Chocolate Covered Cherry Mice Food

CHOCOLATE CHERRY MICE

Steps:

• Put the maraschino cherries in a strainer and rinse well with cold water until it runs clear. Scatter the cherries on top of a few layers of paper towel to drain and dry thoroughly, patting dry if necessary. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Melt together the chopped chocolate and coconut oil in a bowl set over a pan of slightly simmering water, stirring until uniform and completely melted. Remove the bowl from the heat.
• Holding a cherry by the stem, dip in the melted chocolate, rolling to coat completely. Allow excess chocolate to drain off before placing the cherry on its side on the parchment-lined baking sheet (the stem should stick out from the side rather than the top). Repeat with the remaining cherries and chocolate. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow to set.
• If the remaining chocolate mixture in the bowl has hardened, reheat over simmering water until melted again. Remove the chocolate-covered cherries from the refrigerator. Dip the flat end of a chocolate kiss into the melted chocolate, allowing excess to drain off, and then place onto the end opposite the stem end of a cherry. While holding the kiss in place, add 2 almond slices between the cherry and kiss to form ears. Use a toothpick to add 2 small dots of melted chocolate to the kiss, to adhere 2 dragees for eyes. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Place the baking sheet back in the refrigerator to set up for at least 15 minutes.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRY MICE

Steps:

• Before starting, you may wish to take a look at the step-by-step instructions with photos. SEE LINK IN DESCRIPTION ABOVE.
• Line a cookie sheet with waxed or parchment paper.
• Rinse the maraschino cherries, drain thoroughly, and let dry on paper towels, turning often.
• The cherries must be completely dry or the chocolate will seize and get crumbly.
• Gently melt chocolate, butter, and paraffin in a double boiler until smooth, stirring often to prevent burning.
• Once melted, turn off heat, but leave in the double-boiler on the burner.
• Dip dry cherries in melted chocolate to completely cover up to the stem.
• Place on lined cookie sheet.
• Immediately press on chocolate chip, flat side to the front of the dipped cherry, to form a head.
• While chocolate is still warm, wedge two sliced almonds between chocolate chip and cherry to form ears. Let cool.
• Use a toothpick to dab beady red eyes on either side of the chocolate chip with the red gel icing.
• Refrigerate to firmly set chocolate.
• Notes:.
• If fresh sweet cherries are in season, by all means use them.
• Paraffin is sold in the canning supplies section, usually under the brand Gulf Wax.
• You can use the giant chocolate bars for the semisweet chocolate, or semisweet baking squares, or chocolate chips.
• If your cherries are exceptionally large, you may wish to use chocolate kisses for the heads.

CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS MICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Carefully twist Oreo cookies apart. Set aside the ones with the cream filling on them; save plain halves for another use. (You could make crumbs for pie crust).
• In microwave, melt chocolate chip, paraffin and butter; stir until smooth.
• Holding cherry by stem, dip in melted chocolate, then press onto the bottom of a chocolate kiss.
• Place cherry and kiss onto the cream filling of the cookie. Let stem extend over the edge.
• Make ears for your mouse by placing sliced almonds between the cherry and the kiss (before the chocolate sets).
• Place in refrigerator until chocolate sets.
• With green decorative gel, pipe holly leaves on white cream of cookie by the mouse.
• Pipe holly berries between the leaves with the red gel.
• Pipe eyes on each chocolate kiss.
• Store in airtight container at room temperature.
• TIPS:.
• I used Almond Bark instead of the chocolate chips and eliminated the need for shortening.
• Maraschino cherries need to have stems and be well-drained.
• Keep chocolate hot by putting in a bowl over a steaming pan of water.
• I used a teapot, took the lid off and placed my bowl over it after melting chocolate in microwave.
• You can use a clean eyebrow tweezer or something else to grasp the cherries by the stems to dunk in chocolate.
• Make extras because everyone at your party will want one to take home to show around and to use as a pattern to make their own!

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry.
• In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup until smooth. Stir in confectioners' sugar and knead to form a dough. Chill to stiffen if necessary. Wrap each cherry in about 1 teaspoon of dough. Chill until firm.
• Melt confectioners' coating in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Dip each cherry in by its stem, and place on waxed paper lined sheets. Chill until completely set. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. Best after 1 or 2 weeks.

CHERRY MICE

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Holding each cherry by the stem, dip into chocolate mixture. Place on a sheet of waxed paper; let stand until set., Reheat remaining chocolate; dip cherries again, then press onto the bottom of a chocolate kiss. For ears, place almond slices between cherry and kiss. Refrigerate until set.