Pretzel Polar Bears Recipes

PRETZEL POLAR BEARS

Steps:

• Place coconut in a shallow bowl. Pour melted chocolate into 1 end of an 11x7-in. dish. Roll two-thirds of a pretzel rod in chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until chocolate just begins to lose its sheen. Repeat with remaining pretzels. Sprinkle coated pretzels with coconut, patting to help adhere., Decorate as desired, using some of the melted chocolate to attach candy coating disks to make faces, halved mini marshmallows or white chips to make ears, and mini chocolate chips, sprinkles and Sixlets to make eyes and noses., Carefully stand bears upright in a tall glass or press the bottoms of the pretzel rods into holes cut into a 2-in.-thick piece of Styrofoam. If desired, cut fruit rolls into thin strips to make scarves; tie around bears. Let stand until set.

HOMEMADE SOFT PRETZELS

Steps:

• Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.
• Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.
• In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.
• Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

POLAR EXPRETZEL

Steps:

• Coat an 8-inch-square baking dish with cooking spray and line with plastic wrap, leaving an overhang on all sides. Combine the vanilla wafers and pretzels in a large zip-top bag; crush with a rolling pin until you have coarse crumbs with some large pieces. Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Beat 2 3/4 cups heavy cream in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle in 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and continue beating until just stiff, about 1 more minute. Mix 1/2 cup of the whipped cream and 3/4 cup dulce de leche in a small bowl, then fold the mixture back into the remaining whipped cream until combined. Mix 2 cups of the dulce de leche whipped cream into the cookie-pretzel crumbs.
• Spread half of the remaining dulce de leche whipped cream in an even layer in the prepared dish. Drop spoonfuls of the cookie-pretzel mixture on top and gently smooth with an offset spatula or your fingers. Top with the remaining dulce de leche whipped cream and smooth the top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Uncover and invert onto a platter; remove the plastic. Beat the remaining 1 1/4 cups heavy cream with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the remaining 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and beat until stiff peaks form, about 2 more minutes. Spread on top of the cake. Put the remaining 1/4 cup dulce de leche in a microwave-safe measuring cup; microwave until pourable, 20 to 30 seconds. Drizzle over the cake.
• What do you think this rolled crepe should be called? Let us know; you must use the entry form in order to be considered.

FROSTY POLAR BEARS

Steps:

• Spread peanut butter on half of the crackers; top with remaining crackers to make sandwiches. Refrigerate until firm., Dip sandwiches in melted candy coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper. Dip marshmallows in coating; allow excess to drip off. Place two marshmallows on top of each cookie for ears., Dip mini crackers in melted candy coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on top of sandwiches for snouts. Top each snout with a blue M&M. Decorate with black sugar pearls for eyes and, if desired, use black decorating icing for mouths. Let stand until set. Refrigerate cookies in an airtight container.

EASY POLAR BEAR CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Place butter in a large bowl and cream until smooth with an electric mixer. Add cream cheese and beat until thoroughly combined. Mix in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla and salt until thoroughly combined. Pour in heavy cream and beat until frosting is smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Take 1 baked and cooled cupcake and frost with cream cheese frosting, making as even a layer as possible. Sprinkle coconut over the top of the frosting, and shake off any excess.
• Take 1 mini marshmallow and cut it in half horizontally using scissors or kitchen shears. Place one half of the marshmallow cut-side down in the center of the top of the cupcake, and press gently into the frosting to adhere. Take 1 black sugar pearl sprinkle and attach to the middle of the marshmallow half using a small amount of frosting; thus creating the nose and muzzle. Take 2 black sugar pearl sprinkles and place above the nose on each side for the eyes. Press gently into frosting to adhere. Take 2 whole mini marshmallows and place at the top of the cupcake on each side to create ears. Repeat with remaining cupcakes.