Christmas Mouse Shortbread are deliciously tasty Mexican chocolate shortbread shaped into an adorable Christmas dormouse.
Christmas Mouse Shortbread
By Sue Lau | Palatable Pastime
Christmas Mouse Shortbread Disclaimer: Thank you to Millican Pecan, Anolon Bakeware, Sweets & Treats and Adams Extracts, for providing the prizes for #ChristmasCookies Week free of charge. As always, all opinions are my own.
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Christmas Mouse Shortbread is my recipe of the day. I am posting this one and a couple of others with Christmas Cookies Week, of which there is also a giveaway. Scroll down for further details and cookies.
Print Recipe
The Christmas Mouse Shortbread cookies are flavored with Adams extract and use Sweets & Treats black and multicolor sugar pearls as decor for eyes and noses.
Shaping the Christmas Mouse Shortbread require hollowing out the undersides of the dough to promote even baking.
Sliced almonds are pressed into the dough before chilling to serve as ears.
Two black sugar pearls serve as eyes. Since the sugar pearls cannot withstand the baking process, they are pressed into unchilled dough and then removed with a toothpick.
This leaves indentations to add the pearls later, after baking, with edible adhesive. The colored pearls used for noses are added and removed the same way. If the dough is baked with the pearls those will melt so don’t forget to take them out!
If you don’t make the indentations, as the cookies bake, the shortbread will firm, making it difficult to add the pearls in a way the keeps them from falling off after decorating. But it is very easy to put in, remove, and add again later.
Welcome to #ChristmasCookies week where more than 25 bloggers are sharing cookie recipes perfect for your holiday celebrations. Hosted by Ellen from Family Around the Table, Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures and Heather from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks, we invite you to not only check out the recipes but enter the amazing giveaway.
Don’t miss one delicious cookie recipe! Follow along on Pinterest.
Monday Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Amaretti Snowball Cookies by Our Sutton Place
- Bourbon Pecan Snowballs by Leftovers Then Breakfast
- Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Cappuccino Crinkles by West Via Midwest
- Cherry Garlands by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box
- Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies by Books n’ Cooks
- Chocolate Sugar Kisses by An Affair from the Heart
- Christmas Confetti Amaretti Cookies by The Spiffy Cookie
- Christmas Mouse Shortbread Cookies by Palatable Pastime (You are Here!)
- Christmas Pinwheel Cookies by Lemon Blossoms
- Cinnamon Chip Holiday Spice Cake Mix Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Cinnamon Pecan Snickerdoodles by Daily Dish Recipes
- Classic Butter Spritz Cookies by Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies by Frugal & Fit
- Hermit Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Honey Spice Oatmeal Cookies by Family Around the Table
- Melting Snowman Cookies by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Pecan Brown Sugar Cookies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Pecan Pie Bars by Eat Move Make
- Pecan Pie Cookies by Art of Natural Living
- Peppermint Chocolate Cookies by Swirls of Flavor
- Peppermint Kiss Cookies by Devour Dinner
- Peppermint Patty Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Peppermint Shortbread Cookies by Simply Inspired Meals
- Raspberry Jam Cookies by Making Miracles
- Reindeer Cookies by Sweet Beginnings
- Soft Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles by Jersey Girl Cooks
- Toffee Bars by That Recipe
- White Chocolate Cranberry Crinkle Cookies by Blogghetti
Christmas Mouse Shortbread
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Christmas Mouse Shortbread
Christmas Mouse Shortbread
Equipment
- toothpick
Ingredients
Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup soft butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cane sugar syrup or light corn syrup
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup black cocoa powder
Cookie Decor:
- 96 black sugar pearls
- 48 assorted color sugar pearls
- 96 sliced almond pieces
- 6-10 square wrapped Kraft caramels
- 2 ounce bottle Wilton Dab-n-Hold Edible Adhesive
Instructions
- Cream together the butter and sugar in an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
- Add cane sugar syrup and vanilla, mixing well.
- Add salt, cinnamon, flour, and black cocoa then mix into a stiff dough.
Begin shaping mice:
- Use one tablespoon dough per mouse.
- Shape into a flattened oval or pear shape.
- Make an indentation on the underside of dough and smooth edges.
- Place dough indentation side down on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Insert two almonds as ears, and three appropriately colored sugar pearl for eyes and nose.
- Then using toothpick, carefully pry out the sugar pearls, leaving indentations. Keep the almonds in.
Chill dough on baking sheet for one hour.
- Half hour into chilling, preheat your oven to 375F.
- Place baking sheet in hot oven and bake for 15 minutes.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet.
- When cool, use the edible adhesive to dab a little in the indentations and attach eyes and nose.
- Roll out pieces of caramels into a thin rope. Flatten one end and apply a dab of edible adhesive and gently press onto the rear of the mouse.
- Curl tail around and apply a dab of adhesive on the edge of the back and tack the tail there, and curl it around as desired.
- Allow cookies to dry and set undisturbed.
- Store in single layer in tins when set.
Notes
Christmas Cookies Week Giveaway:
Prize 1: Tower of Treats from Millican Pecan Company
Originally founded as the West Texas Pecan Nursery in the late 1800’s, Millican Pecan is now in 5th generation ownership. Located in San Saba, TX, the family continues the tradition of pecan farming while also branching the business into the online world. The family also enjoys educating people about pecans. One winner will receive The Tower of Treats Gift Tins. The tower includes 3 decorative gift tins stacked on top of each other. The bottom tin includes our 2 lb. Chocolate Pecan Sampler, the middle tin is our Flavored Pecan Sampler and the top tin is an 8 oz. tin of Milk Chocolate Caramillicans (similar to Turtles). An $80 value.
Prize 2: An Assortment of Flavored Extracts from Adams Extract and Spices
In January 2013, Adams, one of the oldest continuously operated companies in Texas and one of oldest spice and extract companies in the United States, celebrated its 125th birthday and was awarded the Texas Treasure Business Award, an award sponsored by State Bill 920 that recognizes the accomplishments of Texas businesses that have provided employment opportunities and support to the state’s economy for at least 50 years and pays tribute to the state’s well-established businesses and their exceptional historical contributions toward the state’s economic growth and prosperity.
Today, Adams proudly manufactures and markets under several Adams Brand banners, including Adams Best®, Adams Extract®, Adams® Seasoning & Spice, Adams Reserve®, Flavor King™, Pantry Basics™, Sear-n-Crust®, ClearVan™, Carniceria®, Cocina del Rey®, Naturals™, and Urban Canner™ along with the Adams Frozen Skillet Desserts and Adams Premium Ice Cream lines. In addition, Adams is proud to manufacture for some of the nations most respected Private Label Brands as well as other legacy Regional Seasoning Brands and is used to flavor many commercially produced food products around the nation.
Prize 3: A Set of Baking Pans from Anolon
Established in the 1950’s, Meyer Manufacturing started by making and selling flashlights. In 1971 they started their journey into selling cookware. By 1986 they released the world’s first hard-anodized nonstick cookware which revolutionized the world of home cooking. Their nonstick surface didn’t flake or scratch easily.
Today they sell bakeware with nonstick interior and exterior made with a special sapphire-reinforced blend that is triple coated. NOTE: Color may vary from the photo above.
Prize 4: An Assorted Baking Box from Sweets & Treats
Make Sweets & Treats your one-stop shop for all your holiday sprinkle needs. In addition to fun, festive and colorful sprinkles, Sweets & Treats offers cupcake liners, edible glitters, sugars, and more.
Founded in 2010 by Shannon Harvey out of an industry need for bold, bright cupcake liners and baking supplies that are the life of the party! Based in Louisiana, Sweets & Treats is a designer cupcake liner manufacturer and party supply company that creates exclusive greaseproof cupcake liners, sprinkles, sprinkle mixes, paper straws, and other baking supplies.
Enter to Win Prizes!
Join my recipe group on Facebook for more recipes from blogger friends around the world!
Palatable Recipes
Giveaway Disclaimer: Four (4) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. Bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners have 24 hours to respond once notified by email, or they forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. The #ChristmasCookies bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members living in the household cannot enter or win the giveaway. Entries will be verified. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Giveaway open to US Residents only who are 18 years of age or older to enter giveaway. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookies posts or entry.
My favorite Christmas cookies to bake are sugar cookies with different toppings. Those Christmas dormouse cookies are so cute, I may try those too.
My favorite Christmas cookies is oatmeal scotchies. I probably eat half the bag of butterscotch chips before we even have the mixing bowls out!!
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These are absolutely adorable Sue. I am going to have a ton of fun with the Angel Face on this one.
I applaud your use of sprinkles! So dang cute! I’d actually be happy to chomp down on a mouse!
These are darling!!