Polar Bear Cookies Recipe for Kids’ Parties

Polar Bear Cookies made EASY!

Decorated Christmas cookies don’t have to be complicated. These round polar bear cookies are quick, kid-friendly, and require only simple tools and one frosting color. Use a circle cutter, a glass, or the top of an empty can to cut perfect rounds, then add M&M candies for eyes, cheeks, and a nose to create an instantly adorable holiday cookie.

1. No special cutter required: Use a circle cookie cutter, glass cup, or an empty soup can to cut round cookies.
2. Simple decorating: One color of frosting and M&M candies are all you need to make each face.
3. Flexible dough options: Use my thick cut out sugar cookie recipe, a fluffy sugar cookie recipe for a softer bite, or premade dough from the store if you prefer convenience.
4. Printable guide: A free printable instruction sheet is available to help kids decorate step-by-step.

Psst! For more kid-friendly sugar cookie designs, see my 5 EASY Christmas Cookies for Kids.

What You Need to Make Polar Bear Cookies

These cookies require minimal supplies and are perfect for holiday baking with kids.

• Cut out sugar cookie dough (recipe below)
• White buttercream frosting (recipe & color tips below)
• M&M candies (mini and regular sizes work well)
• Circle cookie cutter or glass cup (about 2.5–3″ diameter)
• Bonus: Free printable instruction guide for kids

Tip: Avoid wet icings like royal icing or thin glaze since their moisture can cause M&M colors to bleed. Use a stable buttercream instead.

Step 1: Make Circle Cookies

Roll dough to 3/8″–1/2″ thick and cut into roughly 2.5–3″ circles. Bake according to your sugar cookie recipe and let cool completely before decorating. My recipe yields soft, slightly thick cookies that hold decorations well.

Tip: No circle cutter? Use a glass cup, wine tumbler, or the top of an empty soup can — anything round will work.

Step 2: Frost Cookie

Spread white buttercream with a small offset spatula or butter knife. For neater edges use a piping bag to outline first, then fill in. Optionally, immediately press the frosted cookie into white sanding sugar for extra sparkle and texture.

Step 3: Decorate Faces!

With white frosting, pipe two small dots at the top of the cookie for ears and one larger dot in the center for the snout. Alternatively, use mini marshmallows for ears. Press two mini brown M&M’s for the eyes, two mini red M&M’s for rosy cheeks, and one regular brown M&M for the nose. Using mixed sizes helps the nose stand out and gives the face more character.

Tip: Print the free instruction guide to help kids follow each step easily. It makes decorating fun and fuss-free for little hands.

Mini or regular chocolate chips, candy eyeballs, or small sprinkles make good substitutes. If needed, tint a small amount of frosting black or brown and pipe facial details, though that takes more precision. For a paw cookie variation, place one larger brown candy in the center surrounded by three mini brown candies.

Yes. Use any round object to cut dough — a glass, cup, or empty can works well. Round cutters are forgiving and ideal for simple holiday cookie decorating.

Yes. Frosted cookies can be frozen up to one month in an airtight container. Freeze them in a single layer first, then separate layers with parchment to prevent sticking. Adding sanding sugar helps protect the frosting when stacking.

Absolutely. Freeze the unfrosted cookies and thaw to room temperature before decorating. This is a convenient option for cookie-decorating parties or preparing ahead for holiday events.

More Easy Christmas Cookie Ideas Using M&M’s

Round cookies are versatile — turn them into Santa faces, reindeer, wreaths, or gingerbread-person shapes using simple candy placements and minimal piping. A few other circle cookie ideas include Santa Face Sugar Cookies, Circle Gingerbread Man Sugar Cookies, Easy Rudolph Cookies, and Wreath Sugar Cookies. Round cookies are a great shortcut to making an eye-catching holiday platter that looks more elaborate than the effort required.