Polar Bear Sugar Cookies

Polar Bear Sugar Cookies are soft-batch cream cheese cookies that are tender, buttery, and perfect for decorating with a delightful polar bear theme. The cookies get their softness from the addition of cream cheese and are topped with smooth buttercream frosting and festive decorations to create adorable bear faces.

You’ll love these cookies because the cream cheese adds richness and a tender crumb, making them thick and soft yet sturdy for shaping and decorating. The powdered sugar-based buttercream frosting pipes smoothly over the cookies and gets coated with coarse sanding sugar for a snowy effect. Chocolate chips and sprinkles complete the cute polar bear look.

Ingredients

For The Soft-Batch Cream Cheese Cookies

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• ½ cup full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon fine salt

For The Buttercream Frosting

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• ½ teaspoon fine salt
• 3½ cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature

For The Decorations

• 1 cup coarse sanding sugar
• 30 large chocolate chips
• Round black sprinkles
• Round red or pink sprinkles

Instructions

1. In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth.

2. Add granulated sugar and mix on medium-high speed for a couple of minutes until light and fluffy.

3. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until incorporated.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.

5. Add flour mixture gradually to wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. The dough will be sticky.

6. Divide dough in half, wrap each in plastic wrap, flatten to a rectangle about ½ inch thick, and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.

7. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) about 30 minutes before baking. Line baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment.

8. Roll out dough on floured plastic wrap to ⅓ inch thickness. Use a 2½ inch circle cutter for bear heads; use ¾ inch circle cutter or bottle caps for ears.

9. Cut out shape, attach ears by pressing sides gently. Chill cut cookies for 15 minutes in fridge or 5 minutes in freezer.

10. Bake for 12-14 minutes on top rack; edges should not brown.

11. Cool cookies on pan 15 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

12. Blend buttercream frosting: beat butter, vanilla, salt for 30 seconds; add powdered sugar gradually with cream until smooth.

13. Pipe thin layer of frosting on cookies and press into sanding sugar for textured snowy look.

14. Pipe small oval for muzzle, add chocolate chip nose, black sprinkles for eyes, and red/pink sprinkles for ears.

15. Repeat for all cookies and enjoy!

My Best Tips for Success

• Chill dough well for easier rolling and clean shapes.

• Use plastic wrap for rolling dough to make cleanup easier.

• Handle ears carefully and press edges for good attachment.

• Use medium round piping tip or cut bag for frosting.

• Decorate while frosting is fresh for best adherence.

Delicious Variations to Try

• Use food coloring or edible markers for facial details.

• Add crushed peppermint candy for peppermint flavor on frosting.

• Substitute cream cheese with mascarpone for richer dough.

• Mix in finely chopped nuts or white chocolate chips to dough.

• Make mini versions for bite-sized treats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze decorated cookies?

Yes, freeze before decorating for best freshness; thaw and decorate later.

How long do these cookies stay soft?

Soft-batch texture lasts a few days when stored airtight at room temp.

Can I use regular vanilla extract?

Yes, or use vanilla bean paste for stronger vanilla flavor.

What if dough is too sticky to roll?

Chill longer or lightly flour rolling surface and plastic wrap.

How do I store decorated cookies?

Store in airtight containers with parchment layers between cookies.

Polar Bear Sugar Cookies

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• Author: Emma Hart
• Total Time: 2 hours 44 minutes
• Yield: 30 cookies 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

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Description

Soft, buttery cream cheese cookies shaped and decorated as adorable holiday polar bears, finished with vanilla buttercream, sanding sugar, chocolate chip and sprinkle details.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Soft-Batch Cream Cheese Cookies

¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

½ cup full-fat cream cheese, room temperature

1½ cups granulated sugar

1 large egg, room temperature

2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp cornstarch

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp fine salt

Buttercream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

½ tsp fine salt

3½ cups powdered sugar

¼ cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature

Decorations

1 cup coarse sanding sugar

30 large chocolate chips

Round black sprinkles

Round red or pink sprinkles

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Instructions

1. Make the cookie dough: Beat butter and cream cheese together on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar and mix 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined.

2. Combine dry ingredients: Whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Add gradually to the wet ingredients and mix on low until just combined. Dough will be sticky.

3. Chill dough: Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic, flatten to ½‑inch thick discs, and chill at least 2 hours or overnight.

4. Prepare for baking: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

5. Shape cookies: Roll chilled dough on floured plastic wrap to ⅓‑inch thickness. Cut 2½‑inch circles for heads and ¾‑inch circles for ears. Attach ears gently by pressing edges together. Chill shapes for 15 minutes.

6. Bake: Bake 12–14 minutes on the top rack until just set and not browned. Cool cookies 15 minutes on the pan, then move to wire racks.

7. Make frosting: Beat butter, vanilla, and salt 30 seconds. Gradually add powdered sugar, then drizzle in cream until smooth and spreadable.

8. Decorate cookies: Spread or pipe frosting on cookies and press into sanding sugar for snowy texture. Pipe a small oval of frosting for the muzzle, add a chocolate chip for the nose, black sprinkles for eyes, and red or pink sprinkles for inner ears.

See also  Frozen Yogurt Bites

Notes

Chill dough well to prevent spreading.

Press ears firmly to stay attached.

Use small piping tip for details.

Decorate one cookie at a time before frosting sets.

Store airtight up to 3 days room temp; freeze undecorated 2 months.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 14 minutes
• Category: Dessert, Cookies
• Method: Baking, Decorating
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/30 recipe
• Calories: 215
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 90 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Carbohydrates: 29 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 35 mg

Keywords: polar bear cookies, cream cheese sugar cookies, holiday decorated cookies, buttercream sugar cookies, christmas cookies