Animal Cracker Cookies From Circle Thread
Submitted by bettina on October 24, 2004 at 1:33 pm

DESCRIPTION
Animal Cracker Cookies/from circle thread

SUMMARY
Yield 0 File under Cookies Brownies Bars

INSTRUCTIONS
mwelch35--here ya go:

Animal Cookies from Retro Desserts, Wayne Harley Brachman

"Animal crackers, or Barnum's Animals to be more exact, have been around since
1902. That was before cookies were even called cookies. We had not yet
formally adapted the Dutch word "kookje". Their popularity has lasted through
Marx Brothers movies, Shirley Temple songs, and the current change to
endangered-species crackers. This recipe will hold shapes in three dimensions,
so you can stamp out little critters with cookie molds. You may also use
cookie cutters." Preface

2 cups a/p flour
1/2 cup yellow corn flour*( do not substitute cornmeal)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Set two racks in the middle and upper third of the oven and preheat to
350F.

2. In a food processor or the bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the
all purpose and cornflours, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar. On low speed,
add the butter, then the corn syrup, milk, and vanilla. Process or beat until
the dough is thoroughly blended and massed together.

3. Between sheets of wax paper, roll the dough to a thickness of 1/8 inch.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes, until firm.

4. Cut the dough into animal shapes with cookie cutters, or press molds(lightly
floured to prevent sticking). Arrange on nonstick or parchment-lined cookie
sheets and refrigerate for 15 minutes(this helps to maintain their shapes).

5. Bake for 7 minutes, until very lightly tanned around the edges. Set the
pans on a rack to cool.

Although these come very, very close to the "famous maker" brand, I have been playing around with the recipe, trying to make it even better. I've found that just a couple of drops of lemon oil is perfect, for the flavor, and my new best friend, for crispy cookies, baker's ammonia, for the leavener, works fantastically. They are crisp for days! It also helps maintain the shape, as they don't "poof" while baking. It might work well for the animal cracker molds offered by KAF.

Have fun!