Polar Bear Paws Candy Recipe (2024)

This time of year, free time is at a premium, and in short supply. So while baking is fun, sometimes you just want a simple dessert that you can make in no time!

These polar bear paws are the perfect no-bake candy that you can make without too much effort, and they last a long time in the refrigerator.

I love these white chocolate covered caramel nut clusters because they’re easy to customize to your tastes, and you can decorate them as festively as you’d like.

So this holiday season, I hope you give this homemade candy recipe a try!

How to make polar bear paws candy?

This is just an overview; the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card toward the bottom of this post.

1. Melt caramel. I like to do this in a saucepan, but you can also use a microwave if you prefer.
2. Stir. Stir in the salt and vanilla to flavor the caramel even more.
3. Add nuts. You can do this right in the saucepan.
4. Stir. You’ll want to let the caramel nut mixture cool a bit, but keep stirring often, so it doesn’t harden up on you.
5. Scoop. Add scoops of the caramel nut mixture to wax paper a couple inches apart, then refrigerate.
6. Melt chocolate. I typically do this in the microwave.
7. Top and harden. Top the nut clusters with a spoonful of white chocolate, then refrigerate again until hardened and set.

Variations of this recipe

• Nuts – I love the combination of peanuts and cashews, but feel free to try using all peanuts, all cashews, almonds, pecans, or any combination of your favorite nuts.
• Caramel – in place of the caramel bits, you could try using Kraft cellophane-wrapped caramels (you’ll want 22 oz).
• White chocolate – I love the ease of using white chocolate wafers, but you can use white chocolate chips (I recommend adding a drizzle of vegetable oil for easy melting), or white almond bark.
• Alternate chocolate types – while the candy won’t resemble polar bear paws, another delicious option is to use milk or dark chocolate.
• Drizzle – for extra flavor, try drizzling the candies with dark chocolate, or festive colored candy melts.
• Sprinkles – a bit of some holiday sprinkles adds a fun festive flair to these candies.

Making homemade candy ahead of time

Candy like these nut clusters are great to make ahead of time since the have to set up anyway.

And they last for several weeks, so you can go ahead and get your holiday “baking” done early!

Storage

Candy should be refrigerated in an airtight container and enjoyed within 3 weeks.

Alternately, the candy can be kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry, place for the same amount of time.

Freezing

Polar bear paws can be frozen for longer storage! Add hardened and set candies to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months.

My Favorite Scoop!

Cookie scoops are the most versatile kitchen tool… you can use them for cookies, candies, meatballs, ice cream, and more! This scoop is the exact size you’ll need for this candy recipe!

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