Among my family traditions, which I believe I've posted about, it getting together with my mom and sister to make goodies for Christmas. Cookies, candies, fudge... if you can dip it in chocolate and roll it in sprinkles, its fair game. Little Sister is a fair amount (lot) more domestic than I was (am) taking after my mom, so she really gets excited about baking day. Even when she was as young as 3, she'd demand to help and grumble when she was only allowed to unwrap Hershey kisses or sprinkle powdered sugar. Fortunately, she's graduated to more advanced work.A few years back I shared by Oreo Truffles recipe. They're amazingly simple to make and stunningly awesome to eat. This year I thought I'd share another recipe and invite everyone to post some of their holiday favorites. I'm always ready to add a new classic to our repertoire. This year is another recipe for my non-baking friends. Its really just a lot of microwaving and assembly, but with great results. A fabulous project to do with the kids. LS always enjoys making these.
This one's for you, PM!
Hershey Kiss Mice
- 1 jar cherries with stems
- 1 package chocolate bark
- 20 Hershey kisses
- almond slices
- wax or parchment paper
- gel tubes of black and red (optional)
Start off by unwrapping about 30 Hershey kisses. Yes, the directions say 20, but if you consider losses for ones with broken tips and the couple the kids steal, you'll end up with just enough. Melt chocolate bark until creamy according to package directions. Lay out a sheet of wax paper to put your mice on to dry. Dab a cherry lightly with a paper towel (helps the chocolate stick better if its not drippy wet) and dip the cherry into chocolate while holding the stem (completly cover cherry, but not stem). Place cherry on its side on the wax paper (the stem of the cherry is the mouse's tail). Press a Hershey kiss to the opposite
side of the cherry with the point sticking out like a nose (the mouse's head). Place two almond slices in between the cherry and the kiss for the ears. This must be done quickly and one at a time so the chocolate hasn't hardened yet or the kiss and ears won't stick. You can stop here, or if you feel the need, can use decorator gel to make a nose (black) and two eyes (red or black).Variations can include using white bark instead of chocolate, although you'll need white kisses to coordinate or it will look weird. Maybe even get those cherry cordial kisses. Definitely don't get striped Hershey Hugs or a flavor like Mint that won't go with the cherry. You can also take this to a whole new level of neurosis by mounting the mice on open faced oreo cookies, like the photo and decorating them. Cute, I think, but unnecessary. They're pretty darn adorable on their own. And tasty, I might add.
What's one of your holiday favorites to make this time of year? Share!
SP
7 comments:
Those are so cute! The girls are baking with mom next week...might have to show this to her.
Instigator
I also saw a pretty cute thing from one of those mail order chocolate gift places. It was a big marshmallow, stood on end and attached with melted chocolate, to an oreo cookie. Dip the whole thing in chcolate and decorate as needed. They called them Snowman Tophats. I thought that was super cute and for the effort expended, a big bang for the buck. Again, no baking! :)
I have a new favorite from a friend of my mother's that I'm making for gifts this year, especially the men you never know what to buy for. Again, no baking required:
Homemade Reeses
1 container chocolate bark (or I guess you could use any kind of chocolate that will reharden on its own)
16 oz confectioners sugar (powdered)
1 and 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 and 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 sticks of butter
2 tsp vanilla flavoring
Melt butter and heat up peanut butter until pliable. Mix together everything except chocolate. Pat into a 9X13 pan. Then melt chocolate bark and spread it on top. Allow to harden, then slice into squares.
My hubby loves these!
Angel
I'm not into baking this year but here is a recipe for an easy treat
that is not so calorie laden as some other goodies I have baked:
FORGOTTEN COOKIES
(makes about 3 1/2 dozen)
Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper
2 egg whites
2/3 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
Beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add the sugar, salt and vanilla and continue beating until very stiff. Fold in nuts and chocolate chips.
Drop by teaspoonful onto baking sheets.
Place in oven and IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF THE HEAT. Leave in oven for two hours or more (or until oven is completely cool.) Do not open oven door during this time.
Store in airtight container.
Enjoy!
I'm making those mice! I think the grandkids will love them. I usually experiment with a couple of new recipes, but my can't miss recipes for Christmas are sugar cookies and gingerbread men. One year, when we owned a picture frame shop and were swamped during the holidays, I didn't get around to making the gingerbread men. When it was all over my oldest son (who was in high school at the time, maybe 10th grade) said "It just doesn't seem like Christmas without gingerbread cookies." I haven't missed a year since.
Those mice are adorable! I just might have to make them. Also the oreos that SP said sounds fun too! Normally we just make sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies and I also bake cakes. This year I am doing a snowman cake for one neighbor, a reindeer cake for another neighbor and a santa cake for us. Should be fun!
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Those are adorable! We have a family thumbprint cookie that we make which has grape jelly for filling, almond extract in the dough and sprinkled with nuts. We only do it once a year (they are time consuming if done correctly) so that makes them very special. Every once in while one of us will try some shortcuts but they're just not the same lol.
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