This one comes from my mother-in-law. It is a cute idea, but I think someone came up with it back when they did not know that too many carbs could kill you. 🙂 My son loved it, and I think most kids would, but I definitely suggest making it, sharing it, and then freezing the rest for later. I also think making just the head is a cute idea that does not make you feel like you have to eat so much bread. In the picture that came with the recipe they show a little girl eating an entire bear by herself. 🙂 It’s a hoot and a half. (but it wasn’t supposed to be funny) Here is a picture of what my son’s looked like when he was done attacking his:As you can see he was not able to eat that much. I am suggesting that you make just the head, and the arms and legs, and then put spaghetti in the middle as the body. I will show the end result at the bottom of this recipe. I am giving the directions for the entire bear, only because that is what I made, and that is what the recipe suggests. And now, to do the recipe any kind of justice at all, here is a picture of the cute little guy before my son got ahold of him:

Ingredients:
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (about 110 degrees)
1/2 cup butter or margarine, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbs. vanilla
1/3 cup warm milk
1/2 tsp. salt
5 large eggs
About 4-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 large egg beaten with 1 Tbs. milk
Spaghetti noodles
Spaghetti sauce

Directions:
In a large bowl, using a mixer, add yeast to water; let stand about 5 minutes. Stir in butter, sugar, vanilla, milk, salt, and 5 eggs, then beat until combined. Stir in 3 cups flour; beat on high speed until smooth and stretchy, about 6 minutes. Add remaining 1-3/4 cup flour. Mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and let dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about an hour. (or chill until doubled, 18-24 hours)

Scrape dough onto a lightly floured board. Knead to release air; add flour as required to prevent sticking. Cut dough in 4 equal parts.

For each bear, dive dough quarter into these portions: 3 Tbs. for arms, 3 Tbs. for legs, 1/2 cup for body, and 1/4 cup for head, 1 to 1-1/2 Tbs. for ears, face features, and belly button.

You will start by putting the arms and legs down first. Flatten the middle when the body will sit. Brush some of the egg/ milk mixture onto the dough where the two pieces of dough will connect. Continue doing this with each point that you add dough onto your teddy bear. (Using balls of dough to make eyes, nose, belly button and ears) Brush egg/ milk mixture over entire bear once it is put together.

Loosely cover bear with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 25-30 minutes. Bake in a 350 degree oven until golden brown, 16-18 minutes.
ONLY because I do not want this post to be ten pages long, I will let the picture describe what to do with the dough. If there is any confusion, just ask and I will post an answer.

Here is a picture of what a plate of spaghetti with cheese and the teddy head might look like. My husband says we should have included the arms and legs, but we did not think about it until after I took the picture. Cute anyway.