Animal Cookie Snack Mix Recipes

ANIMAL COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl and set aside. Cream the butter and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix on low speed until well combined. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, occasionally scraping the bowl. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Roll the dough out on a floured surface 1/8th-inch-thick and cut into shapes with animal cookie cutters. Place the cookies on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper, and bake for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the size. Cookies should be golden brown on the edges. After cookies have cooled and are firm, they are ready to decorate, if desired.
• For the decoration, fill a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tip with Royal Icing. Place each cookie on a piece of parchment paper and outline it with a thin line of Royal Icing around the entire edge of the cookie. Allow the icing to set.
• Place 1/4 cup of Royal Icing in a small bowl and mix it well with 1/4 teaspoon of the egg whites or water. Continue mixing and adding egg whites or water until the icing is the consistency of maple syrup.
• Using a number 12 artist's brush push a few dollops of the thinned icing around the top of each cookie until it is completely covered to the edge. Allow the cookies to sit overnight to harden. Reserve the remaining Royal Icing.
• Place Royal Icing in a small bowl and mix in several drops of black food coloring. Continue mixing and adding food coloring until you have the desired color. Spoon the black icing into a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tip and outline each cookie with a thin line of icing and decorate, as desired. For each additional colored icing, repeat the process. Allow the icing to set.
• Place the confectioners' sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the eggs whites and lemon juice and beat at medium speed until the sugar and eggs are completely mixed and the icing is thick and white.

ZOO MIX

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Add the butter to a small pot and place over medium heat. Melt the butter and cook until the milk solids start to turn golden brown and release a toasty and nutty aroma, 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the animal crackers, rainbow crackers, pretzel crackers, graham crackers and Cheddar crackers. Add the brown butter and toss to coat all the crackers. Transfer to the prepared sheet pan.
• Bake until the crackers absorb the brown butter mixture, 4 to 5 minutes. You don't want the crackers to brown. Let cool to room temperature. Add the diced apricots and mix to combine.

CIRCUS SNACK MIX

Steps:

• In very large bowl, mix all ingredients. If desired, spoon mixture into snack-size food-storage plastic bags or paper popcorn bags to serve.

PARTY ANIMAL SNACK MIX

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container.