Quick Answer
Many popular brands of animal crackers are gluten-free, including Annie’s Homegrown, Arrowhead Mills, Enjoy Life, Glutino, Ian’s Natural Foods, Mi-Del, and EnviroKidz. Generally speaking, look for animal crackers that are certified gluten-free or made in a dedicated gluten-free facility.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten triggers an autoimmune response that damages the small intestine. This can lead to symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, fatigue, headaches, and more.
The only treatment for celiac disease is following a strict lifelong gluten-free diet. Gluten must be avoided to prevent further damage to the small intestine and improve health. Even tiny amounts of gluten from cross-contamination can be problematic.
Why Check if Animal Crackers are Gluten-Free?
Given the necessity of a gluten-free diet for managing celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, it’s important to check whether snack foods that are often marketed to kids – like animal crackers – are gluten-free.
Some brands of animal crackers contain gluten, especially those made with wheat flour. So you can’t assume animal crackers are gluten-free without verifying.
Fortunately, there are lots of gluten-free options available, from small niche brands to larger mainstream companies. With so many tasty gluten-free animal crackers on the market, kids and adults alike don’t have to miss out on enjoying this classic snack.
What Makes Animal Crackers Gluten-Free?
For animal crackers to be gluten-free, they must be made without any ingredients that contain gluten. This means no wheat, barley, rye, or derivatives of these grains, like malt extract and dextrin.
Instead of using wheat flour, gluten-free animal crackers are typically made with a combination of gluten-free flours, such as:
- Rice flour
- Potato starch
- Tapioca flour
- Sorghum flour
- Quinoa flour
- Corn flour
- Buckwheat flour
- Coconut flour
- Almond flour
Binding agents like xanthan gum or guar gum may be added to help hold the crackers together and mimic the properties of gluten.
Gluten-free animal crackers also need to be made in a facility that avoids cross-contamination with gluten-containing ingredients. Some brands manufacture their gluten-free foods in dedicated gluten-free facilities which follow strict protocols to keep products gluten-free.
How to Check if Animal Crackers are Gluten-Free
To check if a brand of animal crackers is gluten-free, look for one or more of these indicators:
- A gluten-free certification label, like from the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO)
- “Gluten-Free” clearly stated on the packaging
- The ingredients list does not contain any gluten sources (wheat, barley, rye, malt, etc.)
- The company website or customer service confirms the product is gluten-free
- Made in a dedicated gluten-free facility
If you’re unsure or have questions, don’t hesitate to contact the manufacturer directly to ask about their gluten-free status and manufacturing processes. Many companies have helpful customer service teams ready to verify their products’ gluten-free compliance.
12 Brands of Gluten-Free Animal Crackers
Here are 12 options for delicious gluten-free animal crackers you can feel good about enjoying:
1. Annie’s Homegrown
– Gluten-free and made in a dedicated gluten-free facility
– Fun bunny, elephant, and hippo shapes
– Baked with gluten-free ingredients like rice flour and expeller pressed oils
2. Arrowhead Mills
– Certified gluten-free
– Simple recipe with a lightly sweetened graham flavor
– Made with gluten-free flours like brown rice flour and potato starch
3. Enjoy Life
– Certified gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, dairy-free, and Non-GMO Project Verified
– Free of the top 14 common allergens
– Whimsical animal shapes like pandas, elephants, tigers
4. EnviroKidz
– Certified gluten-free
– Organic and made with non-GMO ingredients
– Fun zoo animal shapes like lions, zebras, giraffes
5. Glutino
– Certified gluten-free
– Includes classics like bears, lions, and tigers
– Light vanilla flavor from real vanilla extract
6. Ian’s Natural Foods
– Certified gluten-free and peanut/tree nut-free facility
– Made with brown rice flour and sweetened with molasses
– Variety of animals like pandas, dolphins, and bison
7. Mi-Del
– Certified gluten-free
– Simple ingredients including brown rice flour and evaporated cane juice
– Animal shapes like elephants, tigers, and bears
8. Pamela’s Products
– Certified gluten-free and non-GMO
– Baked with gluten-free oats and no artificial colors/flavors
– Adorable zoo animal shapes kids love
9. Schar
– Certified gluten-free
– Made in a dedicated gluten-free facility
– Classic vanilla flavor
10. Snack Factory
– Certified gluten-free
– Comes in different flavors like cinnamon and honey
– Fun shapes like dinosaurs, sea creatures, jungle animals
11. Three Bears Porridge
– Certified gluten-free and vegan
– Sweetened only with fruit juice – no refined sugars
– Variety of woodland animal shapes
12. Toufayan
– Certified gluten-free
– Baked with non-GMO ingredients
– Adorable rainbow bear shapes
Are Aldi Animal Crackers Gluten-Free?
Some varieties of Aldi’s animal crackers are labeled gluten-free, while others are not.
Specifically, the following Aldi animal cracker products are certified gluten-free:
– Simply Nature Organic Animal Cookies (with fun animal shapes)
– LiveGFree Vanilla Cookies (classic round style)
Other Aldi animal cracker products, like the Sundae Shoppe and Belmont cookies, do contain gluten. So always check the label carefully when purchasing animal crackers from Aldi.
Are Costco Animal Crackers Gluten-Free?
No, Costco’s signature Kirkland Signature Animal Crackers are not gluten-free. The ingredients list contains wheat flour.
However, Costco does carry some other brands of gluten-free animal crackers, which can vary by location. These include:
– Annie’s Homegrown Bunny Graham Crackers
– EnviroKidz Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Animal Cookies
– Enjoy Life Crunchy Baked Animal Cookie Minis
Check your local Costco warehouse for availability of these gluten-free options. You can also ask them to consider carrying additional gluten-free animal cracker choices.
Are Trader Joe’s Animal Crackers Gluten-Free?
No, Trader Joe’s Mini Animal Crackers contain wheat and barley malt and are not gluten-free.
However, Trader Joe’s does offer certified gluten-free Animal Crackers (Crackers Shaped Like Animals) that come in a rectangular purple box and are made with brown rice flour.
So if you want gluten-free animal crackers from Trader Joe’s, be sure to look for the dedicated gluten-free ones in the purple packaging rather than the mini animal crackers.
What About Homemade Gluten-Free Animal Crackers?
Making homemade gluten-free animal crackers is absolutely an option! There are many gluten-free animal cracker recipes available online using ingredients like:
– Gluten-free oat flour
– Gluten-free all-purpose baking flour
– Rice flour
– Tapioca starch
– Xanthan gum
– Butter or oil
– Vanilla
– Cinnamon
– Sugar
– Egg replacer like flax eggs
You can make basic animal cracker shapes using cookie cutters or get more creative and shape them by hand. Bake them until slightly crisp. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Homemade allows you to control the ingredients and avoid additives or preservatives. Just be sure to thoroughly clean cooking tools and surfaces first to prevent cross-contamination.
Gluten-Free vs Gluten-Removed Animal Crackers
Some animal cracker brands are marketed as “gluten-removed” or “low gluten.” This means they have been processed in some way to reduce gluten content, but likely still contain trace amounts:
– Gluten-removed: Starts with wheat, then processes it to remove most gluten
– Low gluten: Made by hybridizing wheat to very low gluten levels
But for people with celiac disease, “very low gluten” levels still present a problem. Even tiny amounts of gluten can trigger symptoms and intestinal damage.
So for a truly gluten-free option, look for animal crackers that are naturally gluten-free from the start, not just processed to reduce gluten. Gluten-free is the only label those with celiac disease can safely consume.
Are Animal Crackers Healthy?
While animal crackers can be a fun, kid-friendly snack, most varieties wouldn’t be considered a “health food.” Here are some things to keep in mind in terms of nutrition:
Sugar content – Many brands of animal crackers are high in sugar, with around 5-7g per serving. Some “healthier” versions aim to reduce the amount of added sugars.
Refined grains – Typical wheat-based animal crackers are made with refined flour, lacking the fiber and nutrients of whole grains. Gluten-free versions tend to substitute refined GF flours too.
Low protein – A 1 oz serving of animal crackers supplies only about 1-2g protein. While crackers aren’t a top protein source, some brands add enriched wheat protein for a boost.
Lack of nutrients – Animal crackers are low in essential vitamins and minerals, as crackers are more of a “fun” snack than a nutrition powerhouse.
However, there are some ways to boost the nutrition of animal crackers:
– Choose whole grain varieties whenever possible
– Pair with protein-rich foods like peanut butter or low-fat dairy
– Serve your own homemade version with added nutrients
– Opt for brands with fewer, simpler ingredients
– Practice portion control and enjoy as part of an overall balanced diet
In moderation, animal crackers can still be a playful part of a healthy diet, especially if you focus on more nutrient-dense choices. Just be mindful of portions and ingredients.
Are Animal Crackers Safe for Babies and Toddlers?
Here are some guidelines around feeding animal crackers to babies and toddlers:
– 6 months to 1 year: Not recommended, as choking risk is high for this age range. Animal cracker shards and small pieces could become a choking hazard before baby has molars to grind food.
– 1 to 2 years: Okay in limited amounts, if the child is able to chew well and animal crackers are given as a finger food under close supervision. Avoid hard, teething styles.
– Over 2 years: Animal crackers are safe for most toddlers, since molars help them chew more effectively and they likely understand not to swallow big pieces whole. Dental development should be considered.
To make animal crackers safer and more digestible for little ones:
– Soak in milk first to soften
– Serve with yogurt for easier swallowing
– Monitor closely and watch for choking
– Pick a shape and size less prone to breaking into small pieces
– Serve only the amount they can handle based on chewing and development
Overall, animal crackers require careful consideration as a high-risk choking food. Breaking them into smaller pieces and close supervision creates a safer experience for babies transitioning to finger foods.
Popular Gluten-Free Animal Cracker Recipes
If you want to whip up your own gluten-free animal crackers at home, here are 5 highly rated recipes to try out:
1. Gluten-Free Graham Cracker Animal Cookies
This recipe from Oh She Glows uses flours like oat, rice, and tapioca plus coconut oil, vanilla, and cinnamon for classic graham cracker flavor. The mixture gets chilled, rolled, cut into fun animal shapes, and baked.
2. Easy Gluten-Free Animal Crackers
Foodie Crush’s simple recipe leverages just 4 main gluten-free ingredients – rice flour, potato starch, butter, and xanthan gum. After chilling the dough, use cookie cutters or free-hand shapes before baking.
3. Healthy Gluten-Free Animal Crackers
These healthier animal crackers from The Big Man’s World swap in almond and coconut flour for a protein and fiber boost. They are sweetened with coconut sugar and made with just 6 basic ingredients.
4. Gluten-Free Animal Crackers Two Ways
Check out this recipe from Gluten Free on a Shoestring, which makes both a savory (rosemary) version and sweet (cinnamon) version of gluten-free animal crackers.
5. Gluten-Free Vegan Animal Crackers
This recipe from Vegan Huggs is egg, dairy, and gluten-free, using chickpea flour, non-dairy milk, coconut oil, and coconut sugar. The site provides tips for vegan substitutions.
Conclusion
When you need a gluten-free snack that brings back childhood nostalgia, look no further than gluten-free animal crackers. Thankfully, there are lots of store-bought and homemade options that let gluten-free kids and adults alike enjoy this classic cookie. Just double check the label or ingredients list and look for that trusted “gluten-free” confirmation before serving. With so many diverse brands and recipes to pick from, you can feel confident treating yourself or your family to these iconic gluten-free snacks.
