Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Merry Christmouse


Twas the night after Christmas
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Except maybe a mouse...or two

I made these delightful little critters for a cookie exchange. My daughter had a great time helping to decorate them (something I don't have the patience for on my own) and when they were baked we wrapped them up on plates to give away. But I think a couple of them got away. We found them lurking under the holly, scavenging cheese, and making merry.


If you have the patience to make all the little faces ( and I recommend tweezers for the holly bows if you don't have long fingernails), these are great cookies. Guaranteed to bring smiles to the faces of the recipients, they are also quite tasty. But keep a close eye on them or they might scurry away.


Peanut Butter Christmas Mice
adapted from Taste of Home

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup peanut halves
2 Tbsp green and red M & M miniature baking bits
Cake decorator holly leaf and berry candies (I used trees on edge)
60 to 66 pieces red shoestring licorice - (2 inches each)

In a large mixing bowl, cream peanut butter, butter, sugar and brown sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.

Roll into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets, pinching each ball at one end to make a nose. I flattened the balls a bit so mine came out like mouse patties. Don't flatten and you'll have a chubbier, mousier cookie.

Insert two peanut halves in center of each ball for ears. Add one M&M baking bit for nose and two chocolate chips for eyes. Arrange holly and berry candies in front of one ear.

Bake at 350 deg. for 8-10 minutes or until set. Gently insert one licorice piece into each warm cookie for tail. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.


Yield: 4-5 dozen

25 comments:

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Those are totally super fun! I always think everything is easier and better with a partner!

Anonymous said...

Oh how fun! I will have to make those with my nieces and nephews some time. Yes I'm going to be inheriting 10 nephews and nieces this next summer! lol

Merry Christmas to you too! I'm off to bake some of your marvelous ginger cookies for my dad. They are his fave!

**doffs her cap and vanishes**

JEP said...

Adorable! Your post today was excellent---thanks! Reminded me of the time I made M&M cookies for a party & I HAD TO put 5 different colored M&M's on each at just the right moment in their baking process---it is a mother thing:)

Anonymous said...

They look good. I'd like to bite off their heads. Yum.

Peabody said...

Super adorable! I will have to make these next year.

Amy said...

Aw these are super cute!

Helene said...

Adorable!
Hope you are having a wonderful holiday!

diannem said...

These cookies were a big hit at our house. Thanks for sharing.

urban vegan said...

What a cute idea.

Anonymous said...

oh how cute. i want to make them for my new year's party. they'd be a hit i'm sure

Brilynn said...

Those are adorable! And the only kind of mice I ever want to see in the kitchen!

Katie Zeller said...

They are absolutely darling... But I would need a helper/excuse before I made them. Well, I could make a few....

Lisa Johnson said...

These are so cute! Especially their little tails! ; ) I hope you had a Merry Christmas!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

ahhh, Lynn, these peanut-butter mice cookies are simply divine!! such fun treats for a holiday cookie exchange :0)

happy holidays!!

Marcia said...

Unbelievably cute - my boys loved the mice cookies! Happy new year!

Cakespy said...

I love these so much! I love their little faces...everything!

eatme_delicious said...

Those are so incredibly adorable! I don't think I'd have patience to do the holly and berry candies though.

Big Boys Oven said...

OMG! they are so cute!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, how adorable!! I'll have to bookmark these for next Christmas :D

Deborah said...

Too cute!!

WokandSpoon said...

These cookies are just too cute for words! Hope you had a good Christmas!

WokandSpoon said...

These cookies are just too cute for words! Hope you had a good Christmas!

Elle said...

What perfect Christmas cookies. We watched the Ratatouille movie on Christmas evening...even rats can be cute.

Tarah at Genesis of a Cook said...

This has to be one of the most adorable things ever! Wonderful and creative job!

Chelsea said...

These are so freakin' adorable!