These Ginger Bears are super cute gingerbread cookies just in time for the holidays. Whip up a batch for your Christmas cookie exchange!
This girl loves gingerbread cookies and these gingerbread polar bear cookies are no exception!
I have a weakness for cute food. Honestly, I cannot help myself. The cuter the better, especially around the holidays. These little bear cookies just make me happy.
When we drove my son out west for school we did some shopping in Banff, Alberta. I found some of the cutest cookie cutters I've ever seen.
One of those cookie cutters was a bear. So stinking cute!
Being Canadian, I have lots of memories of travelling our great country and seeing lots of bears. Unfortunately, I've never seen a polar bear.
When I was younger we were travelled through the Rocky Mountains. My dad took the boys to get gas but dropped my mom and I off at this little stand that sold drinks and food.
We were ordering coffees when the lady behind the stand gasped and slammed down the front of the stand. My Mom and I stood there shocked.
So, we looked around and there was a bear standing behind us. My Mom freaked out and tried to get my Dad's attention.
In the meantime, I was trying to pet the bear. No lie!
Luckily we weren't killed. My dad drove up and threw food to distract it.
We got in the car and my Mom tried to calm down. I was still wondering why everyone was so upset I wanted to pet the bear.
Yup, I was one naive young hooligan. Every time I see a bear on our travels I always think of this story from my childhood.
So, of course I had to make these cute little ginger bear cookies because gingerbread cookies are a must for the holidays!
More Christmas Recipes:
- Gingerbread Fudge
- Chocolate Coconut Cookies
- Ginger Horse Cookies
- How to Make Perfectly Cute Gingerbread People
- Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Peppermint Wands
- Easy Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
- Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies
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Ginger Bears
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 6 cups all-purpose flour plus extra for rolling
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 tsp ground ginger
- 3 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ tsp coarse salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup molasses
For the Royal Icing:
- 1 lb confectioners' sugar
- 5 tbsp meringue powder
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
For the Cookies:
- Sift your flour, baking soda, and baking powder over a large bowl. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer, with a paddle attachment, mix your brown sugar and butter. You want to mix it on medium speed until the mixture is fluffy.
- Now mix in the spices and salt. After that add the eggs and the molasses. Turn the speed down to low.
- Slowly add the flour mixture; mix slowly until it's barely combined. Divide the dough into 3 pieces and wrap each one separately in plastic wrap, or pop in a container.
- Stick in the fridge until it's cold, at least for an hour, preferably overnight.
- When you're ready to make the cookies preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Now you can roll out your dough on a lightly floured work surface. You want the dough to be about ¼ inch thick. Cut out your bears, and pop them on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Stick the sheets in the fridge for about 30 minutes, or freezer for about 15 minutes.
- Pop them in the oven and bake for about 10 to 14 minutes.
- Remove and allow to cool for a few minutes, transfer to wire racks and allow to cool completely.
For the Royal Icing:
- In a stand mixer combine your sugar, meringue powder and water, use a paddle attachment and mix on low. You want the mixture to be smooth, which should take about 7 to 9 minutes.
- You can adjust the icing if needed. If it's too thick add more water, if it's too thin add more confectoners' sugar.
- Transfer to a piping bag if desired. I just smoothed on with an offset spatula.
- Sprinkle with fancy sugars or sprinkles.
- Serve with a big old don't feed (or pet) the bears smile!
Notes
Nutrition
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Toodles! xx
Jen @JuanitasCocina
I need extra icing. 😀
Happy day #3!
Kim Beaulieu
Ha, me too. I swear I eat half of it before I even ice my cookies.
Happy Day 3 back at ya.
Tara
Love your cute ginger bears!! I had a bear encounter when I was young too!! It was a mom and two cubs, scary situation but it ended just fine with all going their merry way!!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Tara.
It's scary right. As kids we have no idea. My dad loved to camp so we experienced a ton of nature growing up. I still love it.
Teresa
I've been looking for amber glass boston bottles and there they are on the first page
Kim Beaulieu
Those are gorgeous. Good luck.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
Ok 1--that story is adorable, yet scary, but since it ended well: adorable.
2-THESE COOKIES are adorable! seriuously. I just wanna eat em up...oh wait...I could! 😛
Kim Beaulieu
Ha, thanks. My dad was so freaked out, my mom was in shock. I just wanted to cuddle a bear.
Thanks. I'm not great at cookie decorating but I try every year. I don't think I have the patience for detailed cookies, lol.
Helene D'Souza
Yep you are not only the turtle queen but also the cute food trendsetter. =)
I think your bear cookies look terrific Kim! Feel like grabbing for one now. =P
Kim Beaulieu
Awe, thanks Helene. I love Christmas. It was my mom's fave time of the year so I think I just get way too into the spirit of the holidays.
Susan
These are just adorable and way better than gingermen!
Kim Beaulieu
Awe, thanks Susan. xx
[email protected] Riffs
These are really cute! Adorable, even. 😉 So, even as a youngster you were a hooligan? Why are we not surprised? Fun post, great recipe. Thanks.
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks John. Ha, I am and always will be a hooligan. xx
Stacy
Cute food is the best! I mean as long as its delicious, like these bears, it might as well be cute too. I can just imagine you trying to pet that bear while the rest of the family freaks out! Great story!
Kim Beaulieu
It really is. I had fun with these. I'm not a decorator but I try every year.
So funny. Every time I luck out and see one again I always think of that lady slamming down the window on us. Who does that?
Elizabeth
I like the honey pot gourmet glass jars! So much fun!!
Kim Beaulieu
They are cute.
Coco in the Kitchen
These are beary cute! Polar bears don't get enough hype during the holidays. Good thing you picked them.
Hope you're doing well. xx
Kim Beaulieu
Bah ha ha ha. I am crying I'm laughing so hard.
They don't. It chuffs me off. We should never leave any animal out during the holidays. I mean polar bears could surely pull a sleigh.
I am. I hope you are too. We need to catch up after the holidays. I can't wait for my son to arrive. I'll be taking about 10 days off, well, as much as bloggers can take time off. lol
Liz
I could eat a dozen of these sweet bears. I love, love ginger cookies!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Liz. I love ginger, it's so funny our horse is Ginger too. Kind of cool really. K's bird is Tarragon as well. We call her Terror, she's really bad. Lol.
The Ninja Baker
I'm not sure which is sweeter your story of trying to pet the bear or the cookies =) Maybe animal lover comes with the name, Kim =)
Looking forward to the bionic story!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks so much Kim. I love when you visit. xx
Nikki
I would get some round glass jars...I really want to try making jam and applesauce!
Kim Beaulieu
I love jam...and applesauce. Good luck.
Aimee @ See Aimee Cook
Those are so cute!!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Aimee.
Stephanie
Like the clear glass milk bottles
Kim Beaulieu
Me too. They are wicked cute. Good luck.
Pam
Oh no! Sorry you didn't get to pet the bear, but glad you guys made it out just fine. What a fun story! These cookies look pretty delicious, too 😉
Kim Beaulieu
Ha, thanks so much Pam. I had an interesting childhood. Never dull.
Thanks, I love these cookies too.
Isabel
I love your ginger bears! I would probably get some equally cute glass jars with the gift card. Cute food products are so much better than their noncute counterparts
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Isabel.
Good luck with the giveaway.
Dionne Baldwin
OMG!!! These are SO CUTE! I want ginger bears.
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Dionne. I love cute food.
Barb
square glass jars
Kim Beaulieu
Good luck Barb.
MaryB
I would get some gourmet glass jars with a beveled edge. So cute for gift giving.
Kim Beaulieu
Good luck Mary.
Michelle S.
I would buy a mix of glass jars to put cookie mixes in.
Kim Beaulieu
I love that. Good luck.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
What delightful bears!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks so much Maureen. xx
Rusty H
Oooooo, so many things from which to choose..!! I really like those plastic gripper containers AND the tin-plated steel cans AND the Mason jars AND......
Kim Beaulieu
Ha, I'd be like that too. I can never decide.
Emily @ Life on Food
So cute!! Cut cookies at the holidays are my favorite! Love the polar bears.
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks so much Emily. I love cookies, the cuter the better.
Allison (Spontaneous Tomato)
I would buy a bunch of the Wire Bale Air-Seal Glass Jars (with blue lids) for organizing all of the flours/grains/lentils in my pantry!
Kim Beaulieu
Good choice. I love glass jars, I must have hundreds of mason jars. Good luck.
Shirley
WOW! I could use this card for my daughter's wedding this coming October. We need Mason or Ball jars!!
Kim Beaulieu
Happy impending wedding for your daughter, how fun. Love Ball jars for weddings. Good luck.
Theresa Andrews
The pretty blue jars
Kim Beaulieu
I love blue jars. Good luck.
Mandy Shannon
Mason jars! Lovethe bear story 🙂
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks so much and good luck.
Carla
Over the summer in Tennessee, I got pictures of mama bear and her cubs. Except mama kept walking closer to me, and I didn't notice at first because when you have a camera, the zoom makes things closer than they appear. Kinda scary actually haha Love the polar bears. Mine would just be polar blobs.
Kim Beaulieu
Eek, that would be scary.
I made those moosey blobs for you that one time. I now freeze all my dough. lol
Meghan Finley
I'd buy jars and canning supplies
Grace
I would just buy some small jars.
Debra Lee
I would buy the Endurance® 20 Qt. Water Bath Canner W/7 Jar Canning Rack!