These Reese’s Bear Paw Cookies are almost too cute to eat! Made with chocolate cake mix, Reese’s peanut butter cups, and chocolate chips, they’re soft, chocolatey cookies with a fun little bear paw design. They’re easy to make and perfect for holiday cookie trays, parties, or a fun baking day with the kids.
I wanted a cookie that looked adorable without spending hours decorating. These little bear paws turned out so cute, and the combination of chocolate and peanut butter makes them even better!
Why I Love This Recipe
About the Ingredients
- Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix: Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge cake mix makes these cookies soft and chocolatey without needing flour or cocoa powder.
- Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture and helps keep the cookies soft.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and give the cookies structure.
- Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups: Create the center of each bear paw and add that delicious peanut butter flavor.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Three chocolate chips on each cookie make the little bear toes.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How to Make Reese’s Bear Paw Cookies
Prepare the Dough: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix the chocolate cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs until combined. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.
Scoop and Bake: Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, place the dough onto the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 9–11 minutes.
Add the Peanut Butter Cups: Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press one Reese’s mini peanut butter cup into the lower half of each cookie.
Make the Bear Paws: Place three semi-sweet chocolate chips above each peanut butter cup to create the toes, with the curled tips facing the peanut butter cup.
Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool for 15–30 minutes before serving.
Tips I Found Helpful
- Chill the Dough: Refrigerating the cookie dough for 30 minutes makes it easier to scoop and helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much.
- Don’t Skip the Parchment Paper: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Decorate While Warm: Press the Reese’s peanut butter cups into the cookies immediately after removing them from the oven so they settle into the soft centers.
- Make the Bear Toes: Position three chocolate chips above each peanut butter cup, with the curled tips facing the center of the paw.
- Let Them Cool: Allow the cookies to cool for 15–30 minutes so the chocolate has time to set before handling.
Questions Readers Ask Most
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Reese's Bear Paw Cookies
These adorable Reese's Bear Paw Cookies are made with just five ingredients! Soft chocolate cake mix cookies topped with mini Reese's peanut butter cups and chocolate chips make a fun treat for parties, holidays, or baking with the kids.
Ingredients
- 13.25 oz Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge cake mix (do not prepare according to box directions)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 18 Reese's mini peanut butter cups
- 54 semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together the chocolate cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs until combined. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.
- Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until desired doneness.
- Remove from the oven and immediately press one mini Reese's peanut butter cup into the lower half of each cookie.
- Place three semi-sweet chocolate chips above each peanut butter cup, with the curled tips facing the peanut butter cup, to create the bear toes.
- Repeat with the remaining cookies. Allow to cool for 15–30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Chilling the dough makes it easier to scoop and helps prevent spreading. Skipping this step will result in slightly flatter cookies.
- Try different cake mix flavors for a fun variation.
- Substitute Rolos, peppermint patties, Hershey's Kisses, or chocolate candy melts for the peanut butter cups.
- Sliced almonds, peanut butter chips, or Junior Mints can replace the chocolate chips for the bear toes.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
18Serving Size:
1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 731Total Fat: 47gSaturated Fat: 24gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 108mgCarbohydrates: 94gFiber: 8gSugar: 78gProtein: 7g
