Every holiday season, there’s one treat my grandsons look forward to more than anything else—Christmas Eve Mice! These adorable little cookies aren’t just cute; they’re a fun, festive way to bring smiles to your holiday table. Perfect for parties, gift trays, or even as whimsical place settings, they’re always a hit with kids and adults alike.

I recently took these to an office Christmas Cookie Swap where they were a big hit!

What makes them special? Each “mouse” is crafted from a chocolate-covered cherry, a Hershey’s Kiss, and an Oreo cookie base, with almond slices for ears and colorful icing for the finishing touches. They’re simple to make, but the result is pure holiday magic.

Ingredients (Makes about 24 mice)

• 24 Double-Stuf Oreo cookies (don’t use thin ones—they’re harder to separate)
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons shortening
• 24 maraschino cherries with stems (drained well on paper towels)
• 24 plain Hershey’s Kisses
• 48 sliced almonds (for ears)
• Red and green decorator’s gel (for eyes, nose, and holly details)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the cookies:
Gently twist each Oreo apart. Set aside the halves with cream filling—those will be your base. Save the plain halves for another use.

2. Melt the chocolate:
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips with shortening in short intervals, stirring until smooth.

3. Assemble the mice:
Hold a cherry by its stem, dip it into the melted chocolate, and press it against the flat side of a Hershey’s Kiss. Place this “mouse body” onto the cream side of an Oreo, positioning the stem so it sticks out like a tail.

4. Add the ears:
Slide two almond slices between the cherry and the Kiss to create ears. Refrigerate until the chocolate sets.

5. Decorate:
Use green gel to pipe tiny holly leaves on the Oreo cream. Add red dots for berries and a little red nose on the Kiss. For eyes, make two small green dots close together. (Optional: add a tiny red bow near one ear for extra charm.)

6. Store:
Keep your mice in an airtight container at room temperature. Handle gently—decorator gel doesn’t fully harden.

These cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat, and they never fail to bring joy to our Christmas celebrations. If you’re looking for a festive, kid-approved treat, give these Christmas Eve Mice a try—you might just start a new family tradition!