So what’s the answer… are animal crackers actually crackers, or cookies; and what’s the actual difference between a cracker and a cookie?
This manufacturer’s site refers to them as “animal-shaped cookies”:
http://www.nabiscoworld.com/barnums/ba_history.htm
Turns out Barnum’s Animals aren’t the only animal crackers you can buy. The Stauffer’s brand, for example, is available at such outlets as Wal-Mart, Kmart, and CVS drug stores. According to
http://www.stauffers.net/Service/qa.htm
“A cookie’s dough is higher in shortening and sugar; and contains less flour. The cracker’s dough is flour, some shortening and sugar, and some flavors and dough conditioners.”
Animal crackers in my soup…