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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Honey Graham Bears

    By Wendy Sondov · Published: Feb 12, 2017 · Modified: Feb 8, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Honey Graham Bears are as tasty as they are adorable. With garlands of heart sprinkles between their outstretched paws, these little bears send the message to those you bake for, on Valentine’s Day or any other day, that you love them beary much!

    Honey Graham Bears holding garlands of sprinkle hearts.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    I made two versions of Honey Graham Bears, and liked them both.

    The darker bears are made with brown sugar, using the graham recipe from Honey Graham Sandwich Cookies (using white whole wheat instead of regular). They are a little sweeter with more honey flavor, than the lighter bears.

    The lighter bears (recipe below) are made with granulated sugar and include oat flour as well as white whole wheat. They are a touch more crisp (less moisture in the recipe) with a milder flavor.

    A note about whole-wheat flours: Whole-wheat and White Whole-wheat flour are both made from all three layers of the wheat berry, so they have the same nutritional value.

    Whole-wheat flour is made from hard red wheat. It has a nutty taste. White Whole-Wheat flour is made from hard white wheat. It has a milder, sweeter taste and a lighter color. The two flours can be used interchangeably in recipes.

    Bears cookies in a heart shaped bowl.

    Instructions

    This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

    1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add flours, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk to combine. Beat in butter cubes until a crumbly mixture forms.
    2. In a small bowl mix milk, honey, and vanilla. Add the liquid to the flour mixture and mix until the dough comes together in a ball.
    3. Flatten the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate to firm slightly (about 30 minutes).
    4. Cut two sheets of parchment paper to the size of your baking sheet.
    5. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Working with one half of the dough at a time, place between the sheets of parchment.
    6. Roll out to ⅛ inch thickness. Remove the top sheet of parchment. Use a bear cookie cutter to cut out as many cookies as possible. Transfer the cookies to a parchment lined baking sheet, or remove excess dough between the cookies, and slide the parchment, onto a cookie sheet. The cookies don’t spread, so they can be close together while baking.
    7. Use a toothpick or skewer tip to poke eyes and a nose onto each bear.
    8. Bake at 350 degrees F for 7-9 minutes, until edges turn golden brown.
    9. Cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
    10. To prepare Honey Icing, in a small bowl, mix together the honey, vanilla, milk, and confectioners’ sugar. The icing should be the consistency of white glue. Adjust the consistency as needed by adding a bit more sugar for thickening or milk for thinning. Pour the icing into a ziplock sandwich bag. Cut a small piece off a bottom corner of the bag for piping.
    11. For each bear cookie, pipe a line of icing from paw to paw then add heart sprinkles to the wet icing.
    Rows of graham cracker bears holding garlands of heart sprinkles.

    Storage

    Honey Graham Bears can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for at least 3 weeks.

    Tips

    • Serve these graham cracker bears with your favorite dip or on their own as a wholesome snack.
    • Treat bags filled with honey grahams bears make great Valentine gifts.
    • Make these cookies with different sprinkle garlands celebrate other holidays as well.
    Graham bear cookies on a white plate, each holding a garland of hearts sprinkles.

    More Valentine treats

    These fudgy Valentine Brownies are topped with sparkling sugar cookie hearts!

    Red Hot Cookies are crunchy, pink Valentine Biscotti made with cinnamon red hot candies.

    Heart shaped sugar cookies made in silicone molds are coated in sparkling pink icing.

    Marzipan Chocolates look and taste like a gourmet treat, but are a quick and easy confection that makes a beautiful gift and a luscious snack!

    Rose Sugar Cookies are a gorgeous edible bouquet of rose shaped cookies.

    Graham bears in a bowl.

    My experience with this recipe

    When my children were very little, we had many special bedtime rituals.  

    My daughter in particular had a routine she did not like to deviate from, including specific books to be read over and over (to this day I can recite “Goodnight Moon” from memory) and a nightly dialog that we exchanged.

    The good-night dialog always started with me, standing with my arms opened as wide as they would go, telling my daughter, “I love you thiiiiiiiiis much!” She would then repeat the motion and the words to me.

    That's the phrase that came to me immediately as I baked Honey Graham Bears. The little bear is stretching out his paws to show how much love can fit between them.

    Both versions of Honey Graham Bears were included in my Valentine's Day military care package. There are so many fun plays on words that can be used with Honey Graham Bears.

    I sent these cookies in a final military care package to Soldier L. whose deployment is ending soon. The theme of my box was “Thank you beary much!”  I wanted to be sure that Soldier L. knows that he is “beary special” to me.

    I think it's so important to let family and friends know they are loved and appreciated, not just on holidays, but all the time. Bake some Honey Graham Bears to let the special people in your life know how beary much you love them!

    Ready to bake? Join the free membership group to get new recipes and a newsletter delivered to your inbox! You can also stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’d love to stay in touch!

    Honey Graham Bears

    Honey Graham Bears

    Adorable, crunchy graham cracker bears with garlands of heart sprinkles are a whole grain snack the entire family will enjoy.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 1 hour
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Chill time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
    Servings: 36
    Calories: 60kcal
    Author: Wendy Sondov
    Adapted From: "Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy" by Alice Medrich

    Ingredients

    • 1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour I used white whole wheat flour
    • ½ cup + 1 tablespoon oat flour or ½ C + 1 T rolled oats ground very fine in food processor
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into 1 inch cubes
    • 3 tablespoons milk
    • 3 tablespoons honey
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • Heart sprinkles
    • FOR HONEY ICING:
    • ½ tablespoon honey
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon milk
    • ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar

    Instructions

    • In the bowl of an electric mixer, add flours, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk to combine.
    • Beat in butter cubes until a crumbly mixture forms.
    • In a small bowl mix milk, honey, and vanilla.
    • Add the liquid to the flour mixture and mix until the dough comes together in a ball.
    • Flatten the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate to firm slightly (about 30 minutes).
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Cut two sheets of parchment paper to the size of your baking sheet.
    • Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Working with one half of the dough at a time, place between the sheets of parchment.
    • Roll out to ⅛ inch thickness.
    • Remove the top sheet of parchment.
    • Use a bear cookie cutter to cut out as many cookies as possible. Transfer the cookies to a parchment lined baking sheet, or remove excess dough between the cookies, and slide the parchment, onto a cookie sheet. The cookies don’t spread, so they can be close together while baking.
    • Use a toothpick or skewer tip to poke eyes and a nose onto each bear.
    • Bake for 7-9 minutes, until edges turn golden brown.
    • Cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
    • To prepare Honey Icing, in a small bowl, mix together the honey, vanilla, milk, and confectioners’ sugar. The icing should be the consistency of white glue. Adjust the consistency as needed by adding a bit more sugar for thickening or milk for thinning.
    • Pour the icing into a ziplock sandwich bag. Cut a small piece off a bottom corner of the bag for piping.
    • For each bear cookie, pipe a line of icing from paw to paw then add heart sprinkles to the wet icing.
    • Allow the icing to dry completely (several hours or overnight) before storing.
    • Honey Graham Bears can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for at least 3 weeks.

    Notes

    Packing tips
    • Honey Graham Bears will keep fresh in an airtight container for 3 or more weeks.
    • To prevent breakage as well as aid freshness, I wrap bundles of 2 graham bears (backs together) in plastic wrap, then place the bundles in a freezer weight ziplock bag or airtight storage container for shipping.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 60kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 55mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 61IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheMondayBox or tag #themondaybox!

    First Published: February 12, 2017. Last Updated: February 8, 2022. Updated for additional information and better reader experience.Save

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shirley Wood

      January 16, 2019 at 3:34 pm

      I am confident that soldier L will always be grateful for receiving this special gift. They are almost too pretty to eat. Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday.

      Reply
    2. HolyVeggies

      January 16, 2019 at 3:45 am

      these jus look adorable! perfect for Valentine's Day or for kids.

      Reply
    3. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome

      February 17, 2018 at 7:35 am

      I love these!! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party!

      Reply
    4. susan

      February 13, 2018 at 3:36 pm

      Thank you so much for joining the "Happiness is Homemade Link Party". I love graham cracker and these cookies are so cute. I have Pinned to my Pinterest. Susan @craftingafamily.com

      Reply
    5. Julie Christiansen

      February 22, 2017 at 8:58 am

      These are absolutely adorable! I can see using them for for multiple occasions, we're big teddy bear fans over here! Thanks for sharing! Pinned!

      Reply
    6. Miz Helen

      February 21, 2017 at 4:42 pm

      These are just the cutest little bears ever!! Thanks so much for sharing it with Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back to see us real soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
      • Laura Garcia

        February 11, 2022 at 10:45 am

        Can i use regular white flour?

        Reply
        • Wendy Sondov

          February 11, 2022 at 11:17 am

          You can, but they won't taste like graham crackers.

          Reply
    7. saltandserenity

      February 15, 2017 at 8:04 am

      Beyond adorable. I have seen the almond hugging ones, but I like these soooooooo much more!!
      Your story of bedtime routines took me back to my own with my kids and I started to feel kind of old. Where did the time go?

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 18, 2017 at 12:07 pm

        Thanks so much, Cindy! It seems like forever when the kids are little and life revolves around them. Then suddenly, you realize that forever was so short and that the time goes so quickly. When I look at photos of my babies, I can't believe they were once so small. 🙂

        Reply
    8. Leo Tat

      February 14, 2017 at 3:49 pm

      Wow, those bears are cute and perfect baking for Valentines, Wendy. We made colorful Valentines Pretzels with the kids today. If I saw your post earlier, we could have tried the bears too.

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 14, 2017 at 7:44 pm

        Thank you Leo Tat! I bet the kids had fun making the pretzels! These little bears are tasty honey grahams that would be fun to make and eat all year! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Chris Scheuer

      February 13, 2017 at 6:12 pm

      Aww, so darn cute. Too cute for words! I love these little bears and love your story too!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 13, 2017 at 6:15 pm

        Thanks, Chris! Mini cookie cutters are the secret to cute cookies, I think. I couldhappily have a menagerie of tiny bears, bunnies, squirrels, and hedgehogs!

        Reply
    10. Tricia @ Saving room for dessert

      February 13, 2017 at 1:39 pm

      I saw these on Facebook and had to pop over and tell you how adorable they are! Another amazing recipe Wendy!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 13, 2017 at 6:05 pm

        Thanks, Tricia! It's fun to create cuteness. 🙂

        Reply
    11. Laura Dennis

      February 13, 2017 at 9:11 am

      These are adorable. Perfect for my Baylor Bear!! Pinning to my College Care Package board and my Sic Em Bears board.

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 13, 2017 at 9:39 am

        Thanks, Laura! What a great idea to use Honey Graham Bears as Baylor mascot bears! Maybe holding a green and gold garland? Those would be sure to cause smiles!!

        Reply
    12. cakespy

      February 13, 2017 at 5:43 am

      I can hardly stand it. These are so adorable!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 13, 2017 at 9:42 am

        Thanks, Jessie! I am glad I am not the only one who could hardly stand the cuteness! 🙂 These little guys made my day.

        Reply
    13. Ada Plainaki

      February 13, 2017 at 12:28 am

      Awww, these are sooooooo cute Wendy!!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 13, 2017 at 9:46 am

        Thanks, Ada! Sometimes these bears are used as "hugging bears" with their arms folded over an almond. I liked the idea of their arms open wide, welcoming a hug. 🙂

        Reply

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    I'm Wendy, a baker, care package maker, and smile creator. On The Monday Box you’ll find care package inspiration and recipes for delicious treats that make it easy for you to share home baked love. Let’s spread happiness, one cookie at a time!

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