Chocolate Church Mice

Peanut ears, M&M eyes, and licorice tails transform these chocolate-covered apricots into sweet little mice -- ones that will scurry out of your gift box and into eager mouths. These super sweet little mice are as much fun to make as they are to eat.

Ingredients

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
48 dried apricots
Wooden skewers

48 M&M's Minis
Black shoestring licorice
24 dry-roasted peanut halves

Instructions

Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 1 minute.
Stir and microwave for 1 minute more.
Stir until smooth.
For each mouse, press together 2 dried apricots, making a small point for the mouse's nose, and thread them onto a skewer.
Dip them into the melted chocolate and place on a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet.
Use a second skewer to push the mouse off the first skewer; use your fingertip to cover the hole left behind with chocolate.
Add M&M's Minis eyes, a shoestring licorice tail, and peanut ears (we broke each peanut half in half again).
Refrigerate until hardened. Makes 24.