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    Home » Christmas Cookies

    Ginger Bears

    Published: Dec 11, 2013 · Modified: Feb 5, 2022 by Kim Beaulieu · This post may contain affiliate links

    311 shares
    • 2
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    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!

    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

    Gingerbread Polar Bear Cookies on a dark surface.

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    Gingerbread Polar Bear Cookies on a dark surface.
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    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

    • Glass Mixing Bowl
    • Parchment Paper
    • Cookie Sheet
    • Stand Mixer
    • Piping Bag

    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
    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 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

    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.

    Thanks for visiting today!

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    Toodles! xx

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    This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle S.

      December 11, 2013 at 11:45 pm

      I would buy a mix of glass jars to put cookie mixes in.

      Reply
      • Kim Beaulieu

        December 14, 2013 at 6:41 pm

        I love that. Good luck.

        Reply
    2. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

      December 12, 2013 at 2:36 am

      What delightful bears!

      Reply
      • Kim Beaulieu

        December 14, 2013 at 6:42 pm

        Thanks so much Maureen. xx

        Reply
    3. Rusty H

      December 12, 2013 at 10:03 am

      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
      • Kim Beaulieu

        December 14, 2013 at 6:42 pm

        Ha, I'd be like that too. I can never decide.

        Reply
    4. Emily @ Life on Food

      December 12, 2013 at 1:31 pm

      So cute!! Cut cookies at the holidays are my favorite! Love the polar bears.

      Reply
      • Kim Beaulieu

        December 14, 2013 at 6:43 pm

        Thanks so much Emily. I love cookies, the cuter the better.

        Reply
    5. Allison (Spontaneous Tomato)

      December 13, 2013 at 1:43 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Kim Beaulieu

        December 14, 2013 at 6:44 pm

        Good choice. I love glass jars, I must have hundreds of mason jars. Good luck.

        Reply
    6. Shirley

      December 13, 2013 at 3:01 pm

      WOW! I could use this card for my daughter's wedding this coming October. We need Mason or Ball jars!!

      Reply
      • Kim Beaulieu

        December 14, 2013 at 6:45 pm

        Happy impending wedding for your daughter, how fun. Love Ball jars for weddings. Good luck.

        Reply
    7. Theresa Andrews

      December 13, 2013 at 5:23 pm

      The pretty blue jars

      Reply
      • Kim Beaulieu

        December 14, 2013 at 6:45 pm

        I love blue jars. Good luck.

        Reply
    8. Mandy Shannon

      December 14, 2013 at 11:36 am

      Mason jars! Lovethe bear story 🙂

      Reply
      • Kim Beaulieu

        December 14, 2013 at 6:45 pm

        Thanks so much and good luck.

        Reply
    9. Carla

      December 14, 2013 at 6:01 pm

      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
      • Kim Beaulieu

        December 14, 2013 at 6:47 pm

        Eek, that would be scary.

        I made those moosey blobs for you that one time. I now freeze all my dough. lol

        Reply
    10. Meghan Finley

      December 14, 2013 at 10:28 pm

      I'd buy jars and canning supplies

      Reply
    11. Grace

      December 14, 2013 at 10:39 pm

      I would just buy some small jars.

      Reply
    12. Debra Lee

      December 14, 2013 at 11:19 pm

      I would buy the Endurance® 20 Qt. Water Bath Canner W/7 Jar Canning Rack!

      Reply
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