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Delicious gluten free animal crackers inspired by Nabisco's classic recipe.

Gluten-Free Animal Crackers

Relive your childhood with these homemade gluten-free animal crackers, perfect for family fun and guilt-free snacking.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 24 pieces
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 50
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose gluten-free flour blend
  • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • ½ cup confectioners’ sugar For the dough
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
Wet Ingredients
  • 7 tablespoons unsalted butter (at room temperature)
  • 1 large egg (at room temperature, beaten)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Icing Ingredients
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar (for frosting)
  • ½ teaspoon light corn syrup
  • 1 tablespoon lukewarm water (plus more as needed)
  • Gel food coloring (optional)
  • Rainbow nonpareils (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients: gluten-free flour blend, xanthan gum, cornstarch, confectioners’ sugar, kosher salt, and baking soda.
  3. In another bowl, mix the unsalted butter, beaten egg, and vanilla extract until completely smooth.
  4. Gradually combine the dry mixture with the wet mixture to form a delicious dough.
  5. Chill the dough if needed, then roll it out and cut into fun animal shapes.
Baking
  1. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
  2. Let the cookies cool completely.
Icing
  1. Prepare icing by mixing additional confectioners’ sugar, corn syrup, and water.
  2. Frost the cooled cookies and decorate with nonpareils if desired.
  3. Store in an airtight container to maintain that perfect crunch.

Notes

Don't skip chilling the dough! It helps keep those animal shapes intact during baking. These cookies are perfect for creative serving; arrange them in a colorful bowl for gatherings or pack them as a snack for kids. For added sweetness, top with a pinch of sea salt before baking. You can experiment with flavors by adding spices or chocolate chips.