I Tried 9 Different Animal Cracker Brands and the Winner Was Obvious

Jeanette Donnarumma

Sun, August 24, 2025 at 12:10 PM UTC

6 min read

A taste test of nine different animal cracker brands ranked Barnum’s Animal Crackers as the top choice for its classic flavor and crunch.
Some brands like 365 Organic Honey Cinnamon Whole Grain Animal Cookies and Little Bellies Organic Animal Crackers fell short due to texture and flavor issues.
Factors like texture, flavor, and packaging design were considered in determining the best animal crackers, with Barnum’s emerging as the nostalgic favorite.

There's something about animal crackers that just sticks with you. The texture, flavor and parade of recognizable—and not-so-recognizable—creatures is instantly transporting. I clearly remember the way I'd nibble the head off a lion or elephant with no remorse, while digging deeper into the box as my mom pushed me around the grocery store as a kid. For many of us, animal crackers aren't just a snack; they're a core memory.

I hadn't thought much about these treats until my son became a toddler and my daughter started reaching for my snacks. Then it hit me just how much the category has evolved—and exploded. That little circus box? It doesn't even have a string anymore! Now, there are organic options, whole grain spins, honey-cinnamon twists and those frosted pink-and-white throwbacks we all remember. Some lean more toward cookies, while others have full-on cracker vibes. And some are just…bland.

This snack menagerie inspired a little project: Find the best animal crackersat the grocery store. Naturally, my kids were thrilled to be part of this one. Getting their help made it even more fun. They pointed out animals, ranked the shapes and happily grabbed second (and third) helpings. It turned mommy's job into a memorable snack time.

What did we discover in this jungle of cookies? Some were deeply disappointing, while others were surprisingly great. And a few were so nostalgic, you could practically feel your feet swinging through the cart like you were four years old again.

Related: 15 Popular Crackers, Ranked Worst to Best

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How I Chose These Animal Crackers

I focused on nationally available animal crackers and cookies that come in the classic zoo shape. Some are labeled "crackers," others "cookies," and they range from supermarket staples to organic toddler snacks to the kind of nostalgic treats that spark instant joy. Every product was available either at major grocery retailers (like Target, Aldi or Whole Foods) or online for nationwide shipping.

After some debate, I decided to leave graham-flavored crackers off this list. There are many graham cookies shaped like animals, but they weren't quite animal crackers.

How I Tested These Animal Crackers

I tried each animal cracker brand as is, out of the package. I judged them on texture (crispness, crunch-factor), flavor (sweetness, vanilla/honey/cinnamon notes, artificial aftertaste) and overall eatability (are these snackable by the handful, or are they a chore to get through?). I also considered packaging and design because, let's be honest, the cookies that actually look like animals get a bonus point.

I also had my two kiddos taste through all of the options, although a bit less methodically than I did, and offer their opinions. (And I took note which ones they went back to.) After considering all of those thoughts, feelings and opinions, I had my final list.

9 Animal Cracker Brands, Ranked Worst to Best

9. 365 Organic Honey Cinnamon Whole Grain Animal Cookies

These tasted like a granola bar disguised as an animal cracker. The whole grain base gave them a sandy texture, and the cinnamon was too powerful to save the flavor. They're fine if you're serving them with apple slices and peanut butter, or grinding them to make a pie crust, but they're not winning any snack awards solo. Also, no cookie in the bag was recognizable as an animal.

8. Little Bellies Organic Animal Crackers

These snacks were too soft, bland and clearly made for toddlers. While they're probably great for babies just learning to chew, the texture is oddly chewy and the flavor is nearly nonexistent. When it comes to animal crackers, no crunch is no fun.

7. Stauffer's Animal Crackers Original

This mega-sized bag is a school snack time throwback, but the flavor hasn't evolved. I can confirm that they still have that cardboardy dryness you remember from childhood. They come in classic animal shapes and the flavor isn't bad, but it's not exciting. These are fine in a pinch or dipped in something yummy, but on their own they're very bland.

This Target store brand option was lightly sweet and had a decent crunch, but the flavor was flat and a little floury. These felt like they were trying to copy Barnum's, but without the same nostalgic charm or balance of vanilla and honey.

5. Stauffer's Iced Animal Cookies

These are a sugar rush. The icing is pure nostalgia, the crunch is satisfying and while they're not for every day, they're a great treat from time to time. My crew and I prefer a slightly less sweet animal cracker, so these landed in the middle of the pack.

4. Mother's The Original Circus Animal Cookies

These frosted cookies are for maximalist snackers. They've got bright pink and white frosting, sprinkles and are crunchy outside and softer inside. They're tasty, but veer a little too sweet. They also lost some points because the melting frosting got everywhere my kids touched after trying these.

3. Trader Joe's Organic Animal Crackers

These are sturdier than most animal crackers, almost too much so. The flavor leans toward vanilla wafer, and they're not overly sweet. My kids love them, but the chunky size and firm crunch might not be everyone's favorite. They have a great animal shape/structure and I swear I taste a twinge of citrus in them.

2. Benton's Animal Crackers

This Aldi option tastes shockingly close to Barnum's at a fraction of the price. They're lightly sweet, crisp and snackable by the handful. They're not fancy, but they're reliable. They're perfect for bringing to the playground to share with friends.

1. Barnum's Animal Crackers

I can't say I'm shocked that this absolute legend landed in the top spot. These cookies taste exactly the same as the lunchbox treats of yesteryear. I sadly couldn't find a handled box (they've since ditched the string), but no one is complaining that we have a big zip-top bag of these in the pantry for a sweet bite anytime we want. They're sweet, light and just the right amount of crunchy. Classic and iconic and still a winner all these years later.

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This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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