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Circus Animal Cookie Sandwiches

May 15, 2015 by Cara

Hey, remember these Circus Animal Cookies I made three years ago? Three years! It was my first recipe that I made when I first started Fork & Beans that while I was dipping them into the frosting and putting the sprinkles on, I had THE biggest smile on my face. I knew that I was creating a monster. Not the cookies, but in me. I became obsessed on that day with recreating childhood favorites. Don’t believe me? Check out this.

CIRCUS ANIMAL

 

And now that I have admitted my deep problem with sprinkles, I simply need more things to throw sprinkles on to. Let me introduce to you Circus Animal Cookie Sandwiches. Oh man, I seriously could not handle more than one cookie sandwich but the real enjoyment really comes from the making them. If I owned a bakery it would be enough to just make these treats, really. I feel like an artist whose palette consists of sprinkles, all-natural food coloring, nondairy white chocolate, and tons and tons of frosting. It gives me so much joy, I could spit.*

*Who spits when they are happy? What a weird saying. 

Circus Animals

Now, when you are making the coating for these cookies, do keep in mind that the smooth consistency you will get from the nondairy white chocolate is greatly dependent upon which brand you use. I only had the nondairy white chocolate chips from King David Kosher (you can find on Amazon) and they tend to be a bit more clumpy when melted so I had to add a little bit of shortening to smooth it out. Lieber’s is another brand for white chocolate chips. Do also note that when you add shortening to the mix, you get less stiff, more melty white chocolate once it is set. This is okay in the long run because you will want to keep these refrigerated or frozen when storing. Just keep that in mind. If you are using the White Polar Dream chocolate bars (you can find on Amazon or Premium Chocolatiers), those tend to be more on the thinner side so you most likely will not need to add any shortening.

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Circus Animal Cookie Sandwiches

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Fork & Beans
  • Prep Time: 25 mins
  • Cook Time: 6 mins
  • Total Time: 31 mins
  • Yield: Approx 15 cookie sandwiches 1x
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Description

Instead of animal shapes, make these cookie sandwiches with a round cookie cutter to keep things simple. You, of course, can make them into circus animals, as they make for a cuter cookie.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 recipe Circus Animal Cookies, use 1 1/2″ round cookie cutter instead

Cream filling:

  • 1/3 c. shortening
  • 2 1/2 c. powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Cream together the shortening and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until nice and fluffy (about 1 minute). Add the vanilla and beat for another 30 seconds.
  2. After the cookies have set, pipe the cream onto one cookie and then sandwich together. Repeat until all cookies are filled.
  3. Store in the fridge or freeze in a baggie or air tight container.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @forkandbeans on Instagram and hashtag it #forkandbeans

Remember that your yield might vary from mine, depending on the size of the cookie cutter you use. 

Circus Animal Cookie Sandwiches 2b

Remember, you don’t even have to make them into sandwiches, you can skip the cream filling and just go with the animal shapes. Regardless, these are a total blast from the past. Enjoy the sheer delight of feeling like a kid again with these cookies. Happy Baking!

 

Namastasty

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

  • Gluten-free and Vegan Pumpkin PieGluten-free and Vegan Pumpkin Pie
  • Spaghetti and Vegan MeatballsSpaghetti and Vegan Meatballs
  • Cinnamon ABC Crackers (gluten-free vegan)Cinnamon ABC Crackers (gluten-free vegan)
  • Fun-Faced Cookie LollipopsFun-Faced Cookie Lollipops

Filed Under: Cookies/Bars, Copycat Treats, Dairy-Free, Desserts, Egg Free, Fresh Out of the Oven, Gluten-Free, Kid-Friendly, Nut Free, Vegan

About Cara

Based in Chicago with her husband and son, Cara is the creator behind the site Fork and Beans: A place where kids can have fun with their food.

Previous Post: « Vegan Boursin from Crave, Eat, Heal Cookbook
Next Post: Sprinkle Cookies »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Caitlin

    May 22, 2015 at 7:25 am

    ugh i love you so much. i can’t remember- did you ever make an allergy free version of dunkaroos? if not, DO IT.

    • Cara

      May 27, 2015 at 5:33 pm

      Currently researching “Dunkaroos”…

  2. Rachel

    May 21, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    Ummmm. What! These look so yummy. Can’t wait to give them a try!

  3. Lauren Vacula @ alovelysideproject.com

    May 18, 2015 at 9:22 am

    You do a dupe like no other, a girl after my own heart. These look fantastic.

    Also, congrats on the Go Gluten-Free story!!! I had the excitement of being included in their Sprign 2015 issue (my GF V Cadbury Cream Egg recipe: http://alovelysideproject.com/healthy-vegan-cadbury-creme-eggs/) and it is an awesome moment! Cannot wait to check out your story.

    xo, Lauren @ http://alovelysideproject.com

    • Cara

      May 20, 2015 at 6:34 am

      Oh fun Lauren, congrats to you as well! I am picking up the magazine now and scoping your article out 🙂

  4. Zoe

    May 17, 2015 at 12:50 pm

    Hi Cara,

    I was just wondering if you are aware that there are dairy ads on your blog. I was just curious if you have any control over the advertising on your site due to the fact that it an allergen free blog and you don’t consume animal products. I have noticed this going on around the internet in general (like junk food ads on fitness blogs etc.) As a vegan looking at a vegan blog I’d just rather not see those ads. What are your thoughts?

    PS. I love your site! You make the cutest treats!

  5. Megan

    May 16, 2015 at 8:34 am

    I, like you, love anything with sprinkles on it 🙂 AND circus animal cookies are like my ultimate favorite kid cookies along with Nilla wafers 🙂
    One question, I bought king David Kosher white chips, but mine say “may contain gluten” so I was too chicken to use them. Do you know something I don’t know?
    Hugs,
    Megan

    • Cara

      May 16, 2015 at 9:13 am

      If you are worried about cross contamination (according to the ingredients, gluten may be in them because of the facility they are manufactured in) I suggest using Polar Dream white chocolate bars, which are actually better anyway. They are thinning in consistency so you might have to double dip the cookies but the flavor is superior and they are gluten free! Hooray 🙂

  6. Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy

    May 15, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    These are super cute Cara! Remind me of when I was younger and they served these cookies everywhere! I’ll have to try them with my kids one of these days =)

  7. Courtney @ Pizzazzerie

    May 15, 2015 at 11:28 am

    Um, hello! These look amazing. I’m a circus animal cookie-holic 🙂 Cute AND delish!

    ★★★★★

    • Cara

      May 15, 2015 at 3:50 pm

      Tell me about it, me too! Which makes the satisfaction of creating these all the better 🙂 xo

  8. wanda

    May 15, 2015 at 8:21 am

    I have been reading all your past posts and have been wanting to make these. Now the question is sandwich or no sandwich…oh what the hay I know I’ll do both.

    • Cara

      May 15, 2015 at 3:50 pm

      I love the way you think Wanda, yes! BOTH is right 😉

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Welcome, I’m Cara! At Fork and Beans you will find creativity at every corner. From snack ideas, to holiday fun–even crafts and activities to do with your kids. If you are a parent (or just love fun food), you’ve come to the right spot! Come check out the latest idea I’ve made for my family and stay awhile, won’t you?

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