Get ready to bake the most adorable treats you’ve ever made! These Chocolate Chip Bear Cookies are the perfect blend of a classic, chewy chocolate chip cookie and a super cute, kid-friendly design. We’ve developed a special, no-spread dough that ensures your bears keep their adorable shape in the oven. Forget cookie blobs; this recipe guarantees perfectly defined, charming little bears every single time.
Whether you’re planning for a birthday party, a baby shower, or just a fun weekend baking project with the family, these cookies are sure to be a massive hit. They pack all the buttery, chocolatey flavor you love into a fun, new shape that will bring a smile to everyone’s face. Let’s get baking!
Why This Is the Best Bear Cookie Recipe
- They Actually Look Like Bears! Our recipe is specifically designed to minimize spread, so your cookies keep their shape.
- Classic, Chewy Flavor: This isn’t just a novelty recipe. It’s a genuinely delicious, soft, and chewy chocolate chip cookie at its heart.
- Simple, Everyday Ingredients: No need for a special trip to the store. You likely have everything you need in your pantry right now.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: From kids’ parties to holiday gifts, these charming cookies fit any celebration. For another party favorite, check out these amazing Taco Ranch Bites.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe relies on simple pantry staples to create a rich and flavorful dough that’s sturdy enough to hold its shape.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for our cookies.
- Baking Soda: Gives the cookies just the right amount of lift without causing them to spread.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for proper creaming.
- Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: The combination creates the perfect soft, chewy texture and rich molasses flavor.
- Eggs: Act as a binder for the dough.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a classic, warm flavor.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: Mini chips work best for appearance and make shaping the dough easier.
Essential Equipment
You don’t need many fancy tools to make these cute cookies. Here’s what to grab:
- Mixing Bowls
- Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand)
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Wire Cooling Rack
How to Make Chocolate Chip Bear Cookies Step-by-Step
Follow these simple steps to create your adorable bear treats. The most important part is chilling the dough, so don’t skip it!
Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. In a separate, larger bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix! Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips with a spatula.
Step 2: Chill the Dough (The Secret to No-Spread Cookies!)
This is the most critical step for perfect bear shapes. Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. Cold dough spreads far less during baking.
Step 3: Shape Your Bears
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. To form one bear, roll the cold dough into three sizes of balls: one large ball for the head (about 1.5 tablespoons), two medium balls for the ears (about 1 teaspoon each), and one smaller ball for the snout (about 1/2 teaspoon). Arrange them on the baking sheet by placing the two “ear” balls at the top of the “head” ball. Gently flatten the “snout” ball and press it onto the lower-middle part of the head. Press a few extra chocolate chips into the snout for a nose and into the head for eyes.
Step 4: Bake to Perfection
Place the bears about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. The centers should still look slightly soft. They will continue to set on the hot baking sheet.
Step 5: Cool Completely
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them firm up and prevents breaking.
Pro Tips for Perfect Animal-Shaped Cookies
- Measure Flour Correctly: Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off. Don’t scoop directly from the bag, as this compacts the flour and makes the dough dry.
- Don’t Skip the Chill: We can’t say it enough! Chilling the dough is essential for preventing spread.
- Work in Batches: Keep the portion of dough you aren’t currently using in the refrigerator to ensure it stays cold.
- Press Chips Flat: If any chocolate chips are sticking out awkwardly, gently press them into the dough before baking for a smoother shape. For a different kind of treat, you might also love these simple 3-ingredient banana brownies.
Storage and Freezing Instructions
These cookies store wonderfully! To store baked cookies, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months.
You can also freeze the unbaked, shaped cookie dough. Place the shaped bears on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. You can bake them directly from frozen, adding an extra 2-3 minutes to the baking time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all! This recipe is designed to be made by hand. You simply roll the dough into different-sized balls to form the head, snout, and ears. It’s an easy and fun method, especially for kids.
You can add faces easily! We recommend gently pressing mini chocolate chips into the dough for the eyes and nose before baking. Alternatively, you can wait until the cookies have cooled and draw on a face using an edible ink marker or a toothpick dipped in melted chocolate.
The absolute key is to chill the dough thoroughly. We recommend at least 2 hours, but overnight is even better. Working with cold dough prevents the butter from melting too quickly in the oven, which is the primary cause of cookie spread.
Store your Chocolate Chip Bear Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay soft and fresh for up to 5 days. You can add a slice of bread to the container to help maintain their moisture.
A good dough for shaped cookies, like this one, has a higher ratio of flour to fat. This creates a sturdier dough that holds its shape well. Chilling the dough is also a non-negotiable step for achieving well-defined shapes.
We Love to See Your Chocolate Chip Bear Cookies!
We are so excited for you to try this fun and delicious Chocolate Chip Bear Cookies recipe! They are a true delight to make and even more fun to eat. If you make them, please leave a comment below and let us know how they turned out!
For more amazing recipes and baking inspiration, be sure to share this on Pinterest! It’s the best way to save your favorite ideas and help us share them with others. Happy baking!
Chocolate Chip Bear Cookies Recipe
Chocolate Chip Bear Cookies (The Cutest & Easiest Recipe!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. In a separate large bowl, cream the softened butter with both sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
- Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips.
- Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. This is crucial to prevent spreading.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Shape the cold dough by rolling one 1.5-tablespoon ball (head), two 1-teaspoon balls (ears), and one 1/2-teaspoon ball (snout) for each cookie. Assemble on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are golden brown. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack.
Notes
Using mini chocolate chips helps maintain the cute bear shape better than larger chips.
