Recipe: Peanut Butter Christmas Mice

PEANUT BUTTER CHRISTMAS MICE

1/2 cup butter or margarine, room temperature
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
FOR DECORATION:
peanut halves
chopped green decors
red licorice laces, cut in 3 inch lengths

Beat butter and peanut butter in a large bowl with electric mixer until creamy. Add sugars and beat until fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla and baking soda until well blended. Cover and chill about 1 hour until firm enough to handle.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Have cookie sheets ready.

Shape level tablespoons of dough into 1 inch balls. Taper each ball by one end into tear drop shape. Press one side flat. Place flat sides down 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press in sides of balls to raise 'blacks of mice'. (Dough spreads slightly as it bakes.)

Gently push 2 peanut halves in each for ears and 2 pieces of green candy for eyes. With a wooden pick make a 1/2 inch deep hole at tail end.

Bake 8-10 minutes until firm. Remove to rack, insert licorice tails and cool completely.

Makes 60
Source: Cookbook USA