Chocolate Teddy Bears - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2/3 c. butter or margarine
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Preparation

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy.
Add eggs; blend well.
Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, blending thoroughly.
Chill until dough is firm enough to handle.
To shape teddy bears, for each cookie, form a portion of dough into 1 large ball for body (1 to 1 1/2-inches), 1 medium size ball for head (3/4 to 1-inch), 4 small balls for arms and legs (1/2-inch), 2 smaller balls for ears, 1 tiny ball for nose and 4 tiny balls for paws (optional).
On an ungreased cookie sheet, flatten the large ball slightly for body.
Attach medium size ball for head by overlapping slightly onto body.
Place balls for arms, legs and ears and a tiny ball on head for nose.
Arrange other tiny balls atop ends of legs for arms and paws, if desired.
With a wooden pick, draw eyes and mouth; you can also pierce a small hole at top of cookies for use as tree ornaments.
Bake at 350\u00b0 for 6 to 8 minutes, or until set.
Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack.
Cool completely.
Store in covered container for a gift or allow cookies to dry
overnight before hanging.