Peanut Butter Christmas Mice - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened (no substitutes)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup peanuts, halved
2 tablespoons M&M's plain chocolate candy, miniature baking bits red and green
4 teaspoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips
cake decorator holly leaf and berry decorative candies
60 -66 pieces red shoestring licorice (2 inches each)

Preparation

In a large mixing bowl, cream peanut butter, butter, sugar and brown sugar.
Beat in egg and vanilla.
Combine the flour and baking soda; gradually add to the cream mixture.
Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until easy to handle.
Roll into 1-inch balls. Place 2-inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Pinch each ball at one end to taper. Insert two peanut halves in center of each ball for ears.
Add one M&M baking bit for nose and two chocolate chips for eyes. Arrange holly and berry candies in front of one ear.
Bake at 350\u00b0F for 8-10 minutes or until set. Gently insert one licorice piece into each warm cookie for tail.
Remove to wire racks to cool completely.