Introduction & Inspiration

This recipe for Levain Bakery-Style Circus Animal Sprinkle Cookies is an attempt to recreate the magic of Levain Bakery’s famously large, gooey, and decadent cookies, with a fun and colorful twist. I’ve always been fascinated by Levain Bakery’s cookies – their sheer size, their perfectly imperfect texture, and their intensely flavorful combinations.

The inspiration came from a desire to create a cookie that was both impressive and incredibly delicious, something that would be a showstopper at any gathering. I wanted a cookie that was packed with flavor and texture, with a soft, gooey center and a slightly crisp exterior.

The addition of frosted circus animal cookies and rainbow jimmies sprinkles adds a playful and colorful element that makes these cookies even more irresistible. It’s a celebration of all things sweet and fun.

I’m excited to share this recipe because these cookies are truly a special treat. They’re a bit more involved than your average cookie recipe, but the results are absolutely worth the effort. They’re guaranteed to impress!

Nostalgic Appeal

Levain Bakery cookies, while a relatively recent phenomenon, have quickly gained a cult following and a sense of “bakery nostalgia” for those who have experienced them. They represent the ultimate indulgence in cookie form.

The addition of frosted circus animal cookies taps into a more classic childhood nostalgia. These colorful, animal-shaped cookies are a beloved treat that many of us remember fondly from our younger years.

The combination of these two elements – the modern, over-the-top Levain style and the classic, playful circus animal cookies – creates a unique and appealing sense of nostalgia. It’s a cookie that’s both familiar and exciting.

And that’s the beauty of these cookies – they combine the best of both worlds, offering a sophisticated, bakery-style treat with a fun, nostalgic twist.

Homemade Focus

I am a passionate. These are impressive cookies. It take some time.

Flavor Goal

The texture is also key: a soft, gooey center with a slightly crisp exterior.

Ingredient Insights

Cold butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, cake flour, all-purpose flour, frosted circus animal cookies, white chocolate chips, rainbow jimmies sprinkles.

Essential Equipment

Stand mixer, digital cooking scale, baking sheet, parchment paper.

List of Ingredients with Measurements

1 cup COLD unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1 ½ cups granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 ½ cups cake flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups frosted circus animal cookies, roughly chopped
2 cups white chocolate chips
1 cup rainbow jimmies sprinkles

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the cubed cold butter and the granulated sugar with the paddle attachment on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase the speed to medium and continue mixing for 30 seconds. Lastly, increase the speed to high and mix for another 30 seconds until butter mixture is fluffy and light.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla, until mixture is combined.
Combine Dry Ingredients: Add in the cornstarch, baking soda, salt, cake flour, and all-purpose flour, mixing until incorporated.
Add in mix-in
Chill Dough: Refrigerate the dough to chill for 20 minutes.
Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 400° degrees F. Line 1 baking sheet with parchment paper.
Weigh and Shape Dough: Using a digital cooking scale, weigh out 6 ounces of dough and form it into a loosely packed, rough textured ball – I like to form my cookie dough balls kind of on the taller side.
Bake
Cool

Troubleshooting

*Cookies spreading too much. *Cookies too dry.

Tips and Variations

*Different cookies. *Different chips. *Add nuts.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

Best enjoyed warm!

Nutritional Information

Indulgent treat.

Levain Bakery-Style Circus Animal Sprinkle Cookies

This recipe for Levain Bakery-Style Circus Animal Sprinkle Cookies is an attempt to recreate the magic of Levain Bakery’s famously large, gooey, and decadent cookies, with a fun and colorful twist

Author: Alyssa

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup COLD unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1 ½ cups granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 ½ cups cake flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups frosted circus animal cookies, roughly chopped
2 cups white chocolate chips
1 cup rainbow jimmies sprinkles

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the cubed cold butter and the granulated sugar with the paddle attachment on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase the speed to medium and continue mixing for 30 seconds. Lastly, increase the speed to high and mix for another 30 seconds until butter mixture is fluffy and light.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla, until mixture is combined.
Combine Dry Ingredients: Add in the cornstarch, baking soda, salt, cake flour, and all-purpose flour, mixing until incorporated.
Add in mix-in
Chill Dough: Refrigerate the dough to chill for 20 minutes.
Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 400° degrees F. Line 1 baking sheet with parchment paper.
Weigh and Shape Dough: Using a digital cooking scale, weigh out 6 ounces of dough and form it into a loosely packed, rough textured ball – I like to form my cookie dough balls kind of on the taller side.
Bake
Cool

Recipe Summary and Q&A

They are large, rich and amazing.

Q: Can I make these cookies smaller? A: Yes, but adjust baking time.

Q: Can I use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour? A: It is recommended to used both.

Q: Can I freeze the dough? A: Yes.