Chocolate-Covered Cherry Mice

Submitted by Nana Lee

"These chocolate-covered cherry mice are fun to create and make an adorable presentation for parties, bake sales, and of course, Halloween. Let the kids help by setting up a production line, and they will have a ball. These candy mice are almost too cute to eat. Check out the step-by-step instructions with photos before you begin. Here's the link: http://homecooking.about.com/od/dessertrecipes/r/blcandy25.htm The recipe calls for chocolate chips but I find they are very small."

 

• Ready In: 35mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Serves: 15

ingredients

• 1 (12 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, with stems drained and dried (see Notes)
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate
• 1⁄2 teaspoon butter
• 1 ounce paraffin wax, chopped (see Notes)
• 1⁄2 cup chocolate chips (see Notes)
• 1⁄2 cup sliced almonds
• 1 (3 ounce) package clear red decorating gel

directions

1. Before starting, you may wish to take a look at the step-by-step instructions with photos. SEE LINK IN DESCRIPTION ABOVE.
2. Line a cookie sheet with waxed or parchment paper.
3. Rinse the maraschino cherries, drain thoroughly, and let dry on paper towels, turning often.
4. The cherries must be completely dry or the chocolate will seize and get crumbly.
5. Gently melt chocolate, butter, and paraffin in a double boiler until smooth, stirring often to prevent burning.
6. Once melted, turn off heat, but leave in the double-boiler on the burner.
7. Dip dry cherries in melted chocolate to completely cover up to the stem.
8. Place on lined cookie sheet.
9. Immediately press on chocolate chip, flat side to the front of the dipped cherry, to form a head.
10. While chocolate is still warm, wedge two sliced almonds between chocolate chip and cherry to form ears. Let cool.
11. Use a toothpick to dab beady red eyes on either side of the chocolate chip with the red gel icing.
12. Refrigerate to firmly set chocolate.

13. Notes:

14. If fresh sweet cherries are in season, by all means use them.
15. Paraffin is sold in the canning supplies section, usually under the brand Gulf Wax.
16. You can use the giant chocolate bars for the semisweet chocolate, or semisweet baking squares, or chocolate chips.
17. If your cherries are exceptionally large, you may wish to use chocolate kisses for the heads.

Reviews

[LaurietheLibrarian]

Loved these. The chocolate was a little thicker than I planned, so I used it to create a more fur-like texture on the mice. Very cool recipe!

 

[imabaker]

make these every year, always a hit as a gift in a cute box---we use small candy white balls (from cake decor store) for the eyes and dot them with choc from a toothpick, every one has a personality! very good to eat too....just pick up the tail and bite the rest!

 

[Kyina]

These are delightful. For anyone who does not like cherries, I used Malted Milk balls for the body and a piece of shredded coconut to make the tail. I also use Oreo cookies opened up as a base for them. Easier for those little hands to hold on to.

 

[Carmenid]

These are great. Made them for a dinner party on Sunday, they were a hit. they were fun and easy to do. I used hershey kisses instead of chocolate chips.