These Animal Sprinkle Circus Cookies are the perfect adaptation of the classic, Levain bakery-style cookies, topped with the iconic Mother's original circus animal cookies..
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Why This Recipe Works
- Tasty: The deliciousness of these animal sprinkle circus cookies just blows my mind- it is unlike anything you've ever tasted, I promise you that!
- Iconic Shapes: Another plus is the fact that these animal sprinkle cookies can be cut into different animal shapes or any other iconic shapes, which makes them great for kids!
- Easy Prep: What's more, the prep time is absolutely minimal, which is perfect for me.
🥘 Ingredients
- Sweet Cream Unsalted Butter, Cold, Cut into Cubes: Adds a rich, creamy flavor to the cookies and aids in their texture and structure.
- Sugar: Helps the cookies spread during baking and provides a sweet base that balances the other flavors.
- Large Eggs: Act as a binding agent, holding all the ingredients together, and also add moisture to the dough.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavors of the cookies and contributes a warm, comforting note to the overall taste.
- Pure Almond Extract: Adds a subtle nutty flavor to the cookies, complementing their sweetness and making them even more delicious.
- Cornstarch: Is used to make the cookies softer and more tender by breaking down some of the protein in the flour.
- Baking Soda: Is a leavening agent that helps the cookies rise and become light and airy.
- Salt: Enhances the sweet and creamy flavors, highlighting the complexities within the cookies.
- Cake Flour: Has less protein than wheat flour (not enriched flour) or all-purpose flour, resulting in a lighter, more tender cookie.
- All Purpose Flour: Provides structure and body to the cookies, ensuring they hold their shape.
- Chopped Frosted Original Circus Animal Cookies: Add a fun and nostalgic twist to the recipe, infusing the dough with extra sweetness and a playful crunch.
- White Chocolate Chips: Add a sweet, creamy flavor and a satisfying texture contrast when bitten into.
- Rainbow Jimmies Sprinkles: Add a burst of color, a bit of crunch, and an extra touch of sweetness, making these cookies visually appealing and even more tasty.
- Muffin Baking Rings: Used to shape cookies for consistent size and shape, perfect for parties or gifting.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil: Can be used as a substitute for unsalted sweet cream butter in your circus cookies recipe. This oil will help to keep the cookies moist and tender, providing a similar texture while also offering a stable fat that aids in the structure of the cookies.
🔪 How To Make Sprinkle Circus Cookies
Once you have all your ingredients ready, here's what you'll need to do to make these cookies.
Step One: Using a standing mixer, cream together the butter and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy.
Step Two: Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the vanilla until combined. Use a large bowl, to whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and other ingredients. Gradually whisk in the dry ingredients into the wet until combined and smooth
Step Three: Fold in the chopped frosted original circus animal cookies, white chocolate chips, and sprinkles. Using a medium cookie scoop and kitchen scale, scoop some cookie dough out and weigh the dough to 5.5 oz. Place 6-7 muffin baking rings onto the cookie sheets with lightly floured surface.
Step Four: Roll the dough into a ball and place the dough ball into a baking ring. Gently press the dough ball into a thick disk in the ring. Bake in the oven for 12-14 minutes or until lightly golden around the sides. The center will still be gooey and that's okay because it's the best part! Let the circus animal cookies cool for 10 minutes before enjoying them!
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Chill the Dough: Putting the dough in the fridge for a bit makes it easier to handle and helps keep the cookies from spreading too much.
- Roll in Extra Sprinkles: Before baking, roll your cookie dough balls in extra sprinkles for a super colorful treat.
- Try Different Cookie Cutters: Use mini animal cookie cutters for an extra fun twist of animal shapes on your circus-themed treats!
💭 FAQs
The best way to decorate these circus cookies is to top them with some frosting and then top them with some extra sprinkles and original circus animal cookies.
Love sticking to the classic pink and white combination, or just simple white frosting or white icing on each cookie, then topped with the circus animals.
If you're not too sure about either of these, you can just stick to using a bit of confectioner's glaze, and then top the cookies with some original circus animal cookies.
Your leftover circus animal cookies can be wrapped in plastic wrap or transferred to an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator.
🧂Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite desserts to serve with Animal Sprinkle Circus Cookies:
- Banana Milkshake With Ice Cream: Dip the crunchy, sprinkle-filled cookies into a creamy banana milkshake for a delightful treat.
- Hot Cocoa Dip: Enjoy the cookies dipped in warm, rich hot cocoa dip for a cozy, comforting snack.
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Animal Sprinkle Circus Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 Cup Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter cold, cut into cubes
- 3 Cup Sugar
- 4 Eggs
- 3 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon Pure Almond Extract
- 2 teaspoon Cornstarch
- 2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 3 Cup Cake Flour
- 4 Cup All Purpose Flour
- 3 Cup Chopped Frosted Original Circus Animal Cookies
- 4 Cup White Chocolate Chips
- 2 Cup Rainbow Jimmies Sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mat
- Using a standing mixer, cream together the butter and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the vanilla until combined.
- Using a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and other ingredients. Gradually whisk in the dry ingredients into the wet until combined and smooth
- Fold in the chopped frosted original circus animal cookies, white chocolate chips, and sprinkles.
- Using a medium cookie scoop and kitchen scale, scoop some cookie dough out and weigh the dough to 5.5 oz.
- Place 6-7 muffin baking rings onto the cookie sheets with lightly floured surface. Roll the dough into a ball and place the dough ball into a baking ring. Gently press the dough ball into a thick disk in the ring.
- Bake in the oven for 12-14 minutes or until lightly golden around the sides. The center will still be gooey and that's okay because it's the best part!
- Let the circus animal cookies cool for 10 minutes before enjoying them!
These Animal Sprinkle Circus Cookies are a nostalgic treat with a fun twist! Soft, buttery, and packed with colorful sprinkles and frosted animal cookies—they're always a hit at parties. Let me know if you try them!