Description
Polar bear cookies bring winter whimsy to holiday dessert tables with adorable marshmallow and chocolate chip details. Crisp sugar cookie bases adorned with fluffy marshmallow frosting create delightful polar bear faces you’ll want to nibble and share.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
Eggs and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Decoration Ingredients:
- 2 cups white chocolate chips or candy melts
- Mini marshmallows
- Candy eyes
- Mini chocolate chips or black edible pearls
- Optional: Red or blue sprinkles
Instructions
- Craft the foundational cookie mixture by thoroughly blending softened butter and sugar until achieving a velvety, aerated texture. Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract, stirring until the mixture appears uniform and silky.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate vessel. Gradually fold the dry components into the wet ingredients, gently mixing until a cohesive dough forms.
- Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Portion the dough into tablespoon-sized spheres, rolling each between your palms to create smooth, uniform balls.
- Arrange the dough balls on the prepared sheet, spacing them approximately two inches apart. Gently press down on each sphere with your palm to create a slight flattening effect.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges as an indication of doneness. Remove and allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Melt white chocolate chips using short microwave intervals, stirring between each heating cycle to ensure a smooth, glossy consistency.
- Immerse each cooled cookie into the melted white chocolate, ensuring total coverage. Carefully place on parchment paper to set.
- While the chocolate coating remains wet, strategically position two mini marshmallows at the cookie’s upper edge to simulate bear ears. Affix candy eyes and a mini chocolate chip or pearl to represent the nose.
- Optional embellishments like sprinkles or decorative icing can be added to enhance the polar bear’s character.
- Allow the cookies to rest at room temperature until the white chocolate coating hardens completely. For expedited setting, briefly refrigerate for 10-15 minutes.
Notes
- Plan ahead by softening butter at room temperature for smooth, even mixing without lumps.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant white chocolate coating without changing consistency.
- Ensure white chocolate melts gently to prevent seizing or burning by stirring frequently during microwave intervals.
- Chill cookies quickly in refrigerator for faster decorating and firmer chocolate set, perfect for impatient bakers or last-minute party prep.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg