As we get ready for a new week I wanted to bring you our series for Food Holidays: April 18th. Its National Animal Crackers Day.
Take time to share this Trailer with your family.
Did you know there is a movies called Animal Cracker from the Black and White Film Era. I plan on trying to find the movie to watch with Charlie this afternoon while we have Animal Crackers.
I thought Charlie and I could make our own Animal Crackers but then I thought I would share Barnum’s Original Animal Crackers I had as a child with Charlie. Along with Mother’s Iced Animal Crackers only there called Mother’s Circus Cookies I love.
National Animal Crackers Day on April 18th celebrates a childhood favorite. A box of sweet animal-shaped crackers ie. cookies not only provide a delicious snack they offer a little entertainment, too!
The Animal Crackers brings us back to our childhood memories. The many boxes of Animal Crackers we shared with our friends. Animal Crackers refer to a type of small cookie baked in the shape of Circus or Zoo animals, such as a Lion, Tiger, Bear or Elephant.
The most common variety is light-colored and slightly sweet. Although there is also Chocolate and frosted varieties, too. Even though animal crackers are made with layered dough, much like crackers, they’re sweet like cookies.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalAnimalCrackersDay
National Animal Crackers say is the perfect day to celebrate that childhood memory again. Pick up Animal Crackers at your local grocery store and share them with family and friends.
Make your favorite dessert using Animal Crackers whichare great for dipping or adding to a Fruit tray, too. Share your photos of your Animal Crackers Day celebration using #NationalAnimalCrackersDay.
Would you want to play with your Animal Crackers? Even though we have always been told not to play with our FOOD!! Play a little Animal Cracker Bingo at snack time.
Download and print as many of the blank cards as you need. Most brands of Animal crackers have 13 different kinds of animals. To play bingo, everyone will need about two of every kind of animal. (Sounds a little familiar, doesn’t it?)
They randomly place their Animal Crackers on their bingo card. As the animals are called, they take the correct cracker off the card and snack! The empty space represents the called Animal. The first person to get a bingo wins! Add a fun dip for dipping while the game plays on.
NATIONAL ANIMAL CRACKER DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar’s research was unable to find the creator of National Animal Crackers Day, we located other fun facts. Animal crackers first came to the United States in the late 1800s when the U.S. imported Animal-shaped cookies from England.
In 1902, Animal Crackers officially became known as Barnum’s Animals and evoked the familiar Circus Train theme of the Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Later that year, Nabisco designed the now-familiar box with a string for the Christmas season to hang from the Christmas tree. They were a big hit in 1902 and still are today.
In 2018, Nabisco (the current maker of Barnum’s Animal Crackers) released the characters from the cage of the train and set them free. The images on the side of the boxes now show the animals roaming freely in nature. Which is sad because there messing with my childhood and keeping me from sharing the original Animal Crackers box with my son.
Five things to know about Animal Crackers
- Barnum’s Animal Crackers box was originally a Christmas ornament hung by a string. The string can still be found on boxes. Did you know that? Neither did David.
- A box of Animal Crackers sold for 5 cents in 1902. Man on man I could afford to purchase a truckload at that price.
- Animal Crackers originated in England. They were known as Animal Biscuits.
- 54 different Animals have been created as Animal Crackers. The most popular brand, Barnum’s Animal Crackers, have featured 37 different Animals since 1902. Man oh man that is a lot of Animals. I am going to have Charlie see if he can find all the Animals that have been used.
- The most recent addition to the Barnum’s Animal Crackers is the Koala Bear. Looks like its time for me to grab a box of Animal Crackers since we haven’t had a Kola Bear. Have you?
Fun Fact:
Over the years, the only Animals that have survived the entire lifetime of the product are Bears, Elephants, Lions and Tigers.
Shirley Temple sang “Animal crackers in my soup, Monkeys and Rabbits loop the loop,”, but Rabbits never found their way into a box of Barnum’s Animal Crackers. I wonder why since there the cutest Animals ever.
The name referred to P. T. Barnum (1810-1891), the famous circus owner and showman. Looks like its time to watch The Greatest Showman or The Greatest Show On Earth one of my favorite movies. Then we can have Animal Cookies.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) salted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- 1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, honey, and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the egg and mix until combined. Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, beat until combined and the dough forms a ball.
- Generously flour your work surface. Divide the dough in half and flatten each half into a disk. Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Make sure you’re using enough flour or your dough will stick. Cut out the crackers using a mini animal cookie cutter. Carefully transfer the crackers to a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover the baking sheet and place the sheet in the freezer, freeze until firm, about 10 minutes. Roll out the leftover scraps, and repeat with the remaining disk of dough.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake the crackers on the middle rack of the oven for 8-10 minutes (8 for softer, 10 for crunchier) or until just lightly golden brown. Cool on the baking sheet 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- Transfer to a wire rack and decorate as desired with sprinkles or edible flowers. Crackers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week at room temperature.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
