Gingerbread Teddy Bears

These cookies have been a Christmas tradition in my family since I was a little girl. The big bears are so soft and chewy that we can hardly wait until they come out of the oven!

Gingerbread Teddy Bears

Average Rating: 5

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 40 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling
YIELD: 10 cookies.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, cubed
  • 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup molasses
  • 1 large egg, room temperature, lightly beaten
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Miniature chocolate chips
  • Decorating icing and sprinkles

Instructions

  • 1. In a small saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar and molasses. Cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour into a large bowl; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda and cloves; gradually add to butter mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
  • 2. Preheat oven to 350°. Shape dough into ten 2-in. balls, ten 1-in. balls, forty 1/2-in. balls and twenty 3/8-in.balls. Place the 2-in. balls on 3 foil-lined baking sheets for the body of 8 bears; flatten to 1/2-in. thickness. Position 1-in. balls for heads; flatten to 1/2-in. thickness. Attach four 1/2-in. balls to each bear for arms and legs. Attach two 3/8-in. balls for ears. Add chocolate chips for eyes and buttons.
  • 3. Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool 10 minutes before carefully removing to wire racks to cool completely. With frosting, pipe ears, muzzle and paws; add sprinkles for fingers, toes and nose.

Nutrition Facts

1/2 cookie: 241 calories, 10g fat (6g saturated fat), 34mg cholesterol, 131mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.