We Bare Bears Calzones, A Quick, And Flavor-Packed Fun Recipe
We Bare Bears is a fun animated series that aired on Cartoon Network. Being a foodie, I instantly fell in love with the Bare Bears calzones they made. And if the animated version looks so drool-worthy, just imagine what the real thing could taste like?
So, I began testing a bunch of recipes, until I finally developed the one I truly feel represents its drawn form. My recipe is easy to make, but it does take a little bit of love and patience. At the end of the day, it will be worth the work! I guarantee it!
What Are We Bare Bears Calzones?
We Bare Bears is a popular television show that aired on Cartoon Network between 2015 and 2019.
In the episode called Food Truck, the bears set out to go buy some seemingly trendy and tasty ramen tacos from a local Food Truck. After a long wait, they finally get to buy and taste them. And guess what, they were totally disappointed!
This experience led the bears to start their own Bare Bears calzones food truck to compete. And I sure am glad they did!
In this episode, you can see Ice Bear preparing delicious calzones with meat, sauce, and cheese!
Tips And Tricks To Make This Recipe
- When you make the sauce, slowly add the milk off of the heat. If you add milk too quickly, lumps will start forming. Add a splash of milk, then whisk the mixture until it becomes smooth. Then, add a little bit more milk, whisk again until it becomes smooth. Repeat this technique until all of the milk is added. Only then should you thicken it over heat.
- However, if you don’t want to spend so much time making the sauce, you can buy pre-made Béchamel or cheese sauce.
- You can also buy pre-made calzone dough to save yourself some time. However, this dough recipe is superior to any store-bought product. It will give you flavorful calzones with a soft crumb, yet crunchy outside.
- Do not roll out the calzone dough too thin. Otherwise, the filling will break it apart and spill out. Always keep it between 1/8 to 1/4-inch thick.
- You can serve these calzones as is or with one of my favorite sauces, the Good Burger sauce. You can find the recipe here.
FAQ’s
How To Store These We Bare Bears Calzones
These calzones are pretty shelf-stable. You can place them inside an airtight container and store them in the fridge. They will last up to 4 days!
The only downside is that the baked calzone dough may become a little bit soft during this time.
To revive them, simply bake them inside a preheated oven for another 10-15 minutes. It will take away any softness they may have and re-crisp them too.
What Are Some Variations For The Calzone From We Bare Bears?
There are many amazing calzone recipes out there. The filling is the main element that changes.
You can add some tasty cheeses like ricotta or mozzarella. Both are flavorful enough to make the calzone unique, but they won’t overpower the other ingredients. And, they are very creamy!
There are also a wide variety of cured meat fillings that can be added. I love prosciutto, parma ham, and even chorizo. But, these are more expensive, which is why I opted for a bacon and ham filling.
And, before you ask, yes, there are vegetarian fillings too. These are just as delicious and flavor-packed as meat-based calzones. You make them with the vegetables of your choice, spices, and herbs.
What Is The Difference Between Calzone And Calzone Pizza?
The term calzone pizza causes a lot of confusion. Essentially, a calzone is a type of pizza that you fold over and then bake. A calzone pizza isn’t a separate dish on its own.
And as you know, a pizza has its filling on the outside and its dough only on the bottom. You will often see recipes that call for either a pizza or yeast-leavened dough.
Is A Pop-tart A Calzone?
There are many debates on this question and my professional opinion is that pop-tarts are not calzones. They do not contain meat or cheese and are also not made with a yeast-leavened dough.
Also, pop-tarts are not baked or fried in oil like traditional turn-over items are.
We Bare Bears Calzones – A Quick, And Flavor-Packed Fun Recipe
Ingredients
For The Filling
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3/4 cup bacon, diced
- 3/4 cup ham, diced
- 1 1/2 cups button mushrooms, sliced
- 1 tsp fresh or dried thyme, leaves only
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 tbsp flour
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- Fine salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup Gouda or Cheddar cheese, grated
For The Calzone Dough
- 1 cup lukewarm water, divided
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp fine salt
- 2 3/4 – 3 1/4 cup cake flour, sifted
Instructions
Making The Filling
- First, heat your olive oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Add your diced onions and saute them for roughly 3 minutes.
- Add the chopped bacon and diced ham and allow them to brown slightly.
- Next, add in your button mushrooms along with the thyme. Mix them well and allow the mushrooms to cook. Set the mixture aside.
- In a separate saucepan, melt the butter. Once melted, remove it from the heat and whisk in the flour until you get a breadcrumb-like mixture.
- Then, slowly add the cream in a thin stream while whisking continuously. When you have a smooth mixture, you can place it back onto low heat and allow it to cook until it becomes thick and creamy.
- Finally, whisk in the Parmesan cheese and allow it to melt completely. Season the sauce with some salt and pepper.
Making The Calzone Dough
- Start making the calzone dough first. Combine 1/2 cup lukewarm water and yeast in a small bowl and allow it to stand for 5 minutes.
- Then, in a separate bowl, combine the rest of the water, oil, honey, and salt. Add only 1 cup of flour and mix the ingredients well.
- Once the yeast mixture has rested, add it to the remaining 2 cups of flour. Add this into the base mixture.
- When the ingredients are well combined, start kneading your dough for 8 minutes. It should become completely smooth and elastic.
- Lastly, divide the calzone dough into 4 equal pieces. Shape them into neat balls. Then, roll them into circles.
Assembling And Baking Your Calzones
- Preheat your oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Line a baking sheet with non-stick baking paper or a silicone mat.
- Place the 4 calzone discs onto a lightly floured surface.
- Spread grated cheese over each half. Then, add your filling on top of the cheese pile. Make sure to leave 1/4-inch space around the edges.
- Next, fold over the other half of the dough and crimp the edges tightly.
- Cut small air vents into the top of the calzone. Place them onto your lined baking sheet.
- Finally, bake the We Bare Bears calzones for 25 minutes, or until the dough is cooked and golden brown.
