Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. I’m working on a new Western historical set in 1897 (More on that in a future post!) In one of the scenes I was writing I needed to come up with a treat for a two-year-old that could be bought at a general store.
Thinking of my own grandson, his favorite treats are goldfish crackers. Of course those weren’t around in 1897. But my mind made one of those leaps to animal crackers (fish – animals, yeah my mind works in strange ways). So I did a little digging and Eureka! Animal crackers were first produced in the US in 1871. Problem solved.
But while I was digging into this, I uncovered a few interesting tidbits I thought I’d share with you today.
The story of animal crackers begins in England, where biscuits (as the British call cookies) shaped like animals were first produced in the mid 1800s. These early versions were simply called “animals” and quickly became popular as a fun and playful treat. They were particularly popular among children, who loved the idea of munching on little edible zoo animals.
But it wasn’t long before animal crackers made their way across the Atlantic to America. In the late 1800s, American bakeries began producing their own versions of these animal-shaped biscuits. The most notable of these was the Stauffer Biscuit Company, which started making animal crackers in 1871. However, it was the National Biscuit Company—known today as Nabisco—that truly cemented animal crackers’ place in American culture.
In 1902, Nabisco introduced Barnum’s Animals, the iconic brand of animal crackers that we still see on store shelves today. The crackers were named after the famous showman P.T. Barnum and his traveling circus, which was a beloved form of entertainment at the time. The packaging itself was a work of art—a small, rectangular box designed to look like a circus train car, complete with a string for hanging on Christmas trees. This brilliant marketing strategy helped make Barnum’s Animals a holiday favorite, and the brand has been associated with fun and festivity ever since.
Over the years, the cast of animal characters has evolved. Originally, there were 18 different animals, including lions, tigers, bears, elephants, and camels. However, new animals have been introduced, and others have retired to the great zoo in the sky. In 2002, Nabisco even held a contest to let the public vote on a new animal to join the mix, with the koala emerging as the winner. Today, there are 19 different animals in the Barnum’s Animals lineup. They are: Lion, Tiger, Bear, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Hippopotamus, Camel, Kangaroo, Monkey, Rhinoceros, Seal, Gorilla, Sheep, Bison, Leopard, Penguin, Koala and Polar Bear.
One major change occurred in 2018 when, after more than a century, the design of the Barnum’s Animals box was updated. In response to a campaign by animal rights activists, Nabisco redesigned the packaging to show the animals roaming free in their natural habitats, rather than being caged in circus cars. This change was a nod to changing social values, emphasizing animal welfare and conservation.
Animal crackers aren’t just a snack—they’ve become a cultural icon. They’ve appeared in movies, TV shows, and even songs. Who can forget Shirley Temple’s famous rendition of “Animal Crackers in My Soup”? This playful tune helped cement the snack’s place in pop culture, making it a beloved treat for generations. If you’ve never heard it, or just want to hear it again, here’s the LINK.
Beyond their nostalgic appeal, animal crackers have also inspired creative culinary uses. From pie crusts to cheesecake bases, these versatile crackers add a touch of whimsy to any dessert. And let’s not forget the chocolate-dipped versions, which elevate the humble animal cracker into a truly indulgent treat.
Fun Facts and Trivia
The average box of Barnum’s Animals contains 22 crackers. That’s 22 little animals to bring a smile to your face!
In the 1930s, Nabisco considered adding a kangaroo to the mix but ultimately decided against it.
The monkey is often considered the rarest of the animal cracker shapes, as it’s produced less frequently than other animals. (No indication as to why…)
Animal crackers were reportedly one of President Theodore Roosevelt’s favorite snacks. He even served them at the White House!
While animal crackers are a distinctly American treat, they have international versions too! In Japan, they’re called “dobutsu biscuits” and are often paired with educational games about animals.
Nabisco, the most famous producer of animal crackers with their Barnum’s Animals brand, produces approximately 40 million boxes of animal crackers each year. That’s around 4,000 tons of animal crackers!
In 1995, a sculptor named Nancy Rubins created a massive installation called Monument to the Last Horse in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The sculpture used thousands of animal crackers embedded in concrete, making it one of the most unique uses of the snack.
In 2002, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Barnum’s Animals, Nabisco created the world’s largest box of animal crackers. The box measured 8 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, containing a whopping 3,000 pounds of animal crackers. (I wonder what happened to them?)
In 2010, Stauffer’s, another major producer of animal crackers, released a limited-edition “Endangered Species” set of animal crackers to raise awareness about conservation. The crackers featured animals like pandas, gorillas, and polar bears.
On a personal level, I have memories of eating these as a kid myself. And yes, my siblings and I would sometimes play with them rather than eating them, pretending they were animals in a zoo or even in the wild. And I remember giving them to my own children who happily munched on them, pretending they were eating real wild animals.
Do you have any memories of animal crackers, either from your own experiences or of giving them to the children in your life? Share your stories in the comments to be entered in a drawing for one of my books.
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