Cookies, animal crackers (includes arrowroot, tea biscuits)
Whole food · Baked Products
Photo: Wikipedia
Animal crackers are a classic, lightly sweetened biscuit, often shaped like zoo or circus animals, with a pale golden color and a signature crisp, crumbly texture that softens slightly with a sip of milk. Nutritionally, they are a dense source of quick energy, being almost entirely composed of refined carbohydrates with a modest amount of sugar and very little fat or protein.
💚 Why it's loved
People love animal crackers for their nostalgic, mildly sweet vanilla flavor and the fun, interactive experience of identifying the animal shapes, making them a beloved childhood staple. Their dry, crisp texture is perfectly designed for dipping in milk or coffee.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
They are a high-glycemic food made from refined flour and added sugar, which can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes, especially for those with insulin sensitivity or diabetes. To counteract this, pair them with a source of protein or fat like a handful of nuts, a slice of cheese, or a smear of peanut butter to slow digestion and stabilize energy levels.
Key benefits
- Provides a quick source of energy from carbohydrates.
- Low in fat compared to many other sweet snacks.
- A simple, shelf-stable, and portable snack.
- Often fortified with small amounts of iron and B vitamins.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The first animal crackers in the U.S. were imported from England in the late 1800s, but the iconic circus-themed box with the string handle was introduced by Nabisco in 1902 to make them easy for children to carry.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 3.9 g |
| Energy | 446 kcal |
| Energy | 1866 kj |
| Protein | 6.9 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 13.8 g |
| Ash | 1.3 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 74.1 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.1 g |
| Total Sugars | 23.3 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 43.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 2.8 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 18.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 114 mg |
| Potassium, K | 100 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 335 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.64 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.16 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.42 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 7.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.35 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.33 mg |
| Niacin | 3.5 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.38 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.02 mg |
| Folate, total | 103 ug |
| Folic acid | 89.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 14.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 165 ug |
| Choline, total | 12.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.05 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 2.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.12 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 5.9 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 3.5 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 1.8 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.6 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 7.7 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 7.7 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.9 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.8 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.10 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.10 g |
| Threonine | 0.19 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.26 g |
| Leucine | 0.47 g |
| Lysine | 0.24 g |
| Methionine | 0.12 g |
| Cystine | 0.15 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.32 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.20 g |
| Valine | 0.30 g |
| Arginine | 0.26 g |
| Histidine | 0.14 g |
| Alanine | 0.21 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.29 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.3 g |
| Glycine | 0.23 g |
| Proline | 0.76 g |
| Serine | 0.36 g |
FAQ
Are animal crackers the same as cookies?
They are a type of cookie or biscuit, but are typically less sweet, lower in fat, and have a drier, crisper texture than most other cookies, making them ideal for dunking.
Why do they have a hole on top of the box?
The string handle and hole were designed for the original circus-themed boxes, allowing children to easily carry them like a little lunch pail.
Are they considered a healthy snack?
They are best viewed as an occasional treat. While low in fat, they are high in refined carbs and added sugar with minimal fiber or protein, so they lack significant nutritional density.