We are blogging today about a Bear Paws Shortbread cookies’ recipe but, the special bear paw tins used for this project are not available.
The cookie dough recipe was slightly changed so I could use it to make shortbread. I also used my small wooden cookie mold to press out the cookies.
Wooden Cookie Mold
This is a wooden cookie mold to make the cookies.
A toothbrush helps to clean the design elements of this mold.
Bear Paws or Medvedie Labky Cookies
The dekagrams were converted to cups so I’m hoping my conversions are correct but the cookies I made turned out great.
This recipe comes from Slovakia and the Bear Paws there are called Medvedie Labky. The cookie dough is put into special baking tins and then placed on a cookie sheet to bake.
In Slovakia, Medvedie Labky cookies are a favorite to bake around the Christmas holidays.
You can make the original Bear Paw recipe in Madeleine tins but be sure to subtract a half cup of flour and 1/4 cup of powered sugar. Decorate the bear paw’s toes with slivers of almonds.
In the photograph on the left, I’m using a hand held mixer to mix the vegetable shortening and powdered sugar.
The photograph on the right shows the nuts in the mini food processor.
Ingredients
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 Cup of Hardened Fat, (I used Butter Flavored Crisco Vegetable Shortening)
- 2 Cups of All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup of Powdered Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon of Unsweetened Cocoa
- Handful of Ground Walnuts (I used about a 1/4 Cup of Walnuts)
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl combine the vegetable shortening and powered sugar, beat until mixed. Add the egg and beat until fluffy.
- Then add flour and unsweetened cocoa.
- Grind the walnuts and add to mixture, (use a small food processor).
- Refrigerate the dough for about a half hour. This makes it easier to work with.
- On a floured piece of wax paper, roll out dough to about 1/4-inch thick. Using the wooden cookie mold press the design into the dough.
- Cut out each cookie and carefully place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for approximately 10 to 15 minutes until the cookie edges are slightly brown. Cookies made with a larger mold size, take longer to bake so you might have to adjust your baking time.
Test Taste
Shortbread cookies are not as sweet as sugar cookies and usually have fewer ingredients.
In the photograph on the left, be sure to use a sharp knife to cut out the cookies.
My wooden press had a swan and heart design.
The below photograph shows the baked shortbread cookies on a round wooden display.
Ending Comments on Bear Paws Shortbread Cookies Recipe
A Special Thank You to “E.” for emailing me the original Bear Paw Cookie Recipe and for the photograph of the Bear Paw tins.