TEDDY BEAR COOKIES: National Teddy Bear Day!

I love Teddy Bear Day - a holiday not to be confused with Teddy Bear's Picnic Day, another special day I celebrate, usually with scones. But for Teddy Bear Day, here's a wonderful recipe for Teddy Bear Cookies from Land O Lakes. I always check out food product sites for great recipes. I especially like Butter recipes, and this recipe features Land O Lakes Butter. The original recipe also mentions Land O Lakes Eggs, but they're not available in my area. So any good egg will do. Substitute other things as you see fit. I've made a few suggestions. Aren't these Teddy Bear Cookies adorable? And so easy.

Teddy Bear Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup sugar (see below under chocolate)

3/4 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened (I use unsalted butter)
1  large Land O Lakes® Egg
2 teaspoons pures vanilla 
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 
1 teaspoon baking powder 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
2 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted (I use good dark chocolate that is sweetened and reduce the sugar)

Directions 

Heat oven to 375°F. 

Combine sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. 

Divide dough in half. Place half of dough into another bowl; stir in chocolate until well mixed. 

Shape each teddy bear using either vanilla or chocolate dough or a combination for two-toned teddy bears. Shape 1 large (1-inch) ball for body. Place onto ungreased cookie sheet; flatten slightly. Shape 1 medium (3/4-inch) ball for head, 4 small (1/2-inch) balls for arms and legs, 2 smaller balls for ears. Attach head, arms, legs and ears by overlapping slightly onto body. Add small balls for eyes, nose and mouth, if desired. Use fork to make claws on paws. 

Bake 7-8 minutes or until body is set. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack. Cool completely.