Name: Red Velvet Bear Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 1 h 1 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled; 2 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted; ½ tsp baking soda; ½ tsp baking powder; ½ tsp salt; ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled; ¼ cup granulated sugar; ¼ cup light or dark brown sugar, packed; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 tsp white vinegar; 1 large egg; red food coloring (amount as needed); 1 tbsp melted milk or dark chocolate; 3 tbsp melted white chocolate; oil-based food coloring (pink/red, for coloring white chocolate)

Ingredients

1 ½ cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled

2 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

¼ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup light or dark brown sugar, packed

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp white vinegar

1 egg

Red food coloring

1 tbsp melted milk or dark chocolate

3 tbsp melted white chocolate

Oil-based food coloring (pink/red)

Instructions

Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until well combined.

Step 2: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer or whisk), mix the melted butter with granulated and brown sugars on medium speed until combined. Scrape the bowl as needed.

Step 3: Add the vanilla extract, white vinegar, egg, and red food coloring to the butter mixture. Mix until smooth.

Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Add more red food coloring if a deeper color is desired. Cover the dough and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes to firm up and hydrate the flour.

Step 5: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Step 6: Using a small cookie scoop (about 1 ½ tablespoons), shape dough into balls and place them about 3 inches apart on the baking trays. For the bear ears, take about 1 teaspoon of dough, split it into two smaller balls, and place them on top of each cookie to form ears.

Step 7: Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers look slightly puffy. Slightly underbaking will keep cookies chewy.

Step 8: Let cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 9: To decorate the bear faces, use a piping bag, toothpick, or cookie scribe. Draw snouts and ears with melted white chocolate. Tint some with oil-based pink or red food coloring to add blush. If white chocolate thickens, stir in a teaspoon of neutral oil to smooth it out.

Step 10: Use melted milk or dark chocolate to pipe the eyes and noses.

Step 11: Allow chocolate decorations to set before serving. Enjoy your charming Red Velvet Bear Cookies!

Tips & Variations

Chilling the dough helps achieve chewier cookies and makes shaping easier.

If you don’t have oil-based food coloring, add a little vegetable or canola oil to melted chocolate to prevent seizing when coloring.

For a festive look, try using colorful sprinkles around the bear faces before the chocolate sets.

FAQs

Can I use natural food coloring instead of oil-based?

Natural water-based food coloring can cause melted chocolate to seize and become lumpy. It’s best to use oil-based food coloring or add a small amount of neutral oil to the chocolate when mixing in color.

How do I make the cookies more chewy?

Underbaking slightly so the centers stay soft and moist will make the cookies chewier. Additionally, chilling the dough before baking helps develop better texture.