Name: Red Velvet Bear Cookies with Melted Chocolate Decoration Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 1 h 1 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled; 2 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted; ½ tsp baking soda; ½ tsp baking powder; ½ tsp salt; ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled; ¼ cup granulated sugar; ¼ cup light or dark brown sugar, packed; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 tsp white vinegar; 1 egg; red food coloring (as needed); 1 tbsp melted milk or dark chocolate; 3 tbsp melted white chocolate; oil-based food coloring (pink/red) for tinting white chocolate

I absolutely adore these Red Velvet Bear Cookies with Melted Chocolate Decoration Recipe because they bring together the classic, tender red velvet flavor in the most whimsical and charming way possible. Each cookie is soft, subtly chocolaty, and decorated with a delicate, melted chocolate face that instantly makes me smile. Whether I’m baking for a winter holiday, Valentine’s Day, or just to spread a little joy, these sweet little bears always steal the show. They’re not overly sweet, just perfectly balanced, and the fun melted chocolate designs make them feel special enough to gift or serve at a festive gathering.

Why You'll Love This Red Velvet Bear Cookies with Melted Chocolate Decoration Recipe

What I find truly delightful about this recipe is the harmony of flavors. The red velvet taste is there—rich cocoa notes, a touch of vanilla, and that beautiful deep red color—but it’s not overpowering. The texture is soft and a little chewy, which, to me, is the hallmark of a fantastic cookie. I love that these bears feel like a cozy treat you can indulge in without feeling weighed down by too much sweetness.

The preparation is refreshingly straightforward. I never got lost in complicated steps, which is perfect when I want to bake something adorable without spending hours in the kitchen. The dough is easy to handle after chilling, and shaping the bears with tiny ears is a fun moment where creativity blooms. The melted chocolate decoration phase is such a satisfying finishing touch, and it’s surprisingly accessible even if you’re not a pro at piping details.

I find these cookies are perfect for almost any occasion. They’re ideal for bringing cheer to a family dinner, making Valentine’s Day extra special, or adding a festive highlight to holiday cookie trays. What makes them stand out is that balance of charm and flavor—these little bears aren’t just pretty, they taste incredible and feel lovingly homemade every step of the way.

Ingredients You'll Need

A clear glass mixing bowl filled with smooth, deep red batter, swirled and textured on top to show its thick consistency, sits on a white marbled surface. Around the bowl are scattered small white chocolate chips and a light brown striped kitchen towel beneath it. To the left of the bowl lies a wooden spoon with a heart-shaped cutout in the handle, resting flat on the surface. The scene is softly lit, highlighting the rich color and texture of the batter. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

The ingredients for this recipe are simple yet essential in creating those soft, tender, and beautifully colored bear cookies. Each one plays a part in building the cookie’s taste, texture, or stunning visual appeal.

TIP : You'll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below

All-purpose flour: Provides the structure and tenderness needed for the cookie base.
Cocoa powder: Adds the subtle chocolate depth essential in red velvet treats.
Baking soda and baking powder: Work together to give a soft, slightly puffy texture.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors without being noticeable.
Unsalted butter: Melted and cooled for rich, creamy moisture and chewiness.
Granulated and brown sugar: A blend that balances sweetness and adds a bit of caramel flavor.
Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and complexity to every bite.
White vinegar: Reacts with the baking soda to give the authentic red velvet rise and subtle tang.
Egg: Binds the dough together with a tender crumb.
Red food coloring: The signature color that makes these bear cookies pop with personality.
Melted milk or dark chocolate: Used to create the tiny eyes and noses—the bear’s best features.
Melted white chocolate: Perfect for drawing soft snouts and blush details with pink or red oil-based food coloring.
Oil-based food coloring: Essential for coloring the white chocolate smoothly without seizing.

Directions

Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients: the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures even distribution for a perfect texture.

Step 2: Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or a hand mixer), mix the melted and cooled unsalted butter with both sugars on medium speed until everything is well combined. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl so nothing gets left behind.

Step 3: Add the vanilla extract, white vinegar, egg, and red food coloring to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix until the batter is smooth and the color is evenly distributed. Add more red coloring if you want a deeper hue—that vibrant color is half the fun!

Step 4: Gently fold in the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix or the cookies might turn out dense.

Step 5: Cover the dough and refrigerate it for 20 to 30 minutes. This resting period hydrates the flour and firms up the butter, making the dough easier to handle and resulting in chewier cookies.

Step 6: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Step 7: Use a small cookie scoop to portion about 1 ½ tablespoons of dough for each bear cookie and roll them into balls. Arrange them on the baking trays about 3 inches apart so they have room to spread without touching.

Step 8: For the ears, take about 1 teaspoon of dough per cookie, split it into two equal pieces, roll them into small balls, and place them on the tops of each cookie to create cute little bear ears.

Step 9: Bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers remain slightly puffy. I like to underbake mine just a touch to keep them wonderfully chewy.

Step 10: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 to 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

Step 11: Once cooled, use melted white chocolate to pipe on the bear’s snouts and ears. Use oil-based food coloring to tint the white chocolate pink or red for a sweet blush effect. To keep the chocolate smooth, stir in a teaspoon of neutral oil if the chocolate thickens or seizes.

Step 12: Pipe melted milk or dark chocolate for the eyes and noses to complete each bear’s adorable face, and then enjoy these delightful little treats!

Servings and Timing

This recipe makes about 16 cookies, perfect for sharing or gifting. It takes roughly 20 minutes to prep the dough and get the bears shaped. The baking time is fairly quick at 9 to 11 minutes per batch, followed by a 30-minute resting and cooling period after mixing the dough. Altogether, you can expect the total time from start to finish to be around 1 hour and 1 minute, making it a nicely paced project that won’t take over your day.

How to Serve This Red Velvet Bear Cookies with Melted Chocolate Decoration Recipe

This image shows five red bear-shaped cookies on a sheet of white paper placed on a white plate with some cracks and scratches. Each cookie has two round ears and a round face, all made from the same red dough with a soft, slightly cracked texture. White icing forms the inner ears and the snout area on each bear, shaped like a small oval. Small dark spots, likely chocolate chips, create the eyes and nose dots, while tiny pink heart-shaped decorations are placed on the cheeks, adding a cute detail. In the background, two more similar cookies rest on a silver wire rack, and the setting is a white marbled surface with a white cloth nearby. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

I love serving these cookies at room temperature so that their soft texture shines and the melted chocolate decorations stay intact. Pairing them with a warm cup of coffee, tea, or even a frothy hot chocolate adds an extra layer of cozy comfort for a chill afternoon snack or an after-dinner treat.

If I’m offering these at a party or holiday gathering, I like to place them on a pretty platter with a few sprigs of fresh rosemary or edible flowers to complement the vibrant red color. They also look fantastic nestled next to other themed desserts like peppermint bark or vanilla sugar cookies for a festive cookie exchange.

For drinks, I absolutely recommend a light red wine like a Pinot Noir or a sparkling rosé; their fruit-forward notes pair surprisingly well with the mild cocoa and buttery richness of the cookies. For non-alcoholic options, sparkling cranberry juice or homemade berry lemonade feels just as cheerful and refreshing. These cookies work great at Valentine’s Day celebrations, winter holiday occasions, or any moment when you want to impress with something visually delightful yet utterly comforting.

Variations

One of the things I love about this Red Velvet Bear Cookies with Melted Chocolate Decoration Recipe is how easy it is to customize. If you want to make it gluten-free, simply swap the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Just keep in mind that the texture might be a bit different—still delicious, just slightly more crumbly.

If you’re vegan, I’ve had success replacing the butter with a high-quality vegan butter and omitting the egg entirely. You might need to add a tablespoon or two of a plant-based milk alternative to bring the dough together. For the chocolate decorations, using vegan chocolate brands ensures everyone can enjoy these little bears without compromise.

For flavor twists, I sometimes add a hint of cinnamon or even orange zest to the dough for a festive spin. Alternatively, swapping the cocoa powder for a rich espresso powder gives a mocha-inspired note that’s unexpectedly wonderful. And if you prefer, you could skip the baking and turn this into a no-bake cookie dough treat, chilling it overnight and decorating it similarly for an easy alternative.

Storage and Reheating

Storing Leftovers

I always store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Doing this keeps them soft and chewy for up to a week. If you want to keep the melted chocolate decorations intact, it’s best to layer the cookies with a sheet of parchment or wax paper between them to avoid any sticking or smudging.

Freezing

You can absolutely freeze these cookies for longer storage. I recommend placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet first to freeze solid, then transferring them to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. They will stay fresh for up to 3 months this way. To protect the decorations, I suggest freezing undecorated cookies and decorating them after thawing.

Reheating

Reheating is simple: pop the cookies in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 minutes. This refreshes their softness without melting the chocolate decorations too much. Avoid microwaving because it tends to melt the chocolate unevenly and can make the cookie a bit rubbery. Letting them come back to room temperature after warming always brings back that perfect chewiness I love.

FAQs

Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of melted chocolate for decoration?

You could, but melted chocolate gives you a lot more control and precision for the bear faces. Chocolate chips might melt unevenly or not provide the same delicate detail. If you’re in a pinch, you can gently melt chips, but using a piping bag with melted chocolate produces the best results for this look.

Is there a way to make these cookies less soft and more crisp?

To get a crisper cookie, try baking them a little longer—closer to 12-13 minutes—until the edges are golden brown. Just keep a close eye to avoid overbaking. You can also reduce the butter slightly, but that will change the chewy texture that makes these cookies so lovely.

Why do I need oil-based food coloring for the white chocolate?

Oil-based food coloring is essential because white chocolate is fat-based. Using water-based colorings causes the chocolate to seize and become lumpy or grainy. If you don’t have oil-based color, you can mix a bit of neutral oil with your chocolate to smooth it back out, but oil-based colors work best for smooth coloring and easy piping.

Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can make the dough up to 24 hours in advance and keep it refrigerated. Just bring it to room temperature for about 10 minutes before scooping and shaping to make it easier to work with. This can be a great way to break up the baking process.

What if I don’t have a stand mixer? Can I make the dough by hand?

Definitely! You can use a hand mixer or even whisk and mix by hand. Just be sure to thoroughly cream the butter and sugars until combined and smooth before adding the rest of the wet ingredients. For the dry ingredients, gently folding them in by hand works just fine to avoid overmixing.

Conclusion

I truly hope you give this Red Velvet Bear Cookies with Melted Chocolate Decoration Recipe a try—it’s one of those heartwarming treats that turns ordinary baking days into moments of joy. The soft red velvet flavor, combined with adorable chocolate-decorated bear faces, makes these cookies unforgettable to share with loved ones. Happy baking, and may your kitchen be filled with smiles and sweet aromas!