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Frosted Circus Animal Sugar Cookies

These Copycat Crumbl Frosted Animal Cookie Cookies are thick, soft sugar cookies loaded with crushed frosted circus animal cookies and colorful nonpareils. Topped with a creamy pink frosting and sprinkles, they taste just like the bakery version—if not better! Perfect for parties, celebrations, or just a fun nostalgic treat, these cookies are easy to make and absolutely irresistible.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: cookies
Servings: 12 cookies
Author: Emily - My Messy Kitchen

Ingredients

For the cookies:

  • 1 cup salted butter room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 2 tbsp milk room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract optional
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp corn starch
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup crushed Circus Animal Cookies I use the Mother's brand
  • ¼ cup nonpareils

For the icing:

  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2-4 tbsp heavy cream or milk room temperature
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

For the cookies:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and granulated sugar for 3-5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add in the vanilla, almond extract, eggs and milk. Mix on low until just incorporated.
  • While the mixer is on low, slowly add in the flour, corn starch, baking powder and salt and mix until everything is just incorporated. Do not over mix. Add in the crushed animal cookies and nonpareils and mix until just combined.
  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and use a large cookie scoop (about 3 tablespoons of dough per cookie) to make dough balls. Space 2-3 inches apart. Use a round glass and press the bottom onto the cookie dough to flatten. Bake for 10-11 minutes or until the edges are just set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the pan for 3 minutes before transferring to a cookie rack to cool completely.

For the icing:

  • Once the cookies have completely cooled, make the icing. In a medium sized bowl mix together the powdered sugar, 2 tbsp of heavy cream and vanilla. If you want the icing to be thinner, add 1 additional tbsp of heavy cream or milk until you reach the consistency you like. I prefer mine to spread but not be too thin that if runs over the edges.
  • Sprinkle nonpareils around the outside of the icing and place 1 circus animal cookie in the center. The icing will set up in 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!