These Polar Bear Cookies are adorable and so easy to make! Oreo cookies decorated to look like sweet polar bears make the perfect winter or holiday treat. Fun for kids to craft and everyone to enjoy. Make them, along with a visit to the zoo to see a real polar bear, if you are lucky enough to have one locally.
If you would like another winter edible craft, try our fun Snowman Cake Pops or our Melted Marshmallow Snowman that is perfect for a hot cocoa topper.
Recipe adapted from Everyday Dishes.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Adorable
- Fun to make
- Easy
- Great winter edible craft
- Easy to find ingredients
Helpful Items for This Recipe
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Wilton White Candy Melts® Candy, 12 oz.
Aren’t they adorable? You don’t have to make many of these to liven up your day. They are pretty sweet anyway, so the kids will be after them for sure. The recipe makes 12, which I think is just the right amount.
What are the Ingredients for Polar Bear Cookies?
Ingredients
Double stuffed sandwich cookies – The brand name for these is Oreos, but other sandwich cookies would work too. I like to use the double stuffed.
Different colored candy coated chocolates – In Canada, these are Smarties; in the US, M&M’s work.
Bag white candy melts – Found at most craft stores or online.
Black icing – This is found in a tube, and I like it better than the gel, as the gel doesn’t dry.
How to Make These Polar Bear Cookies
Lay out a sheet of parchment or wax paper to lay the cookies on once dipped.
Choose lighter coloured candy coated chocolates for the ears and fun brighter, blue, brown, red and purple for the noses.
Select 12 nice looking white candy melts for the muzzle and set aside. Melt the rest of the package.
Slide the “ears” into place between the cookies, into the filling, and dip the cookies in the melted white candy. Using a fork, lift the cookie out and gently bang the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate. Lay the cookie on the parchment.
Place the candy melt on as the muzzle and press in gently to form a ridge around the muzzle. Paint a small amount of the white chocolate candy melts onto the “nose” and place it higher up on the muzzle.
When the cookies are dried, use the black icing to dot on the eyes. Let dry completely before storing in a sealed container.
Recipe Pro Tips
Tips for Making the Best Polar Bear Cookies
1. Choose a Solid Cookie Base
- Sandwich cookies, shortbread, or cereal treats work best.
- Avoid crumbly cookies — you want a sturdy “bear face.”
2. Use Candy Melts (Not Just Chocolate)
- White candy melts set firmer and smoother than white chocolate chips.
- If using white chocolate, add ½ tsp coconut oil per cup to thin.
3. Dip, Don’t Dunk
- Spoon melted coating over the cookie or dip halfway.
- Let excess drip off to avoid thick, uneven coats.
4. Add the Face While It’s Wet
- Place the muzzle immediately after coating.
- Once the coating sets, candy won’t stick.
5. Keep Decorations Simple
- Icing for eyes
- Brown M&M or get creative with color = nose
- Mini marshmallows or candy coated chocolate = ears
Simple = cuter (and faster).
6. Use Parchment Paper
- Prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
- Slide the whole sheet into the fridge if needed.
7. Chill Briefly, Not Too Long
- 10–15 minutes in the fridge is perfect.
- Too long = condensation when they come out.
8. Work in Small Batches
- Melt small amounts so the coating doesn’t thicken before you’re done.
- Rewarm gently in short bursts if needed.
9. Kid-Friendly Assembly Trick
- Let adults handle dipping.
- Let kids add faces — fun, less mess, and adorable results.
10. Storage Tip
- Store in a cool, dry place in a single layer.
- If stacking, separate with parchment.
Polar Bear Cookies Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 12 double stuffed sandwich cookies
- 36 different coloured candy coated chocolates
- 16 oz. bag white candy melts
- 1 tube black icing
Instructions
- Lay out a sheet of parchment or wax paper to lay the cookies on once dipped.
- Choose lighter coloured candy coated chocolates for the ears and fun brighter, blue, brown, red and purple for the noses.
- Select 12 nice looking white candy melts for the muzzle and set aside. Melt the rest of the package.
- Slide the "ears" into place in between the cookies, into the filling, and dip the cookies in the melted white candy. Using a fork, lift the cookie out and gently bang the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate. Lay the cookie on the parchment. Place the candy melt on as the muzzle and press in gently to form a ridge around the muzzle. Paint a small amount of the white chocolate candy melts onto the "nose" and place it higher up on the muzzle. When the cookies are dried, use the black icing to dot on the eyes. Let dry completely before storing in a sealed container.
Comments & Reviews
Mike says
Perhaps small dark dragees for the eyes would be a better choice?
Tara Noland says
Those would work!!
Disenda McKinney says
My Granddaughter and I can’t wait to make them for her 3rd grade class!
Marla says
I made these today & they did not turn out as nice as yours. How did you get them so smooth? M&M’s are thicker than smarties so I recommend that if you don’t have smarties available to you that you get the mega stuffed oreos. I didn’t have good luck with the M&M’s staying in. They are cute but not as pretty as yours.
Tara Noland says
I guess it all depends what you have available for this. The candy melts that I used just went smooth like that with a few taps on the side of the bowl. I don’t believe we have mega stuffed oreos here in Canada but that is a good suggestion. As I said in the post, these are still a work in progress but fun to make.
Diana says
How did you get the actual cookie to stay together?? The ears (mostly) stayed in, but the two halves of he cookie kept falling apart! Also, what cookies did you use?
Tara Noland says
I used double stuffed Oreos. The “Smarties” I used worked great, they are fairly thin as you can see with the nose. I just didn’t push them in too far. Before with the marshmallow ears I had the issue of the cookie breaking and the ears not staying in.
Jennifer says
How did you get the smarties to stick to the candy melt nose like in the picture? The recipe says to paint on the nose. I’m confused (not hard to do).
Tara Noland says
Paint a little white chocolate onto the nose and attach, I will clarify that.
Elizabeth says
Any tips to keep the candy melt ears from melting?
Tara Noland says
I didn’t use the candy melts for the ears but I used the Smarties.
s carney says
Hmm, never thought of taking the cookie apart. The smarties must be slimmer than the m&ms. Could not find smarties or another candy that would work. Just as well, I cannot eat any of the components used. Thx for your troubleshooting.
Tara Noland says
Maybe they are slimmer, I was worried about that. I know our M&M are very plump. If you still have white candy melts maybe you can do a bark. Sorry it didn’t work for you.
s carney says
The dipping isn’t the issue. I am not a novice at dipping. No not using ‘white chocolate.’ The cookies do not hold together no matter the method used. Finally used a tiny set of tongs and then did as best as could to smooth the face. Too bad, the pictures are so cute.
Tara Noland says
I am sorry, now I understand. I had that issue the first time I tried to make them with taking the cookie apart. They wouldn’t hold together again or broke. Once I used the Smarties that we had for the nose and then for the ears is was not an issue.
s carney says
Would love to see how these actually come together for someone. After 3 stores to gather my supplies, haven’t been able to get a single one out of the dipping stage, let alone to be able to hit it against the side to get excess off. I now have a bunch of stuff that I can’t eat and it is too much of a mess to even claim it is a critter of some type.
Tara Noland says
You aren’t able to dip them, is the white candy melts hot enough? They should very easily dip, never had a issue there. Are you using white chocolate instead?
michelle says
you could also use the white chocolate hershey kisses for the nose. take a warm butter knife to flatten it an attach a colored candy
Tara Noland says
Loving everyone’s suggestions. Fun cookie/craft to make your own!!
Holly Harz says
Where did you find the pastel and white m&ms?
Tara Noland says
They are Smarties, that we have up here in Canada. You could use M&M’s if they are the flat disc kind. The “white ears” are dipped with the rest of the cookie after they have been inserted.
Karen says
I’m just inquiring about the ears…do you cut them somehow? They look smaller than the one on the nose. Thanks!
Tara Noland says
No, they are the same size, the candy coated chocolate (Smarties) are just slid into the sandwich cookie.
Shannon says
What’s a Smarties candy coated chocolate? I’ve not heard of those. I thought the ears were simply white m&m’s. They are so cute…thank you for sharing!
Tara Noland says
https://www.google.ca/search?q=smarties&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=950&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjx5f3y3drQAhUd3YMKHYmWDIgQ_AUIBigB Here are some pictures, the colourful ones I am referring to.
Tara Noland says
You might be able to find different things if you are in the US, M&M’s may be more in a disc shape than the round ones we have.
Bonnie says
What are the noses? M & Ms?
Tara Noland says
They are Smarties, same as the ears. You can use M$M’s if you have them in the US.
Wendy says
I made Minnie Mouse cookies similar to this but took apart mini Oreos and stuck them in the bigger Oreo for ears.
Tara Noland says
So cute, would love to see a picture if you have one!
Sara says
My granddaughter would love these! Yes, adding them to the “must make” list of cookies! Thank you for trying again this year. They came out great!
Teresea says
I wonder how well they would ship from Texas to London?
Tara Noland says
They might loose a nose or ear 🙁
Alma says
Are the ears kisses? Oh by the way these are just adorable. Thank you for sharing.
Tara Noland says
The ears are candy coated chocolate or as you would better know them, Smarties!
Southern Gal says
I was going to ask the same thing! Thanks!
Jennifer says
Hi did you double dip the cookies.. i made them with oreo cookies and could still see the brown through the white chocolate. .. kids still loved them …. thanks so much for sharing ♡
Tara Noland says
No, I didn’t double dip the chocolate, maybe it is a different brand and that made the difference.
Linda says
Maybe try the white chocolate covered oreos
Tara Noland says
I don’t know how you would attach the ears though, suggestions?
Nancy @ whispered inspirations says
This is so darn cute! This would be great for the holidays!
Amy Desrosiers says
These are actually the cutest cookies ever! I love how perfect and tasty they look!
Jynette says
So cute! You could probably even do little brown bears with chocolate candy coating and Hershey kisses for the muzzles! LOVE
Tara Noland says
Another cute idea too!! Those would totally work Jynette!
Melissa @ The Staten Island family says
These cookies are too cute and so perfect for the holidays! Can’t wait to bake these up!