Name: Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 23 min
Total time: 3 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter; 1/4 cup pure maple syrup; 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon maple extract; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 teaspoon baking powder; 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, or as needed

Jump to Recipe

The Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears are an utterly irresistible treat that combine the nutty depth of browned butter with the gentle sweetness of maple syrup and a dash of spice, all shaped into the cutest bear faces you’ve ever seen. These cookies hit a nostalgic note, balancing melt-in-your-mouth texture with beautifully caramelized undertones and just the right amount of decoration. If you’re looking for a homemade cookie that draws ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from friends, family, or your own inner child, these Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears are about to become your new baking tradition.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

What I adore about this recipe is how a few well-chosen pantry staples create something magical. Every ingredient in these Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears is thoughtfully chosen to add flavor, richness, or delightful color—so don’t skip a thing!

Unsalted butter: Browning the butter is the soul of the cookie, giving deep, nutty flavors you just can’t fake.
Pure maple syrup: Don’t settle for syrup substitutes—real maple is crucial for that unmistakable cozy sweetness.
Packed dark brown sugar: Adds a lovely caramel undertone and helps give the bears their golden hue.
Vanilla extract: A little vanilla rounds out the flavors and makes everything taste warmer.
Maple extract: This liquid gold boosts the cookie’s maple personality, making it front and center.
Ground cinnamon: Just a whisper brings gentle warmth and spice to every bite.
Ground nutmeg: It’s a subtle touch, but it adds that “what is that deliciousness?” effect.
Salt: Never skip the salt; it perks up all the sweet flavors and creates perfect balance.
All-purpose flour: Provides the backbone for the shortbread snap and crumbly texture.
Baking powder: Just a pinch for a tiny lift and tender bite, so your bears don’t turn out dense.
Chocolate chips: Melt and pipe for decorating the bears’ faces—because every bear needs eyes and a nose!

How to Make Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears

Step 1: Brown the Butter

The magic starts here: place your butter in a small, light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Watch closely and swirl often—the butter will melt, foam, and eventually brown with irresistible nutty aromas and golden specks. As soon as you see those brown flecks start to form on the bottom, and your kitchen smells like toasty heaven (about 8 to 10 minutes), pour the browned butter into a mixing bowl and let it cool for 5 minutes. This base transforms ordinary shortbread into something unforgettable!

Step 2: Combine Wet Ingredients and Spices

Into your warm, aromatic butter, mix in the pure maple syrup and packed dark brown sugar. Stir until glossy and combined, then add the vanilla extract, maple extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. These fragrant additions layer in flavor—a little warmth from the spice, that unmistakable maple sweetness, and pops of vanilla that round it all out.

Step 3: Incorporate Dry Ingredients

Now, gently add the flour and baking powder to your bowl. Mix until you have a smooth, soft dough—don’t overwork it or your bears will toughen up. Just bring it together into a cohesive, golden dough. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, which ensures your cookies keep their adorable bear shape and rich, buttery flavor.

Step 4: Prepare Your Baking Sheet

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper so your Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears lift off easily without breaking. It’s a little thing that makes a big difference—especially with all the details you’ll add!

Step 5: Shape the Cookies

This is the fun part! Scoop 1 tablespoon of chilled dough, roll it into a ball, and flatten for each bear’s face. Form a smaller ball for the snout and two minuscule balls for ears, arranging them artfully to create that bear look. Repeat with all the dough, spacing the bears about one inch apart on your baking sheet. Give them a 20-minute chill in the fridge to help them hold their shape in the oven.

Step 6: Bake the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 165°C (325°F). Slide the chilled baking sheet in and bake for 20 to 23 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown and the edges just begin to color. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes before setting them on a wire rack. This keeps your bears crisp-yet-tender with their classic shortbread crumb.

Step 7: Decorate with Chocolate

Melt your chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between until smooth. Transfer to a piping or freezer bag, snip a tiny corner, and pipe little eyes and a nose on each bear face. Let the chocolate set fully before serving—this is when your Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears really come to life!

How to Serve Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears

Garnishes

Garnishing these cookies can be as simple as a light dusting of powdered sugar for a snowy look, or even a touch of edible gold leaf if you’re in a fancy mood. For an extra special touch, try drizzling a bit of white chocolate or dotting the ears with colorful sprinkles. Anything that complements the maple and brown butter flavors is fair game—just don’t cover up their adorable expressions!

Side Dishes

Serve your Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears alongside a steaming mug of coffee, chai tea, or even a spiced hot cocoa. For an afternoon treat, pair them with tart berries or sliced apples to balance their rich sweetness. Around the holidays, a glass of cold milk or a vanilla milkshake is a nostalgic match made in heaven.

Creative Ways to Present

Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears make showstopping additions to a cookie exchange or a playful centerpiece for a kids’ birthday party. Arrange them in a rustic basket lined with checked cloth for a picnic vibe, or slip each bear into a cellophane bag with a ribbon for the sweetest homemade gift. You can even include them on a dessert board with chocolate-dipped fruit and caramel popcorn for a woodland-themed gathering.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once your Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears have cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Layer with parchment paper to keep the chocolate decorations intact and the cookies fresh—if you can resist gobbling them all up in a day or two!

Freezing

These cookies freeze beautifully. Stack cooled, undecorated bears in an airtight container (with parchment between layers) and freeze for up to 2 months. When you’re ready, thaw at room temperature and decorate with melted chocolate just before serving so the faces look their freshest.

Reheating

If you find your cookies have lost a little crispness, pop them in a 150°C (300°F) oven for 3–4 minutes. Let them cool before enjoying—they’ll have that fresh-baked texture again. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the shortbread too soft and compromise those perfect bear shapes.

FAQs

Can I make these cookies without maple extract?

Absolutely! While maple extract really enhances the flavor, you can still get delicious results using only pure maple syrup. The cookies may have a slightly gentler maple flavor, but they’ll be every bit as delightful.

What can I use instead of chocolate chips for decoration?

If you don’t have chocolate chips, try using melted white chocolate, dark chocolate, or even melted candy melts. Mini chocolate candies or black sesame seeds also work for cute facial features!

Why do I need to chill the dough twice?

The first chill ensures the Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears hold their shape while you assemble the dough balls and details. The second chill (after shaping) helps prevent the bears from spreading or losing their features when they bake—giving you those perfect, defined faces every time.

Can I prepare the dough in advance?

Definitely! The dough can stay covered in the fridge for up to 48 hours before shaping. You can also freeze the shaped but unbaked bears, then bake straight from frozen, just adding a minute or two to the baking time.

How do I keep the bears from sticking to the baking sheet?

Always line your baking sheet with parchment paper; it ensures easy removal and zero sticking. If you’re out of parchment, a silicone baking mat is the next best choice for stress-free cookie lifting.

Final Thoughts

Few things in the kitchen spark more joy than a batch of homemade Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears. With their rich flavor, playful appearance, and sweet aroma, they’re a true crowd-pleaser. I hope you’ll give them a try—your cookie jar (and your inner kid) will thank you!

Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 31 reviews

Author: Sophie
Total Time: 3 hours
Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

These adorable Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears are a delightful treat for any occasion. The rich flavors of brown butter, maple syrup, and warm spices make these cookies irresistible, while the cute bear shapes add a touch of whimsy to your baking.

Instructions

Brown the butter – Place butter into a small light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling often, until small brown bits begin to stick to the bottom of the pan and the butter smells nutty, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour butter into a mixing bowl and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Combine wet ingredients and spices – Add maple syrup and brown sugar to butter and stir to combine. Mix in vanilla extract, maple extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until combined.
Incorporate dry ingredients – Add in flour and baking powder and mix until a smooth dough forms. Cover and place into the fridge for at least 2 hours.
Prepare baking sheet – Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Shape the cookies – Remove dough from the fridge. Scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball; place onto the cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Scoop out 1/4 teaspoon of dough and roll into a small ball, then flatten into a circle to form the snout of the bear. Scoop out two 1/8 teaspoons of dough and roll into tiny balls; place on each side of the top of the cookie to make the ears. Continue rolling out and forming bear shapes until dough is used up. Space cookies about 1 inch apart on the baking sheet. Chill baking sheet in the fridge for 20 minutes to allow cookies to firm up.
Bake the cookies – Preheat the oven to 165°C (325°F). Remove the baking sheet from the fridge and place into the oven. Bake until cookies are slightly browned on the bottom, 20 to 23 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate with chocolate – Place chocolate chips into a small microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup and heat until melted, about 1 minute, stopping to stir every 30 seconds. Pour melted chocolate into a piping bag or a freezer bag and snip a small hole in one corner. Pipe eyes and noses onto the cookies. Allow the chocolate to harden before serving.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 23 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American