Description
These adorable Polar Bear Cookies are made with a soft cream cheese cookie base, topped with creamy buttercream frosting, and decorated to resemble playful polar bears. Perfect for holiday parties, baking with kids, or adding a sweet, festive touch to your dessert table!
Ingredients
Scale
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (170g)
- 1/2 cup full-fat cream cheese, room temperature (113g)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar (300g)
- 1 large egg, room temperature (56g)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract (8g)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (375g)
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch (8g)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder (2g)
- 1/2 tsp fine salt (3g)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (226g)
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract (12g)
- 1/2 tsp fine salt (3g)
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (454g or 1 lb. box)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (60g)
- 1 cup white sanding sugar
- 30 large chocolate chips
- Round black sprinkles (for eyes)
- Round red or pink sprinkles (for cheeks)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and cream until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
- Divide dough into two portions, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Roll dough to 1/3-inch thickness and cut out 2 1/2-inch circles for faces and 3/4-inch circles for ears. Assemble polar bears by attaching ears to faces. Chill for 15 minutes.
- Bake cookies at 350°F (175°C) for 12–14 minutes or until edges are set. Cool completely.
- Beat butter until creamy for frosting. Add vanilla and salt, then mix in powdered sugar and cream until smooth. Pipe frosting onto cookies and dip in sanding sugar.
- Add a frosted oval for the muzzle, chocolate chips for noses, and sprinkles for eyes and cheeks. Enjoy your creations!
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential for preventing spread.
- Store frosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days, in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.
- For best results, don’t overbake the cookies.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: a
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 205
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg