Teddy Bear Bread {VIDEO}

Teddy Bear Bread is a homemade yeast bread shaped like a bear with raisin eyes and belly button.

Teddy Bear Bread is a recipe that’s been in my recipe box for a very, very long time. Probably 40 years. The first time I made it, I was in middle school. My best friend, Stacy, and I had to make a meal for our Spanish class. We chose Paella and this bread. I’ll never forget making it because it took us a long time. You have to let it rise two times for an hour each time, so by the time the bread was finished, it was very late at night and we were completely slap happy! I remember lots of giggling going on. I’m talking about the kind of laughter where you can’t stop and no sound comes out. Good times!

Teddy Bear Bread does take some time to make but it is so worth it! Not only is it completely adorable, but it’s also completely delicious!

I created a video to show you the step-by-step instructions for making this bread (scroll down to see below). After you’ve mixed up the dough, you let it rise for an hour (covered). Then you punch it down and create two bears from the dough. Place them on a baking pan lined with a silicone mat. Cover and let rise for another hour.

Here’s where you can find the silicone baking mat on Amazon (affiliate):

Add raisins for the eyes and belly buttons. Brush bears with an egg wash.

Bake at 400°F. for 25-30 minutes.

Slice and enjoy.

Teddy Bear Bread makes a great gift. I think he looks so cute with a plaid ribbon tied around his neck. I gave a loaf to my sweet neighbor who turned 9. I think she really liked it!

Here’s my very old recipe card. I found the recipe in a magazine. Not sure which one but it would have been in the late 1970s. Probably Better Homes and Garden or maybe it was from Parade Magazine. I’m not sure, but I am very glad I kept it!

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Teddy Bear Bread {VIDEO}

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 3 tablespoons margarine
• 1 package active dry yeast I used Red Star
• 1 1/2 cups warm water 105°F-115°F
• 6 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 6 raisins
• 1 egg
• Oil for greasing bowl and brushing top of dough

Instructions

1. Scald 1/2 cup milk; stir in sugar, salt, and margarine. Cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk mixture and 3 cups of the flour; beat until smooth. Stir in remaining flour to make a stiff dough. Place dough on floured surface and knead 8-10 minutes. Place in greased bowl; grease top. Cover, let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch down. Divide dough in half and make one bear out of each half. I used more than half of the half for the bear's body. Then used the remaining dough for the head, ears, nose, hands and feet. Shape the main piece of dough into a big ball and place on a sheet pan lined with a silicone mat or greased. Shape a smaller ball for the head. Then add even smaller balls for the remaining body parts. Cover and let rise for one hour. Add raisins for eyes and belly buttons. Beat egg and add 1 tablespoon of water. Mix well and brush onto bears. Bake at 400°F. for 25-30 minutes. Slice and serve. Or decorate with ribbon and give as a gift. Store bread covered at room temperature for one day. It also freezes well.