Chocolate Holiday Bears Recipes

CHOCOLATE HOLIDAY BEARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Beat first 4 ingredients in large bowl with mixer until blended. Mix flour and baking soda; gradually add to pudding mixture, beating well after each addition. Shape into ball.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out dough using 4-inch bear-shaped cookie cutter; place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray. Reroll scraps and use to cut additional cookies. Decorate with small candies, raisins or sprinkles for eyes, mouth and buttons, pressing decorations lightly into dough to secure.
• Bake 12 to 14 min. or until slightly firm. Let stand on baking sheets 2 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.
• Melt chocolate; spread onto bottom halves of bears for the pants or skirts. Use remaining chocolate to attach remaining decorations. Let stand until chocolate is firm.

CHOCOLATE TEDDY BEAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream together the butter or margarine, sugar and vanilla. Add the eggs. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients. Gradually add to the creamed mixture and blend. Chill until firm.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• For each cookie: Roll: 1 ball for the body (1 inch), 1 ball for the head (3/4 inch), 4 small balls for arms/legs (1/2inch), 2 smaller balls for ears, and 1 tiny ball for the nose. Arrange on ungreased cookie sheet. With tooth pick, draw eyes and mouth.
• Bake 6 minutes or until set. Let cool 1 minute, then remove from cookie sheet. Optional: Make a ribbon around their necks using licorice whips (after baking).

HOLIDAY CEREAL BEARS

Steps:

• Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add marshmallows; cook until marshmallows are melted, stirring frequently. Stir in cereal until well coated. Cool 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, line large cookie sheet with waxed paper; spray paper with nonstick cooking spray. Spray inside of 5 to 6-inch open bear cookie cutter. Place sprayed cookie cutter on sprayed waxed paper. Generously butter or spray hands and fingers.
• Press cereal mixture into cookie cutter, packing tightly. Remove cookie cutter; place in different spot on waxed paper. Continue forming bears until all mixture is used. If necessary, respray cookie cutter.
• Place chocolate chips in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds; stir until melted and smooth. If necessary, microwave an additional 20 seconds. Attach candy heart to each bear with small amount of melted chocolate.
• With melted chocolate, attach red baking bits for noses, blue baking bits for eyes and green baking bits for buttons. Cut strips of chewy fruit snack rolls and tie around neck of each bear. Let stand 30 minutes to set. Wrap each bear in plastic wrap; tie ribbon around neck.