Last year, my dear friend Heidi, the Queen of Bread Shaping, wrote a tutorial on making teddy bears from bread dough.
I finally had a chance to try it out last weekend, and was delighted with the result – isn’t he cute? I used our Pain Viennois recipe, but the bear would probably have had more definition if I’d used a lower hydration dough.
I skyped Heidi midway through the process to ask for help and ended up having a lovely long chat with her as the bear baked…
If you’d like to try making a bear for yourself, Heidi’s instructions can be found here. I used the following dough proportions:
- Body 200g
- Head 100g
- Limbs 25g each
- Ears 16g each
- Snout 12g
We gave our bear to Small Girl, who marched across the road to pick him up. After she had disarticulated him with the help of her sisters, she turned to her mother and said, “Do you think Auntie Celia will make me a rabbit next?”
Auntie Heidi, do you know how to make a bread rabbit? ♥
. . . . .
Edit: And look at what Auntie Heidi came up with – a bread rabbit for Easter! Her tutorial is here!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Oh how absolutely darling! I am in love with your teddy! :D
Oh he is gorgeous, Celia! My only concern at making one would be that he (or she!) would be too cute to eat! But the temptation is just too strong so next bread batch may turn into a teddy bears’ picnic! Thank you so much for sharing the proportions. E x
Extra cute ! Such a nice idea to bake this little one with kids around. Thanks Celia :)
Absolutely adorable!!!! I wish I could make this sometime when I’m in Brazil with the kids in my family. Would be so much fun!
He looks too good to eat! How could Small Girl and her sisters just tear him apart like that? :(
I shall have to have a go at this for my sister’s g/children, mine are too grown up now to appreciate it I fear! He’s really lovely!
How very cute, Celia and Heidi! Too cute to eat, almost ; )
That is so cute, Celia. I have no idea how you did it but he looks too good to dismember. Can’t wait to see the rabbit! xx
I too agree, your teddy is sooooo cute. I could not bear to tear into him at all.
Its gorgeous Celia. Lovely that it had somewhere appreciative to go also. You are very clever
Very clever Celia!
“Auntie Heidi, do you know how to make a bread rabbit?” Let’s hope she does, Easter is just over a month away.
Celia that is absolutely adorable! I don’t know if I could have eaten him though I’d feel too mean.
Waw! That bread teddy bear looks just wonderrful, celia! So cute looking too! Thanks for sharing it with us all! :) Yummm!
Very sweet, Celia – it’s almost a shame to have to tear him limb from limb to eat him.
I do know how to make a rabbit- several ways, actually! One is to make an egg shaped roll then snip the ears with shears on the narrow part of the “egg” and pull the ears slightly up. Make holes for eyes in front and allow to raise for about 20 minutes then bake.
The other is like unto the bear formation with a body ball and a head ball and two snakey pieces attached on top of head ball. Use bamboo stick to attach and hold in shapes. I’ll send you a couple of pictures by email
Too cute to eat!!
So wonderful!!! I will definitely check out the tutorial…I know the little ones would love a bread bear. :-)
that teddy is gorgeous – and auntie heidiannie is very clever – maybe one day I will attempt such arty bread – hopefully before sylvia grows too old to appreciate it
Oh far too cute to eat… but if I had to, I’d start by nibbling on the ears, then nose..cute little paws… nooooo ;)
Noooo! Don’t eat him! Don’t make a bunny, they’re too cute as well. Make a fox, or a feral goat, or something like that that needs to be culled anyway. A snack that sends a good environmental message, not one that is cuddly! Xox
Such a clever idea, Celia, and you did a masterful job. Still, I could see where Li’l Ones might have nightmares after watching their family devour Teddy. :)
Second comment- Just to mention that children LOVE dismembering and eating the bears! I haven’t met a child yet, who doesn’t take a bite out of the face, or ears, pull of a leg and start chewing!
Adults have a much harder time eating this shape than kids- and even adults, once a leg or arm is missing have no difficulty eating the bear!
I have made cats and dogs, horses, beavers, crocodiles,bunnies, turtles, dinosaurs, piggies, turkeys and they are all cute- but they are all bread and will either dry out or mold if they aren’t eaten.
That is SO cute! He has great definition with the nose and ears etc and the ribbon bow suits him so well.
This is too cute! Good luck making a rabbit ;)
I think he needs to be taken on a teddy bear’s picnic. You’ve done a lovely job of shaping.
Isn’t he cute? You’ve got a lot of character into his face, even if it was due a lack of definition because of the high hydration – I think it’s the lop-sided ears! ;)
How lovely – I love his bow tie. I remember seeing Heidi’s bears and thinking how lovely it must be to have such delightful things flowing from your hands. If he must be eaten it could only be with honey!
What a adorable post, Celia :) I really want that bear for my son. It’s so so cute :)
Aaaah, he’s sooo cute. He reminds me of my Pooh bear. I feel like reaching out and trying to give him a hug. You did an excellent job on him Celia!!
The bear looks so cute! Can’t wait to see the rabbit! lol!
I need to make these for my mother-in-law. She’s a great cook and loves teddy bears.
what a lovely rendition of Auntie Heidi’s bouncingly beautiful bear, you have done her proud, all curvy and round tummied :) xx
[…] friend Celia, from the blog Fig jam and lime cordial, recently made a bear bread […]
awww, I just died a little…TOO CUTE!
Hi Celia, they are fantastic!
That is fantastic. I never thought you could get so artistic with bread. May have to give it a go.
Soooo sweet Celia! I’ve always loved Heidi’s bears too.
Thank you all for your lovely comments! Isn’t Heidi clever? And her rabbit is just perfect! (Thanks again, Heidi! xx)
Thank you, Celia! I had such a great time working on the dragon! And thanks for sharing my tutorials with your large group of followers!