12 best animal crackers

Animal crackers are a type of snack food that is popular among both children and adults. These small, sweet, and crunchy crackers are shaped like various animals and are typically made from a simple mixture of ingredients like flour, sugar, and leavening agents. Here are some key points about animal crackers:

  1. Shape and Variety: Animal crackers are known for their distinctive shapes, which include animals like lions, elephants, zebras, and more. These shapes make them fun and appealing to children.

  2. History: Animal crackers have a long history dating back to the late 19th century. They were originally imported from England to the United States, and over time, American companies began producing them domestically. The famous "Barnum's Animals" brand by Nabisco, now Mondelez International, has been a well-known and popular choice for many years.

  3. Ingredients: The ingredients for animal crackers typically include flour, sugar, shortening or vegetable oil, leavening agents like baking soda, and flavorings such as vanilla.Some versions may also include additional ingredients like cinnamon or honey for added flavor.

  4. Packaging: Animal crackers are often packaged in colorful boxes or bags, and they are commonly found in the snack food aisle of grocery stores. The packaging often features images of the animal shapes to attract consumers, especially children.

  5. Snacking and Uses: Animal crackers are a convenient and portable snack. They can be enjoyed on their own, used as a topping for desserts like ice cream or yogurt, or even incorporated into various recipes for baked goods or crafts.

  6. Nutritional Information: Animal crackers are relatively low in fat compared to other snack options but may contain added sugars. It's important to check the nutritional information on the packaging if you have dietary concerns.

  7. Variations: Over the years, there have been various variations of animal crackers, including gluten-free and organic options to cater to different dietary preferences.

  8. Collectibles: Some people collect vintage or limited-edition animal cracker tins and boxes as they often feature nostalgic and charming artwork.

Animal crackers remain a beloved and nostalgic snack for many, enjoyed by generations for their simple yet delightful appeal.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best animal crackers on the market
  

Barnum's Original Animal Crackers, 12 - 2.13 oz Boxes

Mondelēz International

Based on 1 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Unleash a world of delicious snacking fun with Barnum's Original Animal Crackers. A favorite of kids and adults alike, these cookie snacks feature the classic sweet flavor you enjoy. Assorted animal shapes make these sweet crackers fun to eat, and they're a good source of calcium, so you can feel good about serving them to your family. Pack these animal cookies in your lunch, or use them in a homemade trail mix for a snack at the end of the day. They're delicious alone or paired with a sweet dessert dip or pudding. Each box of these bulk cookies keep the animal crackers fresh until you're ready to enjoy them.

  • Twelve 2.13 oz boxes of Barnum's Original Animal Crackers
  • Classic sweet flavor and a crunchy texture make these snack crackers delicious
  • Circus-themed crackers come in fun animal shapes
  • Sweet snacks as a good source of calcium
  • Individually sealed cracker box keeps animal crackers fresh

User questions & answers

Question: Where were these manufactured
Answer: Barnum's Animals Crackers are all produced in the Fair Lawn, New Jersey, bakery by Nabisco Brands. More than 40 million packages of Barnum's Animals Crackers are sold each year, both in the United States and exported to 17 countries worldwide.
Question: Are these vegan
Answer: No clue.
Question: I know it says 2.03 ounce but what size is the actual box? Thank you
Answer: The box itself is about 6 inches long. The same size as the box was when I was growing up in the 1970s.
Question: About how many cookies in number are in a box
Answer: I don't know the number in each box. Purchase a box at your local supermarket and find out. If you need a good number of cookies they are also sold by the large bag full on Amazon. My kids enjoyed the box as well as the cookies.

Product features

Barnum's Animal Crackers

Barnum's Animals have been a tasty treat for over a century. Over the years, there have been over 54 different animal shapes represented.

Since 1902, Barnum's Animals have been delighting children of all ages. Traditionally, they've been sold in the circus wagon, but now the animals are in their natural habitat.

Barnum's Animal Crackers are available in individual snack packs as well as re-closable pouches which is perfect for sharing and storing.

Good Source of Calcium
Convenient On the Go Snack
Great for Party Favors
Barnum's Pudding Cups

Ingredients

  • 1 cup NABISCO Graham Cracker Crumbs
  • 2 Tbsp. sugar, 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine or butter, melted
  • 1 pkg. (4-serving size) chocolate instant pudding mix, 1-1/2 cups cold milk, 1/2 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
  • 2 pkg. (2-1/8 oz. each) BARNUM'S ANIMALS Crackers, 12 maraschino cherries & colored sprinkles

Instructions

  • LINE 12 medium muffin cups with paper liners; set aside. Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar and margarine until well blended. Press 1 rounded Tbsp. of the crumb mixture firmly onto bottom of each cup.
  • PREPARE pudding mix with milk in medium bowl as directed on package. Gently stir in the whipped topping; spoon evenly into muffin cups.
  • STAND 3 crackers, with front sides facing out, around edge of pudding mixture in each cup. Top each with 1 cherry. Add sprinkles. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. Store in refrigerator.

Circus Animals on a Log

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter
  • 3 celery stalks (6 inch)
  • 12 BARNUM'S ANIMALS Crackers
  • 1 HONEY MAID Honey Graham, crushed (about 1/4 cup crumbs)

Instructions

  • SPREAD peanut butter evenly into hollow part of celery stalks.
  • STAND 4 of the animal crackers in peanut butter in each stalk.
  • SPRINKLE evenly with graham crumbs to resemble dirt.

Carousel Cake

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
  • 1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) vanilla instant pudding mix
  • 1 cup cold water, 1/4 cup oil & 4 eggs
  • 2 Tbsp. multi-colored sprinkles & 6 BARNUM'S ANIMALS Crackers

Instructions

  • HEAT oven to 350°F. BEAT cake mix, dry pudding mix, water, eggs and oil with mixer on low speed 1 min. Beat on medium speed 4 min. Pour into greased and floured 12-cup fluted tube or 10-inch tube pan.
  • BAKE 50 to 55 min. Cool in pan 5 min.; remove from pan to cool completely.
  • Drizzle with Semi-Sweet Chocolate Glaze; top with sprinkles. Let stand until glaze is firm. Decorate cake with crackers and straws as shown in photo

Stauffer's Original Animal Crackers 48oz jug

Stauffer's

Based on 357 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Stauffer's Original Animal Crackers are a delicious low fat snack. These bakery-made crackers are flavored with peanuts and tree nuts for a delicious taste. These low-fat animal crackers are easy to add into a healthy diet. The classic shapes appeal to people of all ages, from toddlers on up. You can enjoy them on their own or dip them in a sweet topping for even more fun. The crackers are also cholesterol-free.

365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Animal Crackers, Vanilla (6 - 1.5 Ounce Packagages), 6.3 Ounce

365 by WFM

Based on 484 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Our standards are what set us apart, and our quality is what keeps us stocking pantries, fridges and freezers with the best natural and organic 365 products every day. We get excited about things like whole grain flours, shade-grown coffee, organic milk and frozen veggies because we know that you care about cooking with the very best ingredients — without compromising on the ingredients you don’t want. (All 365 products meet Whole Foods Market quality standards.)

  • Brought to you by Whole Foods Market.  The packaging for this product has a fresh new look. During this transition, you may get the original packaging or the new packaging in your order, but the product and quality is staying exactly the same. Enjoy!
  • Peanut Free
  • Vegetarian
  • Certified Kosher
  • USDA Certified Organic
  • QAI Certified Organic - If It's Organic It's Non-GMO

User questions & answers

Question: These are labeled as vegetarian and not vegan -- what in them makes them not vegan? I can't tell by the ingredient list
Answer: I don’t see any non-vegan ingredients listed. However, it says “natural flavors” listed which could contain a dairy product as well as the warning that says it “could contain trace amounts of milk & eggs” meaning the product is produced on equipment that also makes dairy infused products (proper allergy labelling).

Stauffers Original Animal Crackers 24 oz. Bear Jug (2 Containers) (Original Version) (Original Version) - PACK OF 2

Stauffer's

Based on 71 reviews Check latest price

Product description

2

  • You Will Receive Two 24 oz.Jugs of Stauffer's Original Animal Crackers
  • Packaged in a convenient Bear shaped container.
  • Search for 13 fun animal shapes inside every container.
  • No Cholesterol and Zero Trans Fat

Stauffer Animal Crackers, Original, 16 oz

Stauffer

Based on 398 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Stauffer's is best recognized for its original animal crackers but the company also produces a variety of crackers and cookies in three bakeries across the United States. Stauffer's roots are in York, Pennsylvania where the first animal crackers were produced in 1871. Two additional bakeries are located in Cuba, New York and Santa Ana, California. Stauffer's west coast bakery started producing crackers and cookies in 2001. Enjoy snacking with delicious Stauffer's animal crackers in a variety of flavors and shapes.

  • low fat
  • zero grams trans fat

User questions & answers

Question: How can these be "original" when they contain hfcs? the original came out in 1902.. hfcs started being added to foods in the 1970s
Answer: You’re asking ME? I have no idea. Obvi The formula changed. Words can be used - words like ‘original’ - without any laws or restrictions. So they call these original. If you don’t want to eat HFCS don’t buy them.
Question: What animals are in here? I'm looking for more farm animals than zoo :-) Thanks
Answer: More zoo, jungle, and wild animals than farm animals. Do a google search and it will tell you the animals. We googled it just to figure out what a couple of them were. These are really good for snacking on!

365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Whole Grain Animal Crackers, Honey Cinnamon, 11 Ounce

365 by WFM

Based on 378 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Our standards are what set us apart, and our quality is what keeps us stocking pantries, fridges and freezers with the best natural and organic 365 products every day. We get excited about things like whole grain flours, shade-grown coffee, organic milk and frozen veggies because we know that you care about cooking with the very best ingredients — without compromising on the ingredients you don’t want. (All 365 products meet Whole Foods Market quality standards.)

  • Brought to you by Whole Foods Market.  The packaging for this product has a fresh new look. During this transition, you may get the original packaging or the new packaging in your order, but the product and quality is staying exactly the same. Enjoy!
  • Peanut Free
  • Made with Real Honey
  • 12.5g Whole Grains per Serving
  • Vegetarian
  • Certified Kosher
  • USDA Certified Organic
  • QAI Certified Organic - If It's Organic It's Non-GMO

365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Animal Crackers, Chocolate Chip, 11 Ounce

365 by WFM

Based on 321 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Our standards are what set us apart, and our quality is what keeps us stocking pantries, fridges and freezers with the best natural and organic 365 products every day. We get excited about things like whole grain flours, shade-grown coffee, organic milk and frozen veggies because we know that you care about cooking with the very best ingredients — without compromising on the ingredients you don’t want. (All 365 products meet Whole Foods Market quality standards.)

  • Brought to you by Whole Foods Market.  The packaging for this product has a fresh new look. During this transition, you may get the original packaging or the new packaging in your order, but the product and quality is staying exactly the same. Enjoy!
  • Peanut Free
  • Vegetarian
  • Certified Kosher
  • USDA Certified Organic
  • QAI Certified Organic - If It's Organic It's Non-GMO

Mother's Circus Animal Cookies, 11 Ounce

Mother's

Based on 5 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Make moments a little sweeter with Mother's Original Circus Animal Cookies–sweet, bite-sized sugar cookies with the irresistible taste of frosting and sprinkles in every crumbly bite. Each cookie is baked to golden perfection, dipped in a generous coating of pink or white icing, and showered with festive rainbow nonpareils. Mother's Original Circus Animal Cookies are carefully made for that classic homemade taste you know and love. Packaged in a convenient, resealable bag, Mother’s Original Circus Animal Cookies are made for stashing in your desk at work, lunchbox at school, in your cupboard at home, and in your tote while you're traveling–the delicious, travel-ready options are endless. Try them with ice-cold milk and after-school conversation–or take your dessert to the next level and create mini ice-cream sandwiches in your kids' favorite animal shapes. Satisfy your sweet craving–and make some memories too–with the simple goodness of Mother's Original Circus Animal Cookies.

  • Crunchy cookies with the irresistible taste of sweet frosting and sprinkles; There's a memory in every bite
  • Fun, fully frosted pink and white animal-shaped sugar cookies sprinkled with rainbow nonpareils
  • Baked with care and made with delicious ingredients; Kosher Dairy
  • A travel-ready food; Makes a tasty snack at work, afternoon pick-me-up at school or late-night treat; Stow in lunchboxes, totes, and backpacks
  • Includes 1, 11-oz resealable bag of ready-to-eat Mother's Original Circus Animal Cookies; Packaged for convenience, freshness, and great taste

User questions & answers

Question: What are the animal shapes
Answer: Lions, tigers. Bears
Question: Are these processed in a facility with peanuts
Answer: The Ferrero Group and its related companies, including Ferrara USA, recently acquired cookie, pie crust, fruit flavored snacks and ice cream cone brands from the Kellogg Company. For calls about pie crusts, ice cream cones, or cookies – including Keebler, Ready Crust, Famous Amos, Mothers, Murray, or Murray Sugar-Free, provide 866-866-3085.
Question: Delivery issue, who do i report this to
Answer: The sender
Question: Are these vegan or vegetarian? It's not listed on the packaging and there's no picture of the barcode to scan using ScanHalal to confirm
Answer: Contains milk

Stauffer's Animal Crackers Original, 1oz. Snack Packs (Set of 20)

Stauffer's

Based on 298 reviews Check latest price

Product description

1

  • Stauffer's original animal crackers - Set of twenty 1-ounce animal cracker snack packs
  • These snack pack crackers are perfect for families on the go and for traveling with small children
  • Drop an animal crackers snack pack into backpacks for on the go snacking fun
  • A great tasting snack for adults and children available in 13 fun animal shapes
  • Stauffer's animal crackers snack pack are low fat and zero grams trans fat per serving

User questions & answers

Question: Is This Gluten Free
Answer: Unfortunately, no. The ingredients are the following: Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate Vitamin B1, Riboflavin Vitamin B2, Folic Acid), Sugar, Soybean Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Salt, Baking Soda (Leavening), Soy Lecithin (An Emulsifier), Natural Flavor, Spice. We did reach out to the manufacturer to find out if they make a gluten-free version, and they responded: "No, unfortunately Stauffer’s does not currently offer any Gluten Free products." Hope this helps.
Question: are these kosher
Answer: The bag does not say that they are kosher. So I suggest you contact the mfg for the answer
Question: Does This Contain Nuts
Answer: We reached out to the manufacturer with your question and they replied: “Currently we do not produce any products that contain peanuts; however we have in the past and may again in the future. As far as tree nuts in our factory, we currently use almonds and coconut. We do follow GMP’s and adhere to strict guidelines as far as cleaning, sanitizing, & testing the production lines in between any allergen being produced.” The ingredient list for these animal crackers is as follows: Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate Vitamin B1, Riboflavin Vitamin B2, Folic Acid), Sugar, Soybean Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Salt, Baking Soda (Leavening), Soy Lecithin (An Emulsifier), Natural Flavor, Spice. Hope this helps!

365 by Whole Foods Market, Animal Crackers, Frosted, 5 Ounce

365 by WFM

Based on 556 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Our standards are what set us apart, and our quality is what keeps us stocking pantries, fridges and freezers with the best natural and organic 365 products every day. We get excited about things like whole grain flours, shade-grown coffee, organic milk and frozen veggies because we know that you care about cooking with the very best ingredients — without compromising on the ingredients you don’t want. (All 365 products meet Whole Foods Market quality standards.)

  • Brought to you by Whole Foods Market.  The packaging for this product has a fresh new look. During this transition, you may get the original packaging or the new packaging in your order, but the product and quality is staying exactly the same. Enjoy!
  • Animal Shaped Cookies Enrobed in White Frosting and Covered in Sprinkles
  • Vegetarian
  • Certified Kosher

365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Animal Crackers,Vanilla, 11 Ounce

365 by WFM

Based on 586 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Our standards are what set us apart, and our quality is what keeps us stocking pantries, fridges and freezers with the best natural and organic 365 products every day. We get excited about things like whole grain flours, shade-grown coffee, organic milk and frozen veggies because we know that you care about cooking with the very best ingredients — without compromising on the ingredients you don’t want. (All 365 products meet Whole Foods Market quality standards.)

  • Brought to you by Whole Foods Market.  The packaging for this product has a fresh new look. During this transition, you may get the original packaging or the new packaging in your order, but the product and quality is staying exactly the same. Enjoy!
  • Peanut Free
  • Vegetarian
  • Certified Kosher
  • USDA Certified Organic
  • QAI Certified Organic - If It's Organic It's Non-GMO

Kirkland Signature USDA Organic Animal Crackers - 64 oz.

FCV

Based on 54 reviews Check latest price
  • Animal crackers timeless, classic treat for anybody to enjoy
  • Can use as a topping for yogurt or frozen treats
  • USDA Certified Organic
  • 64 oz Container
  • Tasty snack, great for lunches and parties

User questions & answers

Question: What are the ingredients? Thanks for yoru help
Answer: Instead of listing them all. Which ones would you prefer not to be in the cookies.

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