Polar Bear Paws
Published
Published
These no-bake Polar Bear Paws are a classic See’s Candies copycat recipe easily made at home! They’re wonderfully sweet and salty, filled with roasted nuts and caramel, then coated in silky white chocolate. Perfect for the holidays and gift giving!
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See’s Candy Polar Bear Paws Recipe
For as long as I can remember, my sister always got my Dad a big box of See’s candy for his birthday, which included Polar Bear Paws. He loved them so much. Have you ever had them? They’re caramel nut clusters, coated in a silky white chocolate shell.
I know See’s stores aren’t available everywhere, so now you can make your own…and for cheaper. They’re traditionally made by See’s with peanuts, but if there are allergies in your family, no worries, you can make them with any kind of nut or even pretzel pieces! I always hand these out to our delivery drivers, teachers, and friends during the holidays.
Another See’s Candy favorite is our Homemade Turtles, a fast, easy, irresistible 3-ingredient treat!
Helpful Tips & Variations
- Peanuts. See’s Candies polar bear paws are made with roasted salted peanuts, but you can certainly swap them out for cashews or almonds or even a combination.
- Nut-free option. If you have nut allergies, try using pretzel pieces instead!
- Heavy Cream and Butter. Both of these items help the caramel mixture melt better, but are also needed for the clusters set up properly, so don’t skip them.
- Use Ghirardelli melting wafers. These are essential for the chocolate to set properly, creating the perfect smooth texture and solid shell. Plus, the clusters can sit out at room temperature without softening. If you are using regular chocolate chips, you’ll need to melt them with some coconut oil.
- Form only a few at a time. The caramel softens to room temperature pretty easily, so I recommend taking only a few out of the refrigerator at a time when dipping them in the chocolate, otherwise they can get gooey and not hold their shape.
- Make Grizzly Bear Paws Instead. Not a fan of white chocolate? Simple swap it out with brown melting wafers and call them Grizzly Bear Paws!
Polar Bear Paws (See’s Candies Copycat)
Ingredients
- 11 ounce bag Kraft Caramel Bits, (or unwrapped soft caramel candies)
- 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 cup roasted salted peanuts
- 12 ounces Ghirardelli white chocolate melting wafers, (see note)
Instructions
- Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Place caramels, heavy cream, and butter in a microwave safe bowl; microwave in 30 second increments, stirring, and repeating until smooth. (Alternatively, you can do this over a double boiler.)
- Mix in the peanuts and then let it sit in the bowl to cool for about 5-10 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
- Spoon onto the parchment in tablespoon size mounds.
- Place in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes until set.
- Melt the Ghirardelli melting wafers according to package directions, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Working with only a couple at a time, keeping the rest chilled, dip a 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 clusters 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. Remove and enjoy or package up for a gift!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How To Make Polar Bear Paws Step By Step
- Gather your ingredients and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Place 11 ounces of caramel bits (or unwrapped soft caramel candies), 3 tablespoons heavy cream, and 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in a microwave safe bowl; microwave in 30 second increments, stirring, and repeating until smooth. (Alternatively, you can do this over a double boiler.)
- Mix in 1 cup roasted peanut halves and then let the mixture sit in the bowl to cool for about 5 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
- Spoon mixture onto the parchment in tablespoon size mounds. Place in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes until set and no longer gooey.
- Melt 12 ounces Ghirardelli white chocolate melting wafers according to package directions, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Working with only a couple at a time, keeping the rest chilled, dip a 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 clusters back on the parchment lined pan and repeat with remaining clusters.
- Put the cookie sheets back in the fridge for 30-60 minutes until chocolate is completely hardened and set. Remove and enjoy or package up for a gift!
Proper Storage
Polar Bear Paws will keep for around 10 days in a tightly sealed container, stored in a cool, dry place or the refrigerator. But make sure they’re room temperature before serving or someone could lose a tooth!
More Candy Recipes:
- Popcorn Balls
- Peanut Brittle
- Candied Pecans
- Cream Cheese Mints
- Old Fashioned Potato Candy
- Homemade Caramels
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
My Polar Bear Paws recipe was originally published 11/7/17. It was retested, reworked, and republished to be better than ever 11/30/25.
Looks good
I’ve been looking for quick & easy candy to make! Easy for my church gifts!
Do you have to use heavy cream for these cookies? Can we use half and half or milk?
Made two batches of these – one with brown candy melts (brown bear paws) and one with vanilla/white candy melts. They are incredible! Definitely follow the tip about only working with one or two at a time out of the fridge, makes it so much easier.
Made these with my grandson – so fun! We used peanuts since cashews are a bit too pricey but no other changes. Turned out great!
Can these be frozen? Making them more than 10 days out for Christmas. Thanks
Had fun making these with the kids!
I was wanting to know if using wax paper instead of parchment would work? If not would maybe foil do?
These are absolutely delicious; however, I find them a bit time-consuming to make – you need to keep returning the caramel clusters to the fridge to keep them semi-solid for ease in dipping in the chocolate. A great Christmas gift!
Love these,need to work on my execution,some difficulty with caramels and candy melts,seems you have to be quick or it starts to thicken
These are awesome. Great recipe, thank you!
Im having a hard time finding the Kraft caramel bits. Can the Kraft caramel squares…used to make caramel apples….be used? If so, how many would be equivalent to the bits.
Thanks!!
Yep, those are basically the same thing, but a little more work because you need to unwrap each one. Just use 11 ounces worth.
Love these! I made them with regular chocolate and called them Grizzly Bear Paws. Super fun and delicious treat.
Would these taste good with milk chocolate instead of white chocolate?
I think you would call it a brown bear instead of a polar bear.
Do they have to be stored in the fridge??? Thanks so much for the post!!
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature, for up to 5 days. If you do refrigerate them, let them come to room temperature before serving.
Do you use salted or unsalted cashew halves?
You can use either – they’re both delish. Depends how salty/sweet you want them to be.
Outstanding, delicious candy. I will be making this on a regular basis. Thanks so much for the recipe.
I made some of these with almonds and some with peanuts and they came out amazing! I’m going to make them for Christmas gifts this year!
Did a test run of these for Thanksgiving – big hit! Will make them again.