Gluten-Free Animal Crackers
Published
When I was little and we’d go grocery shopping, I’d immediately run to the big bins filled with the red boxes of animal crackers. These gluten-free animal crackers bring back all the nostalgia of eating (and playing) with these deliciously sweet crackers. They’re buttery and lightly sweet with he perfect amount of crisp. I used fun cookie cutters to get the animals, but you can make them in any shape you’d like.
Easy Gluten-Free Animal Crackers
These gluten-free animal crackers are perfect for kids’ snacks or lunchboxes. I added a pink candy coating and sprinkles to some of the crackers, which really took them up a notch, but they’re delicious without. The rolling and cutting process is so simple. You just press the cutters right over a layer of plastic wrap for those smooth, rounded edges. It’s a fun project to do with kids since they can help pick their favorite animal shapes and add their own colorful decorations. And with easy ingredient swaps, you can make them dairy-free, too.
Notes from the Test Kitchen
- Flour to use. I like Pillsbury Gluten-Free All-Purpose flour. Any 1:1 flour with xanthan gum will work.
- To make these gluten-free animal crackers egg-free. Replace the egg with a flax egg by mixing 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed meal with 3 tablespoons water and letting it sit for 5 minutes to thicken.
- Get those perfect rounded edges. Place a sheet of plastic wrap over the rolled-out dough before cutting the shapes. It softens the edges and gives your crackers that smooth, store-bought look.
- Watch the oven closely. Leave the crackers in the oven for an extra 1–2 minutes, but keep a close eye on them. Gluten-free cookies can go from golden to too dark quickly.
- Don’t over mix the dough. Once you add the flour, mix just until the dough comes together. Overworking it can make the crackers dense instead of light and crisp.
Gluten-Free Animal Crackers
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, room temperature (if using salted butter, omit salt). For dairy-free, use Smart Balanced butter.
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups gluten-free flour
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- hot pink candy melts, optional
- rainbow nonpareils, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (162°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the honey, egg, and vanilla. The mixture will look curdled and that’s totally normal.
- Add in the flour and salt and beat just until mixed.
- Divide the dough in half and wrap both halves in plastic wrap. Flatten the dough into disk shapes. Chill for 30-60 minutes.
- Roll out the dough to a little more than 1/8”. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap on top and cut out shapes with animal shaped cutters.
- Place the cut outs on the prepared baking sheets
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges start to turn light golden brown.
- Optional: Melt pink chocolate candy melts and dip the crackers. Shake off any excess and set back onto a baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with nonpareils. Allow the chocolate to set before serving.
Notes
- Note: The nutrition information does not include the candy melts or sprinkles.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Gluten-Free Animal Crackers Step by Step
Gather the ingredients: Gather all the ingredients together. Preheat the oven to 325°F (162°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment.
Cream the butter and sugar: Beat ½ cup (113g) butter with ¼ cup (45g) packed light brown sugar for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
Add wet ingredients: Mix in 2 tbsp (30ml) honey, 1 large egg, and 1 tsp (5ml) vanilla extract. The mixture may look curdled—this is normal.
Add dry ingredients: Add 2 cups (280g) gluten-free flour, ¾ tsp (3g) baking powder, and ½ tsp (3g) salt. Mix until just combined.
Chill the dough: Divide the dough into 2 discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 30–60 minutes.
Roll and cut shapes: Roll dough to slightly over ⅛ inch. Place plastic wrap on top and cut with animal-shaped cutters.
Add to baking sheet: Arrange the cut-out crackers on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Bake the crackers: Bake at 325°F for 8–10 minutes or until edges are light golden.
Decorate and serve: If you want, dip cooled crackers in melted pink candy melts and sprinkle with nonpareils. Let set before serving. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Pack these in lunchboxes for a fun surprise, serve with gluten-free pigs in a blanket for a nostalgic treat. I’ve brought these along to kids’ parties, wrapped in cellophane bags, and they’ve been a huge hit. They also make a sweet addition to a gluten-free baking gift set. Pair them with homemade gluten-free pop-tarts for an extra-special treat.
Storage Instructions
Store your gluten-free animal crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, freeze the undecorated crackers for up to 2 months and let them thaw at room temperature before serving. If you’ve dipped and decorated them, keep them in a single layer to protect the candy coating and sprinkles from smudging.
More Gluten-Free Kids’ Snacks
Gluten-Free Chex Mix: This classic cereal snack is one of my favorites, and now I make it gluten-free. I love how this Chex mix is just as crunchy, savory, and addictive as the version I grew up with.
Gluten-Free Uncrustables: Uncrustables were a guilty pleasure before I went gluten-free, so I had to make my own. This gluten-free version takes just 15 minutes, is freezer-friendly, and perfect for busy days.
Gluten-Free Pizza Rolls: I’ve given one of my favorite snacks a gluten-free twist! These are soft, cheesy, and packed with all my favorite toppings. The dough is easy to make with pantry staples, and every bite has that perfect pull of melty cheese and rich tomato sauce.
Gluten-Free Cheez Its Copycat: I don’t believe anyone should miss out on their favorite snacks because of dietary restrictions, so I recreated Cheez-Its at home. This gluten-free version is cheesy, buttery, and perfectly flaky and crispy.
