How to Make Polar Bear Cookies with Marshmallow Faces 🐻‍❄️🍪

Easy & Cute Polar Bear Cookies 🐻‍❄️

These adorable Polar Bear Cookies are incredibly fun and easy to make using store-bought or homemade cookies, marshmallows, and candy!

They are the perfect activity for kids and adults to enjoy together for Christmas or anytime you need a cute, sweet treat.

The secret is using jumbo marshmallows for the face, which gives these sweet bears an irresistibly puffy and cute look. With minimal assembly required, you can decorate a whole batch of these winter wonders quickly!

Get ready for a quick, charming decorating project that results in the most festive dessert on your holiday table!

Cookie Base Swaps and Sticking Secrets ✨

You can easily customize the base of these polar bear faces, and we have a few tricks to make sure all those puffy marshmallows stay put!

Best Cookie Bases

The oatmeal cookies used in this recipe offer a great texture and neutral color, but feel free to experiment with other round, flat cookies:

Gingerbread: For a warmer, spiced flavor and a festive brown contrast to the white marshmallow.
Sugar Cookies: Use plain sugar cookies for a simple, sweet base that is a clean white/pale yellow color.
Store-Bought: The easiest choice! Use store-bought vanilla wafers, shortbread rounds, or plain oatmeal cookies for zero prep time. 🛒

The Sticking Secret 🤍

Marshmallows can be tricky to stick down! The recipe uses a tiny dab of water, but here are two other options for a more secure bond:

Dab of Icing: Use a tiny dot of store-bought vanilla icing (or melted white chocolate) to hold the jumbo marshmallow face in place.
Corn Syrup: Dip the cut side of the marshmallow lightly into a small dish of light corn syrup before placing it on the cookie. This creates a stronger, stickier bond. 💪

Marshmallow Prep & Face Customization ✂️🍬

Making the bear face is the most creative part. Be sure to have an adult handle the cutting part!

Marshmallow Prep Tips

Cutting the Marshmallows: An adult should use a sharp, wet knife to cut the large and medium marshmallows in half. Dipping the knife in water prevents the marshmallow from sticking to the blade.
Ears: When slicing the small marshmallows for the ears, slice off a very thin sticky layer from the end. This sticky side goes directly onto the cookie’s edge.

Face Customization

Nose Swap: Instead of dark brown M&Ms, use a single **mini chocolate chip** for the nose. You could also use a tiny red candy (like a mini red candy melt) for a festive, Rudolph-style nose! 🔴
Eyes: If you don’t have candy eyes, use two **mini chocolate chips** placed upside down so the flat side is showing, or use two dots of black icing.

🐻‍❄️ Polar Bear Cookies Recipe

Prep time: 10 minutes ⏰
Total time: 20 minutes
Yield: 5 Servings

Materials 🧺

10 Oatmeal Cookies (or other round, flat cookie)
5 Jumbo Marshmallows (for the main face)
5 Medium Marshmallows (for the snout)
10 Small Marshmallows (for the ears)
Candy Eyes 👀
Dark Brown M&Ms (for the nose)

Supplies 🥄

Sharp Knife (for cutting marshmallows) 🔪
Small dish of Water (or corn syrup/icing for sticking)
Plate or airtight container for storing

Instructions 📝

Prep the Face: Have an adult carefully cut the jumbo marshmallows in half. Place the cut side down on the center of a cookie, adding a small dab of water or icing first if the marshmallow doesn’t stick well.
Prep the Snout: Cut the medium marshmallows in half. Place the cut side down towards the bottom of the jumbo marshmallow, forming the snout.
Add Features: Dab a tiny bit of water (or icing) onto the marshmallows where you want the candy eyes and M&M nose to be. Place the candy eyes and the M&M nose in position.
Create the Ears: Slice a thin layer off the ends of the mini marshmallows so the end is sticky. Stick these ends onto the top edge of the cookie to form the ears.
Let Them Set: Let the cookies sit for a few minutes to ensure everything is stuck together.
Enjoy: Serve immediately for a festive treat! 🐻‍❄️

Ready to Create These Cute Winter Treats? ⬇️

These Polar Bear Cookies are a wonderful, easy activity that delivers maximum cuteness for minimal effort.

Remember to use a sharp, wet knife when cutting the marshmallows!

Will you use oatmeal cookies, sugar cookies or gingerbread for your base, and what will you use for the nose?

🍽️ More from Mama Likes To Cook

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Christmas Animal Recipes 🐻‍❄️

Reindeer Oreo Pops
Nutella Reindeer Sandwiches
Reindeer Cookies
Polar Bear Paw Print Marshmallows for Hot Cocoa
Polar Bear Cookies

Holiday Cookie Recipes 🤶🏼

Mom’s Christmas Sugar Cookies
Chewy Pumpkin Molasses Cookies
White Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Cookies
Caramel Apple Cookie Bars
No Bake Chocolate Cookies

Alcohol-free Holiday Party Drinks 🍷

Cookie Recipes 🍪

Are you ready to have some delicious fun in the kitchen?