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These Polar Bear Paw Cookies are so adorable and couldn’t be any easier to make! Perfect for a cookie exchange, a cute Christmas cookie for the kids to help make, or even a bear-themed party.
I love super-easy, delicious recipes, especially for the holidays or a fun party. And these cookies sure fit that bill as do my strawberry cake mix cookies (a family tradition at Christmas), and candied cranberry walnut oatmeal cookies.
Baking cookies is one of my favorite holiday traditions, but sometimes you need something more out of the box ready and easy to make. This recipe can be both or a little mixture of each!
You can go all-in on picking up the items at the grocery store ready-made to make this or making them all homemade. A little of both works too!
Either way, you will be all set for your cookie exchange or party.
Why you’ll love this Polar Bear Paw Cookie Recipe!
- Super Easy: This recipe can be made from all simple, ready-made items you can pick up at your grocery store.
- Easily Made Homemade Too: However, if you want to make your cookies and icing homemade, you can.
- Kid Friendly: These are perfect for the kids to get involved. They are easy and so much fun to put together.
This year I am participating in a virtual cookie exchange with some of my blogging friends. It’s hosted by Michaela from An Affair from the Heart. Thanks for putting together this event. Y’all stop by and see all the delicious things she cooks up!
We were each secretly assigned another blogger in the group and tasked with making one of their signature holiday treats.
I found these super cute bear paw print cookies on my assigned site, Life Currents, and I just knew I had to make them! I love cute easy recipes!
Debi is the sweet talent behind Life Currents. Debi and I both believe home cooking is such a valuable thing and really brings families around the table. Which is such a treasure!
Debi has so many amazing recipes to choose from. For this round I was limited to holiday treats, so that helped me in my search.
I also wanted to make her peppermint crunch ice cream – wow that looks amazing! And her green chickpea enchiladas look scrumptious! But these Bear Paw Cookies will be perfect to share with my sweet granddaughter. She will love them, as will you!
Ingredients Notes
How to Make Polar Bear Paw Cookies
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Choose Your Cookie
You can use any flat cookie you would like. The flavor is totally up to you. You can also use a store-bought cookie to keep it really simple.
Keep in mind you are covering it with frosting, so the color of the cookie really does not matter.
I love using these Brownie Mix Cookies, making them with a medium cookie scoop.
Step 2 | Icing / Frosting
Any white-colored frosting will work. You want the whole polar vibe so think white snow and white polar bear fur. Again you can buy a premade tub frosting in the baking aisle or go to your local bakery and you can usually purchase some there as well.
Buttercream, vanilla, or even cream cheese frosting works well.
Step 3 | Paw Print
There are several options for the paw print. For the large circle, I am using a peppermint patty. You could also use a plain Oreo or a chocolate-dipped Oreo even the mint ones would be delicious.
For the finger/toe, I am using a junior mint. You can use brown M&Ms, brown Recee’s pieces, or even chocolate-covered raisins.
Step 4 | Add Polar Bear White Fur (Coconut)
Next, sprinkle shredded coconut around the paw print and gently press it in so that it will stay in place.
Tips
- Use a cookie big enough to hold your chosen candy toppings. My cookies were about 3 inches. I recommend 3 to 3 ½ inches.
- Make sure to use plenty of icing so that the candy sticks and doesn’t fall off.
- Evenly spread icing on the cookie and gently press the coconut into the icing. Take care not to cover the paw, but if you do, a small paint brush works well to dust it off.
Variations and Substitutions:
Storage Instructions
Place in an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. If you use a room-temperature-safe cookie and icing, you can store it on the countertop.
These also make a great holiday party go-home gift. You could add a cute tiny spatula or an ornament to the bag. It’s also cute as is with some pretty ribbon or twine.
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Polar Bear Paw Cookies
Ingredients
- 12 each Round Cookies
- 16 ounces White Icing
- 12 each Peppermint Patties
- 48 each Junior Mints
- 1 ½ to 2 cups Flaked Coconut
Instructions
- Purchase or bake (if desired) your favorite flat round shaped cookie. If baking make sure cookies are completely cooled.
- Make homemade icing according to instructions or use icing from bakery or tub.
- Using a offset spatula or knife, generously ice each cookie. Make the frosting as even as possible over the top of the cookie and thick enough to hold decorations in place.
- Place a peppermint patty or oreo near the bottom center edge of the cookie. This will form the pad of the bear paw.
- Even space and place 4 Junior Mints, M&Ms or Reese's Pieces in an arc shape around the pad of the bear paw to form the toes. Repeat until all cookies are complete.
- Sprinkle on shredded coconut into the icing of each cookie to make the fur. Cover the top of the cookie, but do not cover up the peppermint patties or the M&Ms. Gently use your fingers to lightly press the coconut into the icing around the paw print, until the cookies look like furry Polar Bear Paws.
Notes
- Use a cookie big enough to hold your chosen candy toppings. My cookies were about 3 inches. I recommend 3 to 3 ½ inches.
- Make sure to use plenty of icing so that the candy sticks and doesn’t fall off.
- Evenly spread icing on the cookie and gently press the coconut into the icing. Take care to not cover the paw, but if you do a small paint brush works well to dust it off.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
©️Soulfully Made
So cute. A perfect holiday treat. Thanks for sharing
so stinking cute! As a former kindergarten teacher, these are fun to make during polar bear week! Love them!
I love these Polar Bear Paw Cookies!
Dessert for the Super Bowl!
Thanks for sharing!
I’m in LOVE with these cookies. So cute and would be fantastic for a cookie exchange too.
These are seriously the cutest cookies I have seen all season! I love the texture of the coconut with the mint flavor of the candies!
Thank you, Amy! They sure are fun to make!
These are so adorable! I made a batch for my son’s teachers and they loved them! The peppermint brings all the holiday flavors together!
Ok, these are ADORABLE. I am so saving these for teacher gifts!!
Not only are these precious, but they’re also delicious! My girls loved the decoration process of these cookies, too!
These are the cutest cookies!!! I’m going to grab everything and have my boys help me put them together after school today! Yum
Oh my gosh, my granddaughter and I had so much fun making these. Her paws looked a little wonky but she was so proud of herself. They never made it into the pretty gift bags because a little (lot) nibbling was going on.
These cookies are so cute and I know the kids will love them! I love how easy they are to assemble too. Such a perfect holiday cookie 🙂
I am totally in love with these cookies! They are absolutely adorable!!
These were delicious to eat, but so cute that I just wanted to stare at them! Thanks for sharing this adorable cookie with the world!
Aren’t these just the cutest! I love making them with the family! So glad you loved these and this fun event!
Oh my goodness, I bet you and Willa had so much fun helping you make these cookies! Cutest cookie ever!!! Love all of your tips too!
These are so adorable! What a great pick for FF cookie exchange. This would be fun for a holiday party for the kids.
What a super cute idea! These would be fun to make with LD.
Thank you, Carlee! LD would have so much fun!
OMG, this is adorable and so fun to make with kids!
Thank you, Kathy! I let Willa play in the coconut while I made them. She did a little sprinkling, but next year she will be old enough to really help me.
So, so, so cute!!! I know my granddaughter will love them, too! It will be fun to make them together. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Sheila! I know your cutie is the best kitchen helper! She will love these.
These are SO ADORABLE! When that new little grandbaby of mine gets old enough to bake with me, we are so making these! Merry Christmas, Nikki!
Thank you, Michaela! Oh, I cannot wait until your gbaby gets here! You are going to be the best glama! Merry Christmas!