Cravings of a Lunatic

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Ginger Bears

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These Ginger Bears are super cute gingerbread cookies just in time for the holidays. Whip up a batch for your Christmas cookie exchange!

Gingerbread Polar Bear Cookies on a dark surface.

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!

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Gingerbread Polar Bear Cookies on a dark surface.

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Gingerbread Polar Bear Cookies on a dark surface.
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Ginger Bears

These Gingerbread Polar Bear Cookies are super cute for the holidays. Whip up a batch or two for your Christmas cookie exchange!
Course Cookies
Cuisine American
Keyword christmas cookies, gingerbread cookies, polar bear cookies
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Resting Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings 16
Calories 507kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

For the Royal Icing:

US Customary - Metric

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 1/4 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

Cookie Recipe adapted slightly from Martha Stewart's Gingerbread Snowflakes
Royal Icing Recipe credit to Martha Stewart's Royal Icing

Nutrition

Calories: 507kcal | Carbohydrates: 94g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 321mg | Potassium: 409mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 57g | Vitamin A: 388IU | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 4mg

Gingerbread Polar Bear Cookies on a dark surface.

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Comments

  2. Tara says

    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!!

    Reply

    • Kim Beaulieu says

      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.

      Reply

    • Kim Beaulieu says

      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.

      Reply

    • Kim Beaulieu says

      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.

      Reply

  8. Stacy says

    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!

    Reply

    • Kim Beaulieu says

      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?

      Reply

    • Kim Beaulieu says

      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

      Reply

    • Kim Beaulieu says

      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.

      Reply

  16. Pam says

    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 😉

    Reply

  17. Isabel says

    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

    Reply

  23. Rusty H says

    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……

    Reply

  29. Carla says

    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.

    Reply

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