These bear paw cookies are not just fun but SO easy! This is one of those things that make you go, why didn’t I think of this sooner? All you really need is a basic sugar cookie recipe and some chocolate. Voila!
Bear Paw Cookies
The base of these cookies are the same as our favorite sugar cookies. It is a nice soft and chewy cookie. You can roll the balls of dough in granulated sugar if preferred. Or just put them directly onto the cookie sheet.
Ingredients you will need:
- Butter – make sure to use unsalted butter. Different brands of butter have different amounts of salt, so we like control the amount of salt going in the recipe.
- Sweetener – we use granulated sugar.
- Eggs – you will only need one egg.
- Flavoring – you will use vanilla extract for these cookies.
- Dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Decorating – 1 bag of Ghiradelli dark chocolate melting wafers, only need 24 wafer chips and semi sweet chocolate chips (only 3 chips go onto each cookie for the claws).
How To Make Bear Paw Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside
- Using a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until creamy
- Add in the egg and egg yolk, vanilla and beat to combine.
- Add in the baking soda, cornstarch, salt and flour and beat until a soft dough forms.
- Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop dough into your hands and roll it
- Place dough onto cookie sheet and bake 9-12 minutes.
- Once cookies are baked, place a melting wafer into the center of the cookie for the pad of the paw
- Then place 3 chocolate chips above the paw for the claws
- Repeat steps with remaining dough and cookies
- Let cookies cool for about 30 minutes before enjoying!
Other Fun Animal Recipes
Bear Paw Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 bag of ghiradelli dark chocolate melting wafers only need 24 wafer chips
- 1 bag of semi sweet chocolate chips only 3 chips go onto each cookie for the claws
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Line cookie sheet with a cookie mat (or parchment paper) and set aside
- Using a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar.
- Add in the egg, vanilla and beat to combine.
- Add in the baking soda, baking powder, salt and flour and beat until a soft dough forms.
- Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop dough into your hands and roll it into a ball. Roll in extra sugar if desired.
- Place dough onto cookie sheet 2 inches apart and bake 9-12 minutes.
- Once cookies are baked, place a melting wafer into the center of the cookie for the pad of the paw
- Then place 3 chocolate chips above the paw for the claws.
- Repeat steps with remaining dough and cookies.
- Let cookies cool for about 30 minutes before enjoying!
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32 comments on “Bear Paw Cookies”
I pinned this a while back and want to make them this Christmas. I cannot get the Ghiradelli chocolate, do you think a Hershey’s kiss would work? They look absolutely delicious.
Hi Robbie. Yes, Hershey’s kisses will work fine with these cookies.
Cookies do not come out the nice white color of the picture, even rolled in either type sugar. When spaced as directed for 24 balls, the cookies all spread into each other. When I made the balls half the size, they worked fine.
I’m curious what you think about freezing these? I would like to make these ahead for a baby shower.
Hi Kim. While these will freeze ok, I’m not sure I would want to freeze them for an event…they are always better fresh.
My granddaughters love these cookies! And they are so easy to make. Thanks for the recipe.
Made these for my daughter’s woodland themed baby shower and they were a hit! Everyone loved them especially my daughter.
I used this last year and was pleased with how the corn starch made them different. Corn starch is mentioned in the description but the quantity is not in the ingredients. What was the amount for corn starch?
Thanks Shelly. Yes, you can use 2 tsp corn starch.
Very good cookie, but a bear has 5 toes not 4
These are SO cute and my boyfriend’s son LOVED making (and eating!) these! Thank you for a fun recipe! 🙂
When I make them one recipe produces 3 dozen delicious and cute cookies! I tweaked it a bit by using dark brown sugar and a bit more salt. Excellent sugar cookie!
I love them
The taste of these cookies is amazing! However, I’m just wondering if there’s a trick to making them stay “puffy.” Every single time I took the pan out of the oven, the cookies deflated. They were still cute and very tasty, but they did not in any way look like the ones in your picture. Did I do something wrong or is there a trick to this?
I heard using baking powder instead of baking soda would keep them puffy.
My nephew and I made these for Santa tonight. They are excellent! Thank you!
These sound so good and they look good as well.
Bear claw cookies made easy use frozen cookie dough sugar cookie one. Easy for us old fokes.
I made these in the past with the Espresso powder and we loved them. I don’t see it listed in the current recipe. What was the measurement of the Espresso powder?
Bev, I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed! I was going to send a link to this recipe, but then noticed not espresso powder. I think that is what made them so special. Thankfully, I printed out the recipe when I made previously. 1 tsp instant espresso power.
I can’t wait to try this.I’m so glad it’s christmas cookie time.Thanks
These look so cute but im not big on sugar cookies do you think making a peanutbutter cookie dough would work?
Could I make these using packaged sugar cookie dough instead of the scratch better? My two sons aren’t as helpful in the kitchen as your three…
I know this might be a crazy question to ask but can anyone tell me what sweet cream butter is and how it’s made
Thank you
Cindy
It’s just regular good  old butter
Hi, I am planning on making these for Thanksgiving. Can I make ahead? Do they freeze okay? Thx
They look so cute! Can I omit the espresso powder?
Yes. The recipe will be just fine without it.
How can I get the cookbook from you guys how can I order it
Hey Peggy, our Wild Eats and Adorable Treats book is available on Amazon. Click on the picture of the book on our homepage. Thanks!