Winter’s Eve Mice Cookies

While it’s true that there are lots and lots of cookies already hanging around in offices and lounges everywhere, I promise you’re going to need to make one more recipe, these Winter’s Eve Mice Cookies. Because they are the cutest cookies EVER. It doesn’t hurt that they’re also really delicious. It’s a fun cookie to bake ahead and then bring to a party unassembled. People get into working together to build the cookies. It’s fun to make an assembly line as the jobs naturally divide up. There’s a froster, a cherry dipper, a kiss placer, an ear maker and then of course, we all get to be the eaters. And if you’re so inclined, word on the street is that Santa really likes these Winter’s Eve Mice Cookies.

Makes around 60 mice (I’ve subdivided the ingredients by element, so make sure you read the whole thing before you make your shopping list).

Pecan shortbread cookies:
1 cup unsalted butter
½ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ¼ cups flour
¾ cup pecan pieces
½ teaspoon salt

Beat the butter until soft and fluffy. Beat in salt and powdered sugar. Add in vanilla. Add in flour until fully incorporated. Finally mix in pecan pieces. Divide the dough into two equal piece and place on plastic wrap. Roll into logs. Refrigerate at least two hours (or overnight). When you’re ready to make the cookies, preheat the oven to 375° F. While the log is still wrapped, roll on the counter to smooth. Slice into ¼ inch rounds. Place on a cookie sheet. Bake 12-16 minutes (bottoms should begin to brown). Let cool completely.  Make the frosting.

¼ cup unsalted butter
2 cups powdered sugar
¼ – ½ teaspoon almond extract
1-2 tablespoons milk if needed

Beat well the butter and powdered sugar. The frosting should turn white. Add in the flavoring. If it’s too thick to spread well, add in the milk gradually.

Toppings:
60 maraschino cherries with stems
sliced almonds
60 hershey kisses (I recommend matching the chocolates – use dark kisses and dark chocolate, or milk and milk)
8 ounces chocolate (chocolate chips work well)
2 tablespoons butter

Unwrap the kisses. Drain the cherries. Melt the chocolate and butter in a small bowl. When you’re ready to assemble, frost the cookies. Then dip the cherry in the chocolate. Lay on one side of the cookie. This is the body and the tail of the mouse. Prop the kiss on its side with the flat side connecting to the cherry. This is the head of the mouse. Prop two almond slices up between the body and the head. These are the ears of the mouse. You can make eyes with gel pen. We always made red eyes growing up, but I think they were creepy. But it’s important to make these important artistic decisions on your own. Once the chocolate hardens display on a cute plate to lure Santa into your living room.