Teddy Bear Brownies: Cute Valentine’s Day Treat Recipe

I’ve always loved fudgy, ooey-gooey brownies, but I make an exception for these teddy bear brownies. They’re cakey brownies topped with ruby chocolate hearts and tiny teddy bears made from oatmeal cookie dough—an adorable treat perfect for Valentine’s Day.

These brownies are delightfully cakey and especially delicious warm, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you prefer a fudgier texture, try a different brownie recipe tailored to that style.

How to make teddy bear brownies

Start by making the brownies. Melt the dark chocolate and unsalted butter together in a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over simmering water. When smooth and fully combined, remove from heat and let the mixture cool completely.

While the chocolate cools, beat the eggs and light brown sugar in a large bowl until the mixture becomes thick and pale. An electric mixer speeds this up, but a balloon whisk works well too.

Fold the cooled chocolate into the egg mixture, then gently fold in sifted all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Pour the batter into a greased 8×8-inch square pan lined with parchment paper and bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 20 minutes, until set. Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before removing.

While the brownies cool, prepare the teddy bear cookies. In a small bowl combine flour, oats (use quick-cooking or pulse old-fashioned oats briefly in a food processor), ground flaxseed, light brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Stir in water and melted unsalted butter until a soft dough forms. Shape the dough into small teddy bears—I made six full bears and two heads—and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 320°F (160°C) for about 25 minutes, then cool on a rack.

To assemble, use melted dark chocolate as “glue” to secure the teddy bear cookies on top of the cooled brownies. Add ruby chocolate hearts between the bears for a festive touch—ruby chocolate naturally has a pink hue and a slightly fruity flavor, making it ideal for Valentine’s treats.

Use additional melted chocolate (dark or white) to pipe on faces—eyes and a nose are simple and charming, and you can add a mouth or little buttons if you like. Finish with a few ruby chocolate hearts to fill gaps and add color.

These brownies are wonderful warm; serving them with vanilla ice cream melts the ice cream into the brownies for an extra-moist, irresistible dessert.

I’d love to hear your Valentine’s Day plans—leave a comment to share! If you want a no-bake alternative that still impresses, consider an icebox-style dessert instead.