Bear paw cookies are as delicious as they are adorable. Chocolate cookies topped with frosting, coconut, and mint candy? What could be better?
If you're looking for an adorable recipe to bring to your next gathering or simply something fun to serve to the family, then you've found it here. These cookies are so good and so cute!
These cookies were inspired by my penguin cookies recipe. They were so cute, and I thought the perfect follow-up would be polar bear paw cookies to go with them.
Why You Will Love this Recipe
- They only take a handful of simple ingredients.
- They're semi-homemade and so easy to make.
- Chocolate, mint, and coconut is a classic flavor combination.
Top Tip:
Be careful not to pulse the coconut and powdered sugar too much. You want the coconut to be in small shreds, not powdered.
Ingredients
It only takes a handful of simple ingredients to make this recipe, and they're all readily available at your local grocery store. You'll find the complete list of ingredients along with amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Large Chocolate Cookies store bought or homemade
- vanilla frosting
- shredded coconut unsweetened
- powdered sugar
- Clear Sparkle Sprinkles
- Peppermint Patties
- Junior Mint Candies
Instructions
It only takes a few simple steps and a few minutes to make. The highlights are below, but you'll find the complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.
1: Add coconut and powdered sugar to a food processor and pulse.
2. Frost the top of each cookie.
2: Sprinkle the coconut mixture on the frosting and use clear sprinkles to fill in gaps.
3: Decorate the cookies with a Peppermint Patty and Junior Mints to look like a bear paw.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use store bought or one of our homemade cookie recipes. We have two chocolate cookie recipes that work great.
- Use store-bought or homemade icing.
- Use store-bought or homemade peppermint candies.
- Use M&Ms and smaller chocolate cookies in place of the peppermint candies.
- Sweetened coconut can also be used if preferred.
- You can make these cookies without coconut and use sprinkles, instead.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these Halloween bat cookies.
Storage
Counter: Store for up to 3 days in an air-tight container.
Refrigerator: Store these cookies for up to a week in an air-tight container.
Freezer: Freeze for up to a month in an air-tight, freezer-safe container.
Make Ahead: You can make these a day in advance.
What to Serve with These Cookies
These delicious, adorable bear paw cookies are perfect as part of a larger Christmas desserts table. They're also fun when paired with these holiday-themed treats.
Tips
- Be careful not to pulse the coconut sugar mixture too much. You don't want to make it powder.
- Press the mints into the frosting gently. Don't press too hard or the frosting will squish all over.
FAQ
Absolutely. If you want to take the time, feel free!
Sure, as long as they have a dark color. The cookies are the "ground" while the frosting is the "snow".
They taste like a Peppermint Patty on steroids! They're loaded with classic mint, chocolate, and coconut flavors.
More Great Cookie Recipes
Bear Paw Cookies
Ingredients
- 12 Large Chocolate Cookies store bought or homemade
- 1 tub (16 oz) vanilla frosting
- ½ cup shredded coconut unsweetened
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- Clear Sparkle Sprinkles
- 12 Peppermint Patties
- 36 Junior Mint Candies
Instructions
- Apply a generous layer of frosting to each chocolate cookie, leaving a bit of chocolate cookie showing out around the edges. Set aside.
- In a food processor, combine the coconut and powdered sugar. Use the pulse setting about 5 times to chop the coconut into small shreds.
- Sprinkle a little bit of the sugared coconut on each cookie.
- Use the clear sparkling sprinkles over the top to fill in any open gaps.
- Press the peppermint patties into the bottom center of each cookie.
- Press three junior mints on top of the peppermint patties.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use store bought or one of our homemade cookie recipes. We have two that work great.
- Use store bought or homemade peppermint candies.
- Use store bought or homemade icing.
- Apply the icing layer thick enough where the peppermint patties can “stick” into it.
- Use M&Ms and smaller chocolate cookies in place of the peppermint candies.
- Sweetened coconut can also be used, if preferred.
- You can make these cookies without coconut and use sprinkles, instead.
- Store at room temperature or fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
michelle oldfield says
We tried this recipe. We loved it. It's fun to make with the kids. I used store bought cookies and everything because it saved on time. One thing you must remember is to make sure that icing is thick enough so that the patties stick . We used prinkles because my daughter preferred them over the coconut! So yummy 😋 we will definitely make these again!
Karin and Ken says
I’m so glad you enjoyed making this easy recipe! We love it too. Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! All the best. Karin