Christmas mice...day 5

These little Christmas mice are so cute that people usually don't eat them! Well, they don't know what they are missing, these are no ordinary mice, they are made of peanut butter & are simply delicious. A little on the time consuming side, but a lot of fun if you have someone to help decorate them with you.

Christmas Mice

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

for decorating the mice you will need:

1/2 cup peanut halves (for the ears)
mini m&m's (for the nose)
mini chocolate chips (for the eyes)
red licorice cut into 2 inch pieces (for the tails) I use twizzler's, just pull them apart

Cream the peanut butter, butter & both sugars until light & fluffy. Beat in the egg & vanilla. Combine the flour with the baking soda & gradually add it to the creamed mixture. Mix well. Dough will be soft, chill for 1 hour, or until easy to handle.

Roll the dough into 1 inch balls, place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Pinch each ball at one end to taper (for the head). Insert 2 peanut halves in center of each ball for ears. Add one M & M for nose & two mini chips for eyes.

Bake at 350*. for 8 to 10 minutes, or until set. Gently insert licorice into each warm cookie for tail (make sure to do this when cookies are warm or it will not go in). Cool completely on wire racks.

Makes about 75 adorable mice!