Chocolate Teddy Bears
- ⅔ c. butter or margarine
- 1 c. sugar
- 2 t. vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 ½ c. flour
- ½ c. cocoa
- ½ t. soda
- ¼ t. salt
Cream butter or margarine, sugar and vanilla in a large mixer bowl. Add eggs; blend well. Combine flour, cocoa, soda and salt, gradually add to creamed mixture, blending thoroughly. Chill until dough is firm enough to handle.
To Shape Teddy Bears: For each cookie, form a portion of the dough into one large ball for body (1-1 ½ in.), 1 medium-size ball for head (¾-1 in.), 4 small balls for arms and legs (½ in.), 2 smaller balls for ears, 1 tiny ball for nose, and 4 tiny balls for paws (optional). On ungreased cookie sheet flatten the large ball slightly for body. Attach medium-size ball for head by overlapping slightly onto body. Place balls for arms, legs, and ears, and a tiny ball on head for nose. Arrange other tiny balls atop ends of legs and arms for paws, if desired. With a wooden pick, draw eyes and mouth; pierce a small hole at the top of cookies for use as tree ornaments. Bake at 350 degrees 6-8 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store in a covered container for a gift or allow cookies to dry overnight before hanging. Pull ribbon through hole to hang as a tree ornament. Makes about 14 cookies.