Chocolate Holiday Bears Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Beat first 4 ingredients in large bowl with mixer until blended. Mix flour and baking soda; gradually add to pudding mixture, beating well after each addition. Shape into ball.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out dough using 4-inch bear-shaped cookie cutter; place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray. Reroll scraps and use to cut additional cookies. Decorate with small candies, raisins or sprinkles for eyes, mouth and buttons, pressing decorations lightly into dough to secure.
• Bake 12 to 14 min. or until slightly firm. Let stand on baking sheets 2 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.
• Melt chocolate; spread onto bottom halves of bears for the pants or skirts. Use remaining chocolate to attach remaining decorations. Let stand until chocolate is firm.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Beat butter, sugar, dry pudding mix, and egg in large bowl with mixer until blended. Mix remaining ingredients. Gradually add to pudding mixture, beating well after each addition. Shape into ball. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Place dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper; roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with 4-inch bear-shaped cookie cutter. Place, 2-inches apart on greased baking sheets. Reroll scraps and use to cut additional cookies.
• Bake 12-14 minutes or until slightly firm. Let stand on baking sheets 3 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
• Special extras: Decorate cookies with miniature marshmallows, small candies, nuts and/or sprinkles, using semi-sweet chocolate for the glue.