Recipe: Homemade Animal Crackers

HOMEMADE ANIMAL CRACKERS

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons heavy (whipping) cream
1 tablespoon vanilla
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

Beat butter with electric mixer until it whitens and is creamy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in sugar until well blended.

In small bowl, whisk together eggs, cream and vanilla. Beat into butter mixture, scraping sides of bowl as necessary.

Sift together flour and baking powder. Beat into butter mixture until blended.

Divide dough into thirds. Wrap each in plastic wrap and flatten into disks with heel of hand. Chill 2 hours or overnight.

WHEN READY TO BAKE:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

On lightly floured surface, roll each disk of dough to 1/8 -inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters or use knife to trace around templates made of cardboard. Place cookies on parchment paper-lined or nonstick baking sheets. Chill cookies briefly if dough seems soft. Chill dough scraps, reroll and cut into shapes.

Bake cookies at 325 degrees F until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Makes 5 dozen (3-inch) cookies
Adapted from source: Desserts by Nancy Silverton