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Bear Cookies Recipe

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4.1 from 8 reviews

These adorable Bear Cookies combine rich cocoa flavor with a chewy texture and delightful bear face designs made with melted chocolates. Perfect for a fun baking project and an irresistible treat for kids and adults alike.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 1 minute
  • Yield: 16 servings

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 1 egg
  • red food coloring

Decorations

  • 1 tbsp melted milk or dark chocolate
  • 3 tbsp melted white chocolate
  • oil-based food coloring (pink/red) for tinting white chocolate

Instructions

  1. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
  2. Combine wet ingredients: In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer or whisk), beat the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until combined. Scrape down the bowl sides.
  3. Add flavorings and egg: Mix in vanilla extract, white vinegar, egg, and red food coloring until the mixture is smooth and uniform in color.
  4. Add dry ingredients to wet: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until fully incorporated. Add more red food coloring if a deeper color is desired. Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to hydrate the flour and firm the butter, resulting in chewier cookies and easier handling.
  5. Preheat oven and prepare trays: Heat the oven to 325°F (163°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
  6. Shape cookies: Using a small cookie scoop (about 1 ½ tablespoons), form dough balls and place them 3 inches apart on the prepared trays. Set aside some smaller portions (about 1 teaspoon each) to form the ears by rolling into small balls and placing on top of the head section of each bear cookie.
  7. Bake: Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are set and centers are slightly puffy. Slightly underbaking will produce chewier cookies.
  8. Cool: Allow cookies to cool on the baking tray for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Add bear faces: Use a piping bag, toothpick, or cookie scribe to decorate. Melt white chocolate and tint with oil-based pink or red food coloring to draw snouts, ears, and blush on cheeks. Stir in a teaspoon of neutral oil if chocolate seizes.
  10. Finish decorations: Use melted milk or dark chocolate to pipe on eyes and noses.
  11. Serve and enjoy: Allow the decorated chocolate to set, then enjoy your charming Bear Cookies!

Notes

  • Chilling the dough helps develop chewier cookies and makes the dough easier to handle.
  • Use oil-based food coloring for melting chocolate to prevent seizing; if seizing occurs, add a little neutral oil to smooth it out.
  • Underbaking slightly will give a chewier texture to the cookies.
  • Spacing cookies about 3 inches apart prevents them from spreading into each other.
  • The vinegar reacts with baking soda to help leaven the cookies and tenderize the texture.
  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 11 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://yourdailycook.com/bear-cookies-recipe/