Animal Crackers

I saw these animal crackers cookie cutters on Amazon and had to buy them because they were so darn cute.  They reminded me so much of one of my childhood favorite cookies, Barnum's Animals Crackers, that come packaged in the little red box.  

Plunger style cookie cutters are perfect for intricate designs like these animals have.  The best cookie recipe I've used that really holds the detailed design of the cookie cutter is Rodda's clotted cream shortbread.  I've had success every time I've used it so I knew it was the perfect recipe for these animals.  Lucky for me I still had some of the clotted cream I brought back from London.

Aren't they the most adorable cookies?  The shortbread is crispy and not too sweet, just the way I like them.  If you're hosting an animal themed baby shower or kid's birthday party they would be a very fitting dessert to serve.

Animal Crackers

100g unsalted butter, room temperature

100g Rodda's Cornish clotted cream

100g granulated sugar

300g all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350F.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter, clotted cream and sugar with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy.  Add the flour and mix until thoroughly combined.

Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.  Dip a plunger cookie cutter in flour and then cut out cookies from the dough.  Knead the scraps and re-roll and cut. 

Place the cutouts on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake for about 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown.