I stole this recipe for Circus Animal Sugar Cookies from Country Living Magazine who stole it from the candidappetite.com who stole it from Cookie Good in Santa Monica, CA. These beautiful cookies are actually easy to make. Cookie dough starts with flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Then butter, shortening and sugar are beaten together before an egg and vanilla are added in. Next the dry ingredients are mixed in with sprinkles. The dough is scooped out and baked, immediately after being removed from the oven a frosted animal cookie is pressed into the center. As the cookie cools, the animal cracker is set into the cookie. The finished cookies are so pretty they look like they are from a bakery.
For this recipe you will need: 2 ¼ cups AP flour, ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, ½ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup vegetable shortening, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract, ⅓ cup multi-color sprinkles and 24 frosted circus animal cookies
In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Then using an electric mixer beat butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in the egg and vanilla, stir until well combined.
Next stir in dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Then stir in the sprinkles.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheet with parchment. Scoop dough balls and roll in your hands. Place them on baking sheet. Leave 2 to 3 inches between cookies.
Bake until lightly golden brown around the edges and centers have set, about 10 to 12 minutes.
Then immediately place 1 animal cookie in the center of each cookie, pressing down slightly.
Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Look how pretty they are!
If you liked the recipe for Circus Animal Sugar Cookies you can try other cookies with sprinkles like Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cake Mix Cookies or Cake Batter Blondies.
Circus Animal Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups AP flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup vegetable shortening
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup multi-color sprinkles
- 24 frosted circus animal cookies
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheet with parchment.
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In medium bowl, sift or whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
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Using an electric mixer beat butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in the egg and vanilla, stir until well combined. Stir in dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Stir in sprinkles.
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Scoop dough balls and roll in your hands. Place them on baking sheet. Leave 2 to 3 inches between cookies. Bake until lightly golden brown around the edges and centers have set, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately place 1 animal cookie in the center of each cookie, pressing down slightly.
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Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
Recipe Notes
Store in airtight container for up to 3 days.