Chocolate-Covered Cherry Mice

Are you looking to make some cool snacks for Halloween? I found this great recipe for Chocolate Covered Cherry Mice on About.com:Home Cooking. They are so cute! Almost too cute to eat. Let your child or children help you make these little creatures, and they are sure to have a blast!

http://homecooking.about.com/

Ingredients:

* 1 jar maraschino cherries with stems, drained and dried

* 6 ounces semisweet chocolate

* 1/2 tsp butter

* 1 ounce paraffin, chopped

* 1/2 cup chocolate chips

* 1/2 cup sliced almonds

* 1 tube red (clear) gel icing

Directions:

1. Line a cookie sheet with waxed or parchment paper.

2. Rinse the cherries, drain thoroughly, and let dry on paper towels, turning often. If you don't dry them completly then the chocolate will seize and get crumbly.

3. Gently melt chocolate, butter, and paraffin in a double broiler until smooth, stirring often to prevent burning. Once melted, turn off heat, but leave in the double-boiler on the burner.
4. Dip dry cherries in melted chocolate and cover the stem as well. Place on lined cookie sheet. Immediatly press on chocolate chip, flat side to the front of the cherry to form a head.

5. While chocolate is still warm, wedge 2 sliced almonds in between the cherry and the chocolate chip to make 2 ears.

6. Let cool.

7. Use a toothpick to dab 2 beady eyes over the chocolate chip using the clear gel icing.

8. Refrigerate to let chocolate set.

NOTE: Paraffin is sold in the canning supply section, usually under the brand Gulf Wax. You can use the giant chocolate bars for the semi-sweet chocolate, semi-sweet baking squares, or chocolate chips.

* Makes about 36 mice.

There are step-by-step instructions and photos on the website if  it's a little confusing. This is such a fun snack for kids and adults! Let me know if you are going to try them. Enjoy!