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Gingerbread Polar Bear Cookies on a dark surface.
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5 from 31 votes

Ginger Bears

These Gingerbread Polar Bear Cookies are super cute for the holidays. Whip up a batch or two for your Christmas cookie exchange!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Resting Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Keyword: christmas cookies, gingerbread cookies, polar bear cookies
Servings: 16
Calories: 507kcal

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

For the Royal Icing:

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