More interesting facts

_Elsa_

‘THE APPEARANCE OF THE ANIMALS HAS CHANGED OVER TIME - Until 1958, animal shapes were stamped from a dough sheet by cookie cutters, which produced outlines that were rudimentary at best. After rotary dies were installed, the cookies became much more distinct, with engraved designs that revealed a surprising amount of detail. The rotary dies are still used today.’ (Source)

‘They’re A Cookie-Cracker Hybrid - Like graham crackers, animal crackers are made with a cracker-style layered and docked dough, but they’re sweet like cookies.

37 Different Animals Have Been Represented Over the Years - today you might find a bear, bison, camel, cougar, elephant, giraffe, gorilla, hippo, hyena, kangaroo, lion, monkey, rhino, seal, sheep, tiger, or zebra in your Barnum’s box. The koala was briefly added into the mix in 2002, to celebrate the snack’s 100-year anniversary. It beat out a penguin, walrus, and cobra in a vote.

They Got a New Look in 1958 - Before 1958, all animal crackers were stamped with a simple cookie cutter and didn’t have any other details. Today, details including arms, legs, and facial features can be engraved onto each cookie thanks to rotary dies.’ (Source)

‘What is the difference between an animal cracker and an animal cookie?

The answer: Although animal crackers (pictured to the left) are made with a layered dough like crackers, they are sweet like cookies. Animal crackers are typically formed using what's referred to as a wire-cut die. 

Animal Cookies (pictured on the right), on the other hand, are formed using a rotary die. As you can see from the picture to the right, the level of detail on an animal cookie typically far exceeds that of an animal cracker. The reason for that is a wire-cutter only is able to form the outside edges for the shape of the animal, but there is no aspect of the wire-cut manufacturing process that can form details to the top of the cookie, such as eyes, ears, and shapes for limbs, as seen to the right and as formed using the rotary die manufacturing process.’ (Source)

Let’s continue - IT'S BEEN 85 YEARS SINCE ANIMALS WENT CRACKERS

Start at the beginning – What are animal crackers?