One of our favorite ways to celebrate the holidays is to make some tasty Chocolate Covered Bear Paws. We rotate which candy recipes we make and these are always one of the kids favorites!
HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS CANDY
Do you have special recipes that you only make for the holidays?
I love the holidays for many reasons. But I think the most compelling reason is the time we are able to spend with my family and friends making memories. On a typical holiday, my family tends to gather together in the kitchen sharing our favorite memories and enjoying our favorite family recipes. These Homemade Bear Paws are one of my very favorites!
TIPS FOR MAKING HOMEMADE BEAR PAWS
Here are some tips and rules to follow when making this candy recipe. This can ensure you get great results every time you make it.
- Make sure you have fresh peanuts (other nuts will work too if you are not a huge fan of pecans) and making sure they are lightly salted.
- Make sure you have a great melting chocolate. I love using the professional melting chocolates if you can find a good quality one, or Ghiradelli Milk Chocolate Chips work great too!
- Quality caramels are a must. If I am in a hurry, I will melt down store bought caramels. But, if you have time, Homemade Caramel is always a great option. You can try our Homemade Caramel recipe here. If you do go with the Homemade Caramel you will probably not need to add any half and half to thin out the caramel when melting them. You may have to experiment with a batch to get the perfect combination if you use different types.
WHAT ARE CHOCOLATE BEAR PAWS?
Bear Paws are a delicious candy that you can buy from your favorite chocolatier or make at home. They are typically made from salty nuts most often peanuts, but can also be made with almonds, cashews and pecans. The nuts are them covered with a coat of sweet caramel and then dipped in a chocolate coating. They can also be called Turtles or Chocolate Covered Turtles.
Since we love both Turtles and and Bear Paws, we call these Bear Paws because we make them with peanuts we call the ones we make with pecans..Turtles. You can find our Homemade Turtles recipe here.
CHOCOLATE BEAR PAWS
You can make chocolate grizzly bear paws with milk chocolate or use a white chocolate to make polar bear paws. Of course you can always melt both kinds of chocolate and make both! We usually do both since we have some in the family who prefer white chocolate over milk chocolate. (Semi-sweet and dark chocolate also work well depending on your taste preferences)!
These are so simple and really don’t take a lot of time or talent to make. Anyone can make them!
WHAT TYPE OF CHOCOLATE SHOULD I USE?
I love using milk chocolate to make these homemade bear paws. But you can use your favorite chocolate. I recommend the following:
HOW TO STORE HOMEMADE BEAR PAW CANDY
If you think you will eat the bear claw within the next two weeks or so, the best way to store it is at room temperature in an air-tight container. Use a self-sealing bag or plastic container and put it in a cool, dark place. Can be stored in the freezer or the fridge for a longer storage time.
CAN YOU FREEZE BEAR PAW CANDY?
These freeze beautifully for at least 2-3 months in an airtight container. Just let them thaw on the counter for 30-60 minutes to warm up slowly. The chocolate may appear a little chalky but they should still taste great!
CANDY MAKING SUPPLIES
- Candy thermometer
- Pastry brush
- Wooden spoon
- Large bowl
- Saucepan
- 9 x 13 Dish
- Hot Pads
- Parchment Paper
- Double broiler
- Silicon baking mats
- Jelly roll pan
INGREDIENTS IN BEAR PAWS
HOW TO MAKE BEAR PAWS
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Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
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Melt caramels with butter and cream in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring, and repeating until smooth.
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Mix in the peanuts and then let it sit in the bowl to cool for about 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
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Spoon onto the parchment in tablespoon size mounds. Place in the fridge for 30-60 minutes until set.
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Place chocolate in a bowl and melt in the microwave on low in 30 second increments and stir until melted and smooth.
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Dip caramel cluster in the chocolate and use a fork to remove it. Holding it over the bowl, tap the fork on the edge to let any excess chocolate drip back down.
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Place cluster back on the parchment lined pan and repeat with remaining clusters.
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Put the pan back in the fridge for 30-60 minutes until chocolate is set.
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CHOCOLATE COVERED BEAR PAWS RECIPE
Chocolate Covered Bear Paws
One of our favorite ways to celebrate the holidays is to make some tasty Chocolate Covered Bear Paws. We rotate which candy recipes we make and these are always one of the kids favorites!
Ingredients
- 30 each caramels
- 3 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup peanuts roasted and/or cocktail
- 12 oz vanilla almond bark and/or milk chocolate
Instructions
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Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
-
Melt caramels with butter and cream in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring, and repeating until smooth.
-
Mix in the peanuts and then let it sit in the bowl to cool for about 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
-
Spoon onto the parchment in tablespoon size mounds. Place in the fridge for 30-60 minutes until set.
-
Place chocolate in a bowl and melt in the microwave on low in 30 second increments and stir until melted and smooth.
-
Dip caramel cluster in the chocolate and use a fork to remove it. Holding it over the bowl, tap the fork on the edge to let any excess chocolate drip back down.
-
Place cluster back on the parchment lined pan and repeat with remaining clusters.
-
Put the pan back in the fridge for 30-60 minutes until chocolate is set.
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Store in an airtight container for up to three weeks.
CHOCOLATE BEAR PAWS VIDEO TUTORIAL
HOMEMADE CANDY CHRISTMAS GIFTS
These Homemade Bear Paws are fancy enough that they make a great Christmas gifts too! Wrap them up in a pretty package and your friends and family are going to look forward to them every year. And…the best part is they look harder to make then they really are!
MORE CANDY RECIPES
If you love this recipe, you might be interested in some of our other Homemade Candy Recipes such as:
- Homemade Turtles
- Homemade Toffee
- Fudge
- 6 Minute Microwave Caramels
- Homemade Truffles
- Chocolate Covered Coconut Bites
- Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark
- Chocolate Dream Balls
- Pretzel Rolos
- Saltine Cracker Toffee
- Chocolate Dream Balls
- Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites
- Old Fashioned Divinity
PRINTABLE CHRISTMAS RECIPES EBOOK
You might be interested in our Homemade Candy Recipes and Holiday Cookie Recipe ebooks and our Holiday Recipe Binder. You can check them out by clicking on the button below.
*As always, these printable labels are for your personal use only. Please do not repost them or sell them on your sites or craft fairs, etc. This is how I am able to continue to share free content with you.
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