Cream Cheese Polar Bear Cookies Recipe

If you’re looking for the cutest and most scrumptiously soft cookie recipe, you’re in for a treat with this Cream Cheese Polar Bear Cookies Recipe. I absolutely love how these cookies turn out—soft, tender, with just the right hint of cream cheese richness, and of course, those adorable polar bear faces that make them perfect for sharing with family and friends. Stick around, because not only am I sharing the full recipe, but also all the tips and tricks I discovered to make your baking process smooth and your results perfect every time!

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients work beautifully together to create a soft-batch cookie with a luscious buttercream frosting. I always recommend using full-fat cream cheese for the best flavor and texture, and real vanilla bean paste if you can find it—it adds that deep, warm fragrance that makes the cookies feel so special.

• Unsalted Butter: Room temperature for easy creaming and a clean buttery flavor.
• Full Fat Cream Cheese: Adds moisture and tenderness, making cookies soft without being greasy.
• Granulated Sugar: For sweetness and helps with the cookie’s structure.
• Large Egg: Helps bind ingredients and gives richness.
• Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Bean Paste: Adds warm, comforting flavor; bean paste offers a bit more depth.
• All-Purpose Flour: The base that holds everything together.
• Cornstarch: Key for that tender, soft crumb—it lightens the flour’s bite.
• Baking Powder: Gives a little lift for a tender but not cakey texture.
• Fine Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
• Powdered Sugar: Essential for a smooth, creamy frosting.
• Heavy Whipping Cream: Thins out the frosting and makes it luxuriously creamy.
• Decorations: Coarse sanding sugar, chocolate chips, and colored sprinkles add charm and character to your polar bears.

Variations

I love how versatile the Cream Cheese Polar Bear Cookies Recipe is—you can add your own twist depending on the occasion or your flavor cravings. Feel free to get creative and make it your own!

• Chocolate Chip Ears and Nose: Instead of just chocolate chips for the nose, I sometimes mini-chip the ears too for extra texture and contrast. My kids go crazy for these little chocolate surprises.
• Almond or Lemon Extract: Swap out half the vanilla with almond or lemon extract for a subtle twist in flavor that keeps things interesting.
• Colored Frosting: Mix natural food coloring into the buttercream to match seasonal themes—think icy blues for winter or pastel pinks for spring.
• Gluten-Free Version: Use a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend to make these cookies safe for gluten-sensitive friends; just watch the dough texture and add a little extra cornstarch if needed.

How to Make Cream Cheese Polar Bear Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Cream Cheese Until Silky Smooth

The key to that soft, tender texture I’m obsessed with starts here. Use a stand mixer or hand mixer and beat the butter and cream cheese together on medium speed until the mixture looks silky and homogenous—no lumps! I like to take my time here and really get some air into the dough. This not only makes your cookies fluffier but also helps the sugar dissolve nicely.

Step 2: Sweeten and Flavor

Next, add your granulated sugar and beat on medium-high speed for a couple of minutes. This step lightens the color and whips up the mixture’s fluffiness. Then add the egg and vanilla, mixing until fully incorporated. It’s at this point when your kitchen starts smelling irresistible—vanilla is such a mood-lifter, isn’t it?

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients and Mix Gently

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Here’s my tried-and-true tip: add the dry ingredients in two batches on low speed and stop as soon as you no longer see flour. Overmixing develops gluten and can make your cookies tough, which is the last thing you want.

Step 4: Chill That Sticky Dough

Once your dough is mixed, divide it into two halves and wrap each in plastic wrap. I love flattening it into rectangles about ½ inch tall because it makes rolling out later so much easier. Chill for at least two hours or freeze for 30 minutes. If you do an overnight chill, just let the dough sit at room temp for 10 minutes before rolling.

Step 5: Roll Out and Cut Your Polar Bears

Flour your counter and rolling pin generously, then roll the dough to about 1/3 inch thick. I roll the dough right on the plastic wrap to save time cleaning up, and it helps keep the dough from sticking. Cut large 2 ½ inch circles for the face, then smaller ¾ inch circles for the ears. Pro tip: shave a tiny bit off the edge of the little circles so they sit flat. Attach ears by gently pressing them onto the big circle.

Step 6: Chill Again and Bake

Pop those cut-outs back into the fridge for 15 minutes or the freezer for 5 minutes to hold their shape. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12-14 minutes. Watch carefully—the edges should stay pale; you want soft cookies, not browned ones. Let cool on baking sheets for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Step 7: Whip Up the Buttercream

Beat softened butter until smooth, add vanilla and salt, then gradually add powdered sugar and cream. Adjust cream or sugar until you get a velvety frosting that pipes easily. I love using a piping bag with a round tip for neat, precise frosting—makes decorating so much easier!

Step 8: Decorate Your Polar Bears

Once cookies are completely cool, pipe a thin layer of frosting and dip into sanding sugar for a sparkly, frosty look. Then pipe the muzzle, add a chocolate chip nose, black sprinkles for eyes, and red or pink sprinkles for the ears. I once used little fondant pieces when I ran out of sprinkles—they worked just as well! Feel free to get creative here—it’s all about having fun with your polar bear friends.

How to Serve Cream Cheese Polar Bear Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I like to keep it simple with some coarse sanding sugar for a sparkling finish, but the sprinkles are where the magic happens. Black nonpareils or chocolate chips make perfect eyes and noses; meanwhile, a pop of red or pink sprinkle for the ears adds that cute blush effect that really brings the bears to life.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a cozy cup of hot chocolate or a glass of cold milk—the soft richness of the cookies plays beautifully alongside creamy drinks. For a party, I like to set them next to a fruit platter to balance the sweetness with some fresh brightness.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I arrange the cookies on a snowy-themed platter lined with white or silver parchment, adding in edible glitter or faux snow sprinkles for a winter wonderland effect. I once made a whole polar bear family set with different expressions, and it was a huge hit at my niece’s birthday!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover cookies keep great in an airtight container. I usually store them at room temperature if I’m eating within a couple of days, but if you need them longer, popping them in the fridge helps them last up to 5 days without losing that soft, creamy texture.

Freezing

I’ve frozen both cookie dough and baked cookies with excellent results. Dough freezes best wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in a sealed container. When ready, thaw overnight in the fridge before rolling and baking. Baked, unfrosted cookies can be frozen for up to a month—just freeze flat in a single layer first, then stack with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.

Reheating

To enjoy frozen baked cookies, thaw them in the fridge overnight, then bring to room temp before frosting. If you want to warm them slightly, pop them in the oven at 300°F for 5 minutes—just keep an eye so they don’t brown. This revives the softness wonderfully.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Cream Cheese Polar Bear Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s just so charming and approachable for home bakers. It’s the kind of recipe you’ll want to make again and again—to see those happy faces, hear the “awws,” and enjoy that heavenly softness in every bite. Trust me, once you try this, it will become a favorite in your cookie repertoire. So grab your mixing bowl and get ready to bake some smiles today!

Print