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EAT | Animal Crackers

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I have a serious question for you: What the hell happened to animal crackers? They were the BEST thing EVER! Sweet little, chocolate covered, cookies in the shape of your favourite circus animals; you know the ones. Where did they go? Do they still exist in other parts of the world? Guys, you gotta tell me if they do! But don’t even try to pass off the non-chocolate covered versions, because you know those do not count!

Any ways, a few weeks ago I finally found some awesome animal cookie cutters and ever since I’ve been keeping our kitchen well stocked with chocolate covered beasts. My childhood self must be so damn proud of me! (My adult self is less impressed with the impact these tiny zoo animals are undoubtedly going to have on my waistline…)

EDIT: I found these cookie cutters on ebay!

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INGREDIENTS:1 Cup of butter
1 Cup of white sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 egg
2 teaspoons of baking powder
3 cups of all purpose flour
1 packet of chocolate melts
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius.2. Place the butter (softened) and sugar into a large mixing bowl and cream together using an electric mixer until smooth.3. Add the vanilla and egg and beat again to combine.4. Combine the flour and baking powder together and add to the butter mixture in small amounts, mixing in between each addition. When the dough becomes too thick to mix with the electric mixer, turn out onto a floured surface and knead with your hands.5. Place in the fridge for 15-20 minutes or until the dough is firm.6. Divide in half and roll the dough onto the floured surface, to about 1/4 of an inch thickness.7. Using the animal cookie cutters, cut as many cookies as you can, transferring to a baking tray lined with baking paper. Roll any left over dough into a ball and repeat steps 6 and 7 until the dough has all been used.

8. Bake for 6 - 8 minutes or until the cookies are just golden. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. (Set the paper lined tray aside to use again in the next step.)

9. Once the cookies have cooled completely, take half a cup of chocolate melts and place them in a shallow dish in the microwave for around 30 seconds, or until the chocolate is mostly melted. (Stir to ensure it all melts together). Place each cookie, face up, into the chocolate, ensuring the whole back of the cookie is covered. Transfer to the paper lined tray and put directly into the freezer to set.

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