You will fall in love with Penguin and Polar Bear Oreos with their beady little eyes and chocolate tuxedos. Crunchy chocolate sandwich cookies coated in chocolate are always a hit with both children and adults.
Why you'll love this recipe
These adorable creatures were created for a polar themed military care package. I thought polar bears and penguins went together until I did a little googling.
As it turns out, both animals ARE polar, but live at opposite poles! Penguins live in the southern hemisphere and polar bears live in the northern hemisphere. That’s probably a good thing for the penguins, who would most certainly become polar bear snacks.
My other discovery could almost make me seem like a blogger who plans ahead. I learned that January 20th is “officially” Penguin Awareness Day (with its own Facebook page). Though the banks and schools won’t close for this holiday, it would be an excellent reason to make some Penguin Oreos.
I mentioned in my previous post that I “adopted” a female sailor through Soldiers Angels and will be sending her monthly care packages until her deployment ends. My intent is to communicate through cookies, my gratitude for her service and a small taste of home.
The rest of the box is filled treats and trinkets that will hopefully cause some smiles. I share my recipes and theme suggestions as a resource to anyone looking for care package ideas.
Care package contents
Had I known I would be working on a Penguin and Polar Bear theme a little sooner, I probably could have found some cute penguin wrapping paper in the Christmas aisle. On half price clearance would have been even better.
The real trick to ongoing care packages is to keep your eyes open at all times for potential themes and contents, and collect goodies as you find them. I didn’t find penguin wrapping paper, but I did find penguin stickers on clearance.
The large flat rate box was lined with snowflake paper (left over from last January’s snow theme) and dotted with penguin and polar bear stickers.
I didn’t get a separate photo of the contents this time, but I can assure you the box was filled to capacity.
In addition to my baked/decorated cookies this care package transported a stuffed penguin, a Pez penguin, chocolate snowball candies, packaged Hostess Snowball cupcakes, hot drink mix for cappuccino, cider, and hot cocoa, and a canister of caramel corn that, when empty, doubles as a flickering lantern with a battery operated candle.
This was a very sweet snack driven package!
Instructions
The Penguin and the Polar Bear Oreos are very easy to make, but require a little patience. I made all of the mistakes for you. Follow these simple directions and you can avoid any frustration I encountered.
Both designs use regular Oreos (NOT double stuff) and mini Oreos. For 24 decorated cookies, 12 of each design, I used 2 ½ cups of melted white chocolate and 1 cup of melted dark chocolate .
Each Polar Bear Oreo requires 2 regular Oreos, 2 mini Oreos, 1 brown mini M&M, and two candy eyes. In preparation for assembly, twist open the 2 regular Oreos and the mini Oreo so that the filling remains on one side and the other side is just cookie.
The 2 filling sides of the regular Oreos, and 1 filling side plus 2 plain sides of the mini Oreos will be used. Store the unused sides for another project or eat them as you go.
To assemble, press the 2 plain mini Oreos (ears) very gently onto one of the regular Oreos. Gently press the second regular Oreo on top. Using the filling as “glue”, attach the mini Oreo with filling (snout) on top.
Dip the assembled polar bear in melted white chocolate, tap to remove excess, place on a wax paper lined baking sheet, and refrigerate until the chocolate is set (about 15 minutes). Use a toothpick to apply a dot of melted chocolate to “glue” the candy eyes and mini M&M nose in place.
Penguin Oreos are almost assembly free. The only patience needed is for waiting for each layer of dipped chocolate to set.
Each Penguin Oreo requires 1 regular Oreo, 2 candy eyes, and 1 orange chocolate coated sunflower seed.
To assemble, dip the Oreo in melted white chocolate, tap to remove excess, place on a wax paper lined baking sheet, and refrigerate until the chocolate is set (about 15 minutes). Dip one third of the coated Oreo in melted dark chocolate, tap to remove excess, and refrigerate again until set (about 5-10 minutes).
For the final chocolate dip, coat the opposite side of the Oreo ⅓ into the dark chocolate. Refrigerate to set. Use a toothpick to apply a dot of melted chocolate to “glue” the candy eyes and beak in place.
Store Penguin and Polar Bear Oreos in an airtight container at room temperature for several weeks. For shipping, wrap 2-3 cookies in plastic wrap or sealed plastic bags.
Place several wrapped bundles into a larger freezer weight zip lock bag. Pack securely ensuring no movement in transit.
New Recipe: Black and White Biscotti
Black and White Biscotti (a.k.a. Penguin Biscotti due to their black and white attire) are the new recipe included in this care package. Coconut White Chocolate Biscotti (a.k.a. Polar Bear Biscotti) would have gone well with this theme too.
Black and White Biscotti are made with a layer of vanilla dough encased in a layer of chocolate dough. The crunchy-but-not-hard texture of these cookies is perfect for dunking in the beverage of your choice, or munching on their own.
I have no experience with deployed Navy care packages and have been told that mail to ships can take three weeks. Biscotti are the perfect cookie for longer storage. I can be assured that whenever Sailor J. gets her care package, the Black and White Biscotti will be crunchy and delicious.
Related recipes
These Winter Wonderland Cookies are a beautiful treat for the whole winter season! The decorating is easy and the results are impressive.
With a handful of ingredients, you can easily make these Chocolate Covered Oreos Christmas Tree Cookies.
Christmas Oreos Rudolph Cookies are SO cute. This simple, no-bake recipe is ideal for gifting, care packages, and cookie platters.
Christmas Pretzels are an easy and fun project the whole family will enjoy! Pretzel Christmas Treats are great gifts as well as tasty snacks!
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First Published: January 17, 2016. Last Updated: December 4, 2021. Updated for additional information and better reader experience.
Jill
These are adorable, but the polar bears were a disaster for me. As soon as I dipped them in the white chocolate they imploded! If I were to make them again, I’d use the white chocolate to glue the cookies together. It wouldn’t take much, but I would have been successful. The frosting did not do the trick. I also think I should have thinned both dipping chocolates more, my cookies aren’t as smooth. The penguins turned out cute, the polar bears? Not so much!
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Jill. When you say that your cookies "imploded", are you saying that the creme filling inside the cookies melted? Maybe your white dipping chocolate was too hot? I don't know that using white chocolate as glue would help because it would melt too. The problem might also be the thickness of the dipping chocolate. Not only didn't it make the cookies as smooth as you wanted, but I think it cause you to keep the cookies in the dipping container too long in order to coat the cookies. I highly recommend the candy or chocolate discs formulated for dipping. I'm glad at least your penguins are cute!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life
Those are seriously so cute!!! I love both animals. What a fun care package!!!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Jocelyn! I love cute cookies. 🙂 I am hoping that cute=smiles=fun care package. I definitely know that chocolate covered Oreos make everyone happy. 🙂
Reeni
These are so stinkin' cute I can't stand it! Thank you for including all the photos showing the process! It must be time-consuming to do that but it helps so much. Your sailor is going to be thrilled to get this! It's so thoughtful and fun. Kind of like Christmas all over again.
The Monday Box
Thanks, Reeni! I felt so goofy smiling at these decorated Oreos, but I couldn't help it! The cookies are easy to make, but not so easy to describe. A picture speaks 1,000 words, thanks to Picmonkey! 🙂 I do hope you are right! The happiness of Christmas is just what I wish will happen when this box is opened!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
Dear Wendy, Your sailor is going to flip. These penguins and polar bears are absolutely adorable. I loved learning what you're doing with Soldiers Angels - what a great program! And a great box of goodies.
The Monday Box
Thank you, Allie! Long story made short: I knew nothing about how isolated and unappreciated our military often feel, until I read the blog, Gina Left the Mall. I bake. I believe in the power of love in a care package. Soldiers Angels gives me the opportunity to thank our military heroes through baking and sharing my ideas here on the blog. I hope my boxes might help others who are searching for ideas for their own care packages! Soldiers Angels IS a great program! I am so glad I found your blog! 🙂
Chris Scheuer
Oh my gosh Wendy, these are so... adorable. I know your sailor girl will be THRILLED to open this box. You are so very creative!
The Monday Box
Thank you, Chris! Hopefully, if I have fun making the cookies, Sailor J. and friends will have fun receiving and eating them!
Ashley
I didn't realize they were from opposite poles! Learned something new today! 🙂 These oreos are just too darn cute! So fun for wintery weather too!!
The Monday Box
Amazing what one can learn while dipping Oreos! 😉 Thanks, Ashley! Surely, these little guys will offer a smile or two. They certainly make me smile. Plus, everyone loves Oreos!
Monica
Wendy, these are incredibly adorable! Your cookies are perfectly executed and so smart. Do you pick the themes or is it assigned to you?
The Monday Box
Thanks, Monica! The truth is that usually the themes pick me! There is no requirement for a theme at all with Soldiers Angels. Just a box of caring in whatever form you choose. I like themes to help me figure out what to include. Holidays are often obvious. Most other themes happen when I am at the Dollar store looking around. That is how the luau theme happened. The Dollar store was overflowing with decorations and candy with a luau theme. This box happened when I saw the penguin cookies at the supermarket and I planned the box around them. I found some really cute stuff at Michaels the other day that, believe it or not, have next December's theme wrapped up. (Assuming that next December I can find the stuff I bought!)
Mir
These polar (opposite poles, of course) cuties are the best!! I am so psyched that you even used the mini Oreos for them. That is pretty brilliant! And the whole care package theme works great, too. Warm beverages, adorable dipped Oreos...I'm hiring you to assemble packages when my kids leave home!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Mir! With all of the cold weather and snow, a warm beverage and dipped Oreo is definitely comfort food! The best part of working with the Oreos, is eating the halves that I don't need for the design. 🙂 Did you know that the mini Oreos taste different from the big ones?
Ada Plainaki
Aww! such cuties!!!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Ada! They make me smile every time I look at them. 🙂
Gina
These are absolutely adorable! And the entire box is clearly filled with so much care and joy, I am SURE your sailor will love it. And have fun sharing it too! And I also like the part where you say, "I made the mistakes for you,"...lol that is very helpful indeed. 🙂
The Monday Box
Thanks, Gina! The little guys are so cute, I couldn't resist them.At the very least, I imagine Sailor J. might be laughing as she shakes her head wondering what kind of a goof ball she got as an "angel"! 🙂 Its all about the smiles , so that's fine. The best part of making mistakes when you are working with Oreos and chocolate is eating your mistakes! No problem. Glad to do it for you. 😉
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
Another adorable cookie Wendy! You are indeed creative. I can't wait to hear if your sailor responds 🙂 How fun!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Tricia! I am developing a repertoire of cute cookies! 😉 I can't seem to resist their eyes! It would be great to hear from Sailor J., even just to know how long the mail takes and what some of her favorite things are. If I don't hear anything, I'll just wing it!