Chocolate-covered Cherry Mice

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 15
• 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

Recipe

• 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.