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A close up of a sugar cookie with a pink Circus Animal Cookie in the middle

Circus Animal Sugar Cookies

  • Author: Julianne Dell
  • Prep Time: 75 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Yield: 20-22 Cookies

Description

These Circus Animal Stuffed Cookies are soft and chewy and filled with frosted Circus Animal Cookies and sprinkles. Finish them off with a drizzle of white chocolate and more sprinkles on top.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1½ cups (285g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) pure vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups (420g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped Circus Animal Cookies,
  • ¼ cup nonpareil sprinkles (plus additional for garnish)
  • 2 ounces white chocolate (candy dipping chocolate preferred)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a large cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. To soften the butter quickly, microwave for 10-15 seconds, otherwise let it come to room temperature.
  2. Combine the butter with the sugar and beat on medium speed until well creamed together.
  3. Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix into the butter and sugar until the eggs are well beaten.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients. Slowly add into the batter and beat on medium-low speed until most of the flour is incorporated, then add the Circus Animal Cookies and sprinkles and mix to combine. Increase the speed on the mixer and beat until the dough comes together.
  5. Use a large cookie scoop to portion the dough. Place on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
  6. Bake at 350° F 10-12 minutes. Allow cookie to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely
  7. To Add a Chocolate Drizzle: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate wafers at 50% power in 30-second intervals; stir after each interval and continue until the chocolate is melted. Fill a small piping bag or Ziploc bag with melted chocolate and cut off the tip/corner of the bag. Drizzle over the cookies, add a pinch of sprinkles, and allow to set.

Notes

  • The easiest way to add the drizzled chocolate is to get chocolate wafers such as Ghirardelli or CandiQuik because it melts nice and smooth and it sets (hardens) pretty quickly.
  • If you want to top with Circus Animal Cookies, press them into the top of the cookies right when they come out of the oven. The chocolate coating might melt a little bit but as the cookie sets, the coating will also reset
  • For a puffer cookie that doesn’t spread as much, use the recommended 3.5 cups (240g) flour. If you want a flatter cookie with more spread, try only 3 cups of flour (360g). If you are not using a food scale, be sure to spoon and level the flour to prevent overmixing. 
  • See the blog post for advice on freezing cookie dough and baked cookies.
Nutrition Information:
1 Cookie
307
23.6 g
96.6 mg
14.7 g
43.2 g
0.7 g
3.5 g
43.7 mg
  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American