2/3 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. Hershey's cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

In large mixer bowl cream butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs; blend well. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, blending thoroughly. Chill until dough is firm enough to handle. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

To shape teddy bears: For each cookie, form a portion of the dough into 1 large ball for body (1 to 1 1/2 inches), 1 medium-size ball for heat (3/4 to 1 inch), 4 small balls for arms and legs (1/2 inch), 2 smaller balls for ears, 1 tiny ball for the nose and 4 tiny balls for paws (optional).

On ungreased cookie sheet flatten large ball slightly for body. Attach medium-size ball for head by overlapping slightly onto body. Place balls for arms, legs, and ears, and a tiny ball on head for nose. Arrange other tiny balls atop ends of legs and arms for paws, if desired.

With a wooden toothpick, draw eyes and mouth; pierce small hole at top of cookie for use as hanging ornament, if desired. Also make a circle on the belly with the toothpick for a "belly button"!

Bake 6-8 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet. Remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store in covered container. If cookies will be used as ornaments, allow to dry on wire rack at least 6 hours before hanging. Makes about 14 cookies. The kids love to make these!