown in the stack: the bottom layer has white icing with multicolored sprinkles, while the top layer has pink icing with sprinkles and one cookie with a bite taken out to reveal a light, crumbly inside. The cookies are placed on a white marbled surface, with a white bowl blurred in the background. The soft lighting highlights the glossy texture of the icing and the vibrant sprinkles, creating a fresh and playful look. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular chocolate instead of candy melts for the coating?

Candy melts are preferred because they harden smoothly and quickly without tempering. Regular chocolate can be used but may require tempering for a firm, glossy finish.

How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking?

Make sure your butter is at room temperature but not melting, and avoid overmixing the dough. Chilling the dough briefly before cutting can also help maintain the shapes during baking.

Homemade Frosted Animal Crackers Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 65 reviews

Homemade Frosted Animal Crackers are delightful, buttery cookies dipped in colorful candy melts and decorated with rainbow sprinkles. These charming treats combine the nostalgic fun of animal crackers with a sweet, festive twist, perfect for parties or a playful snack.

Author: Kai
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: Approximately 20–24 cookies depending on cutter size 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Cookies

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
3½ Tablespoons granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon egg white (room temperature)
⅔ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1/16 teaspoon baking powder

Coating & Decoration

½ bag pink candy melts
½ bag white candy melts
Rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat oven: Heat your oven to 325℉ (163℃) and line two sheet pans with parchment paper. Set aside for later use.
Prepare cookie dough: In a medium bowl, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 1-2 minutes. Then, beat in the egg white and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
Add dry ingredients: Gradually add the all purpose flour, salt, and baking powder to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed just until the dough comes together and no flour remains visible.
Roll out dough: Form the dough into a ball, place it onto a piece of parchment paper, then cover it with another piece of parchment. Roll the dough out evenly to about 3/16 inch thickness.
Cut cookies: Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes. Remove excess dough around the cutouts carefully.
Arrange for baking: Gently lift the cut cookies from the parchment and place them onto the prepared baking sheets. Gather scraps, re-roll, and repeat cutting until all dough is used.
Bake cookies: Bake the cookies at 325℉ for 17 minutes, or until the edges just begin to turn golden.
Cool cookies: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking pans before decorating.
Melt candy melts: Place the pink and white candy melts in separate microwave-safe bowls. Follow the package instructions to melt them until smooth.
Dip cookies: Dip the cooled cookies into the melted candy melts, coating them evenly.
Decorate: Place the dipped cookies on parchment-lined sheet pans and immediately top with rainbow sprinkles before the coating sets.
Set coating: Allow the coating to harden completely at room temperature before serving or storing.

Notes

Ensure butter and egg white are at room temperature for easier mixing and better dough texture.
Use a thin rolling pin or guide sticks to evenly roll dough to the specified thickness.
If candy melts are too thick, add a small amount of shortening to achieve a smooth consistency.
Store finished cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Customize decorations with different colored candy melts and sprinkles for seasonal or themed variations.

Keywords: animal crackers, homemade cookies, frosted animal crackers, candy coated cookies, sprinkles, easy dessert