Creative Cookie Recipe: Mice
Nice mice!
Skip the dirt and disease-ridden "real thing", and create an infestation of cute, yummy, chocolate mice! Yes, it is possible to have a mouse on the counter without screaming and grabbing a rolled-up newspaper. In fact, they are polite, adorable, and are not smelly! The only catch is, these mice do not eat your crumbs - they make them!
The Indgredients
Unfortunately, one can not easily buy 40 sliced almonds, or 20 maraschino cherries. Therefore, buying in bulk may be unavoidable. Use as many or as much of the ingredients as you desire, to make as many mice as you would like!
The list is not long, and these are just the basics. There is not a standard for this recipe. The amount used is up to you!
- Oreos
- Sliced (not slivered) almonds
- Cherries with stems (I use maraschino cherries)
- Semi-sweet chocolate bars (approximately 2 oz. for every 20 mice)
- Hershey kisses
- Icing (I used tipped icing tubes bought from Kroger.)
How to make mice
From start to finish, making mice takes about 40 minutes (for a small batch).
Chocolate covered maraschino cherries:
- Melt the semi-sweet chocolate, stirring occasionally as to not let it burn.
- Dip the cherries (with stems still attached) into the chocolate, and place on wax paper.
- Place the cherries (on the wax paper) in the fridge (or another cool place) for about 20 minutes; just long enough to harden a bit.
Mouse Preparation:
- While the cherries are being chilled, gather the rest of the ingredients.
- Carefully twist the oreos, and pull the 2 chocolate sides apart. (Try not to be too picky about the way that the oreos turn out after twisting.)
- I only use cookies that have icing. So, I put the "unusable" parts in a separate dish (for later consumption =] ).
- Unwrap the chocolate kisses (you will need one per cookie), and place aside.
The Body:
- Once the cherries have hardened and you've accumulated the usable oreos, gently place the cherries (one per cookie) onto the oreo cookie. I do so towards one outer edge, and so that the tail is facing out. (See the picture above right) - If the cherry does not stick, use a bit of melted chocolate as a sort of glue.
- Place the kisses in front of the cherry:
- Make sure that the bottom of the kiss is against/facing the front of the cherry, and the point of the kiss is opposite the cherry stem/tail.
- If the kiss does not stay in place, use a dab of melted chocolate as glue.
- Using melted chocolate as glue, place the sliced almonds (one at a time) in between the cherry and the kiss.
- Almonds can be broken in half, if too big.
- Differently sized and shaped almonds add a bit of character to the overall look.
- Lastly, using icing tubes/writing icing, create the eyes and nose. I created the eyes on all of the mice, and then did the nose. Use whatever colors you would like!
MmmICE!
Chocolate Mice Cookies are great for any occasion.
Here are some ways to be even more creative:
- Sprinkle coconut shavings on the oreos, to create the look of snow.
- "Glue" (with chocolate) small pieces of black licorice, to create whiskers.
- Use white or lighter brown chocolate to create different colored mice.
- Use sprinkles for the eyes.
Mice are a scrumptious Christmas cookie, and are so cute for children. They pair well with a glass of milk or coffee.
I have a feeling, though, that Santa may be a bit apprehensive -at first- of eating the mice, but I'm sure that -once he does- next year, you may find a bit more under that tree. ;)
Enjoy! Happy Holidays!