These polar bear paw print cookies are an adorable, fun, and delicious treat that are both kid and adult approved. Dark chocolate cookies are topped with vanilla frosting, shredded coconut, peppermint patties, and M&Ms to make some cute bear paws. These charming cookies are sure to be a hit on any occasion!
I love holiday baking and making Christmas cookies is the best part! These polar bear paw print cookies are one of my favorites because they are downright adorable and they taste even better.
To start, you make a soft and chewy chocolate cookie base. Top it off with some shredded coconut to make the polar bear fur with a peppermint patty paw pad and M&M toes! Yum!
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December is just around the corner! If you enjoy holiday baking, try counting down to Christmas with my 25 days of Christmas cookies!
🥘 Ingredients
I usually have to make a quick candy run for the polar bear embellishments. You may already have the remaining ingredients if you bake from time to time.
- Butter - ¾ cup of butter softened at room temperature.
- Sugar - ½ cup of granulated sugar.
- Light Brown Sugar - ½ cup of packed light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar will work but will give the cookies more of a molasses flavor.
- Egg - 1 large egg at room temperature.
- Vanilla Extract - 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract. For the best flavor, pure vanilla extract is ideal.
- Baking Soda - 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
- Salt - ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- All-Purpose Flour - 1¾ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled).
- Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder - ½ cup dark chocolate cocoa powder, sifted.
- Peppermint Patties - 24 Peppermint Patties (1 per cookie).
- M&Ms - 96 brown M&M candies (4 per cookie).
- Vanilla frosting - 1 16-ounce container of vanilla frosting or 16 ounces of homemade vanilla frosting.
- Shredded Coconut - 14 ounces of shredded coconut.
Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!
🔪 How To Make Polar Bear Paw Print Cookies
These cookies may look complex, but they really aren't. Grab a baking sheet, a stand mixer or mixing bowl, and your measuring utensils to get started.
1 batch will make 2 dozen cookies. You can give a dozen away and keep a dozen for yourself!
Make the Cookies
Step 1: Preheat. To make the chocolate cookies, start off by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cookie sheet with some parchment paper.
Step 2: Cream butter and sugar. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, cream together ¾ cup of room temperature butter, ½ a cup of granulated white sugar, and ½ a cup of light brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and everything is combined.
Step 3: Mix. Next, mix in 1 large room-temperature egg, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and salt until smooth. Then, slowly incorporate 1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour and ½ a cup of sifted cocoa powder until you have soft cookie dough.
Step 4: Roll into balls. Scoop some cookie dough and roll it between your hands, forming a smooth ball. Place the ball onto your prepared baking sheet and use the bottom of a cup to press them down gently. Once pressed, you want your cookies to be about 3-inches across. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
Step 5: Bake. Place the cookies on the center oven rack and bake them at 350°F (175°C) for 7-9 minutes, or until they are no longer shiny and have puffed up.
Step 6: Cool. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely.
Assemble the Polar Bear Paw Prints
Step 7: Frost. Once your cookies are completely cool, use a knife to generously spread 16 ounces of vanilla frosting evenly over the top of each cookie (this does not have to be perfect as the coconut will cover it up). *If you prefer homemade frosting try my vanilla frosting recipe.
Step 8: Add 'fur'. Pour 14 ounces of shredded coconut onto a plate or shallow dish and gently press each cookie into the coconut with the frosting facing down.
Step 9: Make paw print. After the shredded coconut has been added, you can form the paw print by placing one peppermint patty in the lower center edge of each cookie and using 4 brown M&Ms to mark the toe pads (for a total of 24 peppermint patties and 96 M&Ms). Repeat with all of the cookies.
Step 10: Serve. Enjoy your cookies immediately or store them for later!
These polar bear cookies and a warm glass of homemade apple cider are the perfect way to enjoy Christmas eve. They also make a lovely addition to any Christmas dessert spread. Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Your frosting does not have to be perfect, as it is going to be pressed into the shredded coconut anyways.
- If you don't want to use store-bought frosting, you can always try out some homemade vanilla frosting.
- If you don't like mint, you can replace the peppermint patties with Oreo cookies!
>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<
🥡 Storing
Place any leftover cookies into an airtight container and store them at room temperature for 5-7 days.
They may be frozen for up to 3 months if stored properly. Place them in a freezer bag or airtight container with parchment paper between the cookies. Thaw them out at room temperature before eating.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Sure! Place the cookies in a Ziploc freezer bag or airtight storage container and put a sheet of wax or parchment paper between each layer of cookies. This keeps them from sticking together. Enjoy them within 3 months and be sure to thaw them out before you eat them.
Sure, you can definitely leave off the coconut to make these cookies. They won't look as 'furry', but they will still be cute. You could also try my peanut butter bear paw blossoms.
If using chocolate chips instead of M&Ms, you will want to turn them upside down with the pointy end stuck into the cookie. You could also swap the Peppermint Patties out for the thin Reese's cups, Oreos, or if making smaller cookies, a chocolate melting wafer.
🎄 More Holiday Baking
- Chocolate Blossom Cookies - Chocolate cookies with a chocolate Hershey's kiss on top, yum!
- Chocolate Pumpkin Pie - Smooth and creamy pumpkin pie with a rich chocolatey twist.
- Edible Christmas Cookie Gift Box - What's better than a gift box you can eat?
- Panettone Cherry French Toast Casserole - A baked cherry chocolate chip
French toast casserole for serving a crowd on Christmas morning. - Pecan Pie - Everyone will enjoy a slice of this classic pecan pie recipe, especially with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
- Granny Smith Apple Pie - Finish up your Christmas dinner with a slice of homemade apple pie and ice cream.
- Recipes To Bake When You Don't Have Eggs
- Pistachio Macarons
- Champagne Macarons
- European Christmas Cookies
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📖 Recipe Card
Polar Bear Paw Print Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter (softened, at room temperature)
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 large egg (at room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour (spoon and leveled)
- ½ cup dark chocolate cocoa powder (sifted)
- 24 Peppermint Patties (1 per cookie)
- 96 M&Ms candies (brown, 4 per cookie)
- 16 oz vanilla frosting
- 14 oz shredded coconut
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Make the Cookies
- To make the chocolate cookies, start off by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cookie sheet with some parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together your butter, granulated white sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and everything is combined.
- Next, mix in the egg, vanilla, baking soda, and salt until smooth. Then, slowly incorporate the flour and sifted cocoa powder until you have soft cookie dough.
- Scoop out some cookie dough and roll it in between your hands, forming a smooth ball. Place the ball onto your prepared baking sheet and use the bottom of a cup to gently press them down. Once pressed, you want your cookies to be about 3-inches across. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
- Place the cookies on the center oven rack and bake them at 350°F (175°C) for 7-9 minutes, or until they are no longer shiny and have puffed up.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely.
Assemble the Polar Bear Paw Prints
- Once your cookies are completely cool, use a knife to generously spread the vanilla frosting evenly over the top of each cookie.
- Pour your shredded coconut onto a plate or shallow dish and gently press each cookie into the coconut with the frosting facing down.
- After the shredded coconut has been added, you can form the paw print by placing one peppermint patty in the lower center edge of the cookie and using 4 brown M&Ms to mark the toe pads. Repeat with all of the cookies.
- Enjoy immediately or store for later.
Notes
- Your frosting does not have to be perfect, as it is going to be pressed into the shredded coconut anyways.
- If you don't want to use store-bought frosting, you can always try out some homemade vanilla frosting!
- If you don't like mint, you can replace the peppermint patties with Oreo cookies!
- To store: Place any leftover cookies into an airtight container and store them at room temperature for 5-7 days.
- To freeze: They may be frozen for up to 3 months if stored properly. Place them in a freezer bag or airtight container with parchment paper between the cookies. Thaw them out at room temperature before eating.
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