Peanut Butter Christmas Mice Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup peanut halves
• 2 tablespoons green and red M&M's miniature baking bits
• 4 teaspoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips
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• Cake decorator holly leaf and berry candies
• 60 to 66 pieces red shoestring licorice (2 inches each)

Directions

• In a large bowl, cream the peanut butter, butter, and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. (Dough will be soft). Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
• Roll into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Pinch each ball at one end to taper. 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° 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: about 5 dozen.

Peanut Butter Christmas Mice published in Taste of Home December/January 2004, p27