Animal Impulse
I’m an impulse shopper, especially when it comes to kitchen gadgets and products. If you show me something pretty, shiny, or god forbid pink and it somehow relates to cooking than I absolutely have to possess it. So when I got a new product email from Williams-Sonoma last week featuring animal crackers on parade and the promise of making them in my own home I went temporarily insane and made a beeline straight to the store to pick up the cookie cutters and a mix to try at home.
In some ways these purchases remind me of the way it used to feel when I was a kid and I would successfully talk my mom into buying me yet another She-Ra doll even though someone really should have put up a “no vacancy” sign at the Crystal Castle long ago. The fictional inhabitants of the Whispering Woods were already experiencing some serious overflow into my Victorian dollhouse, and the dollhouse dwellers were unimpressed cohabiting with a group of buxom, pastel haired gladiators. Or so I would imagine… but I had to have more!
Today I decided to test out the animal cracker kit so I mixed up the dough, chilled it, and cut out the cute little circus shapes. I had a hard time at first. The lions were being stubborn and I broke a lot of the giraffes’ necks, but somehow via some miracle I didn’t have a fit and I got everything cut out, chilled again, and properly baked. The cookie mix was very good. It almost tastes exactly like animal crackers from the store. The clerk at Williams-Sonoma told me that he had tested the mix as well and he thought the baked cookies tasted like the animal crackers he ate as a kid, which apparently are not how animal crackers taste now. While I can remember copious details about She-Ra, I’m at a loss when it comes to flavor memory so I’ll take his word for it.
I think that kids would love making these! I don’t have any, but I have a CK and he happily munched a small plate with a glass of milk. So now I own animal cracker cookie cutters forever and ever. Who thinks I’ll ever use them again?
Note: Just so that you’re aware, if you purchase the cookie cutters the back of the circus car shaped box has a recipe on it so you don’t necessarily have to purchase a pre-made mix.
23 Comments Leave a Comment
rachel
June 1, 2008
I bought the cookie cutters this weekend and it is all your fault! I am trying to figure out my own animal cracker recipe.
Erin
June 1, 2008
Hey Rachel - I’m so glad I can be a “bad” influence on others
Good luck with creating your own recipe! I’ll be interested to see what you come up with. I used the mix and half of it is now freezing in a ball. I just couldn’t deal with cutting out 10,000 of these little guys. It will keep until another time. I was pretty fascinated by the recipe they include on the cookie cutter box. Animal crackers are definitely something that I have always eaten and wondered…what is that spice?! You can taste the nutmeg but apparently “Mace” is the mystery of the animal cracker universe. Honesty I have a lot of spices kicking around, but not that one.
Pam
June 1, 2008
I had to argue with myself in the store the other day not to buy these. But seeing how well they work, I might let my impulse-buying side win next time.
Sarah
June 1, 2008
I have seen these and keep wanting to buy them. Yours turned out so cute!
Frantichomecook
June 1, 2008
That is precious!!! I’m going to Digg you.
Robin S.
June 1, 2008
A couple of weeks ago, I found myself in Williams-Sonoma like an excited school girl. I too just “had” to have these cute cookie cutters. I initially picked up the box of cookie mix…only to talk myself out of it moments later. I just knew I’d be able to find a recipe for the Barnum’s Circus Animal Crackers somewhere online. Someone else just had to have already figured out this recipe.
This evening, I set to the task of surfing every nook and cranny of the internet to find a recipe that looked anything like what may resemble those original little cookies in the circus box with the white string handle. After hours of searching, I stumbled upon your site…and after reading to the end of your post, I noticed your “Note” on the fact that there was a recipe on the back of the box of cookie cutters. I promptly cursed myself and got up from the couch laughing while my husband asked what was wrong. I walked to the other room to grab my box of cookie cutters, turned it over and saw the recipe…handed the box to him and both of just sat here shaking our heads.
Just think…how much more wasted time do you think I would I have spent searching for this recipe (which I already had in my possession on the dang box…HAHA)! Thanks for the “you could have had a V8″ slap to the forehead!
linda
June 2, 2008
Very cute! Now I need them too
Tara
June 2, 2008
It takes a bit of a drive to our closest Williams-Sinoms (oh how I wish they would ship in Canada); but I do think that these cutters are well worth the drive. How sweet these would be for children, maybe even tarted up with a bit of icing to parade around a birthday cake.
EB
June 2, 2008
I saw those the other day! I love that you took the chance on them. Any shot at covering them in pink and white frosting with sprinkles? I think they’d be Princess of Power approved.
Hillary
June 2, 2008
They look like they came out great! Now I kind of want to go buy the kit. Too cute!
sharon
June 2, 2008
I’m a sucker for kitchen gadgets as well. Your animal crackers are beyond perfect & adorable. I’m very tempted to buy these as well. Williams Sonoma owes you a commission!
Cze-Johnson Carrie
June 2, 2008
I was on the fence with whether or not to get these. Rhena’s really into the raw-dough eating phase, though, and since the shapes are too cute, and rhena’s all of like 30 pounds soaking wet… we may have to hold off for a little while longer.
super-cute, though!!! and kudos for the nice coloring. those little skinny cookies get burned so easily… yours came out very even!
NIKI
June 2, 2008
Those are really cute Erin!
Allen
June 2, 2008
YUM — I love animal crackers … but would never *ever* have the patience to make them. I know my limitations, the cookie cutters look intricate and I know I would sadly deform the animals while prying them out.
I applaud you — they look delicious!
robin
June 2, 2008
Absolutely adorable! I’m never one to buy kitchen gadgets like this since my kitchen is so tiny… but these are soooo cute. And I could make excuses to myself that my little niece and nephew would love them.
erin
June 3, 2008
could a simple shortbread recipe do, with less butter to make them seem more crunchy like a cracker?
Erin
June 3, 2008
erin - I say go for it! Shortbread would probably work well. I was actually thinking these would be great as gingerbread cutouts during the holidays too, or even just plan sugar cookies with a few sprinkles of colored sugar.
Elle
June 3, 2008
Adorable! I love the idea of using them for gingerbread cookies at the holidays!
Crazy Daisy
June 4, 2008
OMG! She-Ra!! That sure brought back flashes of my childhood! And the cookie cutters. I am trying to figure out how to reason why I need these…
I just do! They are so cute!
Erin
June 4, 2008
So awesome this got featured on Ohdeedoh! Congratulations!
malvestita
June 4, 2008
these are adorable! i was just leafing through the new ws catalog right now and saw them. i think they’re worth making solely for the nostalgia alone (i too munched animal crackers and watched she-ra who was much cooler than he-man!). thanks for posting this.
farida
June 5, 2008
These look adorable! I really want to buy a box for my daughter. She loves baking cookies and cutting them in all shapes possible:) This will make a great addition to her own little kitchenware:)
Kim
June 8, 2008
I haven’t been this excited in ages! I am going to be on vacation for two weeks with my grandsons, and I am running to the store to buy the cutters so I can make them. Thanks for sharing.
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