There’s nothing quite like the playful charm of these adorable little treats, and the Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe is one of those desserts that wins hearts at every party I’ve brought it to. They’re sweet, fun, and the perfect balance of cherry freshness and rich chocolate—truly unforgettable!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I first made these chocolate cherry mice on a whim for a holiday gathering, and now they’re a staple whenever I want a whimsical dessert. They’re playful, surprisingly simple, and totally addictive. Plus, they’re a total conversation starter!
- Easy to assemble: The dough is simple to handle and wraps perfectly around the cherries to create each little mouse body.
- Unique presentation: Those cute Hershey’s Kisses heads and almond slice ears make these bites irresistibly fun.
- Perfect flavor combo: The almond extract pairs beautifully with cherry and milk chocolate, giving a nostalgic yet sophisticated taste.
- Great for all occasions: Whether it’s for a party, holiday, or just an afternoon treat, these little bites impress every time.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic in the Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe really comes from the harmony of the ingredients. Each one has a special role, combining softness, sweetness, and texture to bring these tiny mice to life.
- Maraschino cherries with stems: The star of the show – the stems give the mice their adorable tails and make dipping easier.
- Unsalted butter: Adds creaminess to the dough while keeping flavors balanced without extra salt.
- Corn syrup: Helps bind the dough and provides that perfect chewiness.
- Almond extract: Adds a lovely nutty flavor that complements the cherries and chocolate perfectly.
- Powdered sugar: Makes the dough delicate and sweet while keeping it smooth and easy to work with.
- Milk chocolate melting wafers: Used for coating – they melt smoothly and set nicely around the cherry bodies.
- Milk chocolate almond Hershey’s Kisses: The noses and heads, with an almond inside, perfectly matching the almond flavor in the dough.
- Almond slices: Essential ears! Thin and crisp, they add cuteness and subtle crunch.
- Black decorative icing: For the eyes—small dots bring the mice to life with personality.
- Red sugar pearls: The nose really finishes each face with a bright pop of color and texture.
Make It Your Way
One of the things I love about the Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe is how easy it is to personalize. You can swap flavors or toppings depending on what you have or the occasion.
- Variation: I once replaced almond extract with vanilla and used dark chocolate kisses—totally delicious for a richer taste.
- Diet-friendly tweak: For a slightly healthier option, I’ve experimented with using natural cherry preserves inside instead of maraschino cherries, though you lose the cute tail!
- Seasonal twist: Around Christmas, I swap red sugar pearls for green or gold sprinkles to make them festive mice.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe
Step 1: Mix the Sweet Dough
I start by letting my butter come to room temperature, which really helps it blend smoothly with the corn syrup and almond extract. Mixing these three until thoroughly combined creates a silky base. Adding the sifted powdered sugar gradually is key here—you want a soft, pliable dough that feels a bit like play dough. If it’s too sticky, a bit more powdered sugar or a quick chill helps.
Step 2: Wrap Each Cherry
Pinching off small dough balls (about half a tablespoon) and flattening them into discs is where the magic starts. Placing a well-drained cherry with its stem sticking out in the center makes it so fun to work with. Wrap the dough around the cherry carefully, leaving the stem as the tail, then roll gently to smooth. Don’t rush this part—you want neat mice so they look their best.
Step 3: Chill to Set
Once all your mice are on baking sheets, the fridge is your best friend. Let them chill for 2 to 4 hours to firm up nicely. This step helps the coating hold better when dipped in chocolate later.
Step 4: Dip and Decorate
Melting the chocolate wafers until silky smooth is easier if you use a double boiler or a candy melter, but a microwave in short bursts works fine too. Holding each mouse by its tail, dip fully, then set on parchment. Quickly press a Hershey’s Kiss head on the opposite side, sandwich two almond slices as ears, and, before the chocolate hardens, dot on tiny features: a red sugar pearl nose attached with a dab of melted chocolate, plus two black icing dots for eyes. It’s easier than it sounds and incredibly rewarding when you see those little faces pop!
Top Tip
I’ve made these a handful of times and learned that patience and gentle handling make all the difference. Here are a few tips from me to you for picture-perfect Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites:
- Use well-drained cherries: Excess juice makes dough soggy and makes dipping tricky—pat them dry for best results.
- Melt chocolate gently: Avoid overheating chocolate, especially if microwaving, to keep it smooth and shiny.
- Handle stems delicately: Holding mice by their tails ensures the bodies and heads stay intact during dipping and decorating.
- Chill thoroughly: Don’t skip the fridge time before dipping—it keeps the mice sturdy and less likely to fall apart.
How to Serve Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe
Garnishes
Personally, I keep garnishes minimal since these mice are cute enough on their own. But if you want, a sprinkle of edible glitter, some powdered sugar dusted lightly, or a few extra red sugar pearls around the serving tray add a nice festive touch.
Side Dishes
Because they’re sweet and rich, I usually pair the mouse bites with a simple fresh fruit platter or a light green tea to balance the sweetness beautifully. They’re also fantastic alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a little contrast.
Creative Ways to Present
I’ve arranged these mice climbing a pile of thin chocolate bars for a party centerpiece, and once even made a “mouse family” on a cheese board with nuts and grapes around—it always gets smiles and starts fun conversations!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover mice in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They hold up great for up to three weeks, which gives plenty of time to enjoy or share. Just let them come to room temp a bit before serving for the best flavor and softness.
Freezing
Though I haven’t frozen them often, I have tried freezing these mice wrapped tightly in plastic and placed in a freezer bag. They freeze well for up to a month but thaw gently in the fridge for several hours to avoid condensation melting the chocolate.
Reheating
Since these are chilled treats, reheating isn’t needed. But if your chocolate isn’t as shiny or smooth after storage, a quick blast (just a few seconds) with a warm cloth or holding near a warm spot will refresh that gloss without melting the mouse.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Frozen cherries lack stems and have more water content, which can make the dough soggy and the mice less structurally sound. Maraschino cherries are preferred for their firm texture and stems, so the mice hold together and look their best.
The best way is to use a double boiler or a candy melter for gentle, even heat to prevent scorching. If you prefer the microwave, use short 30-second bursts stirring in between to keep the chocolate smooth and shiny.
Yes! Dark chocolate pairs beautifully with cherries for a richer flavor, and white chocolate can make for a sweeter take. Just try to match the Hershey’s Kisses ‘heads’ with the body chocolate for a consistent look and taste.
They can be made up to 3 weeks ahead if stored properly in the fridge in an airtight container. They hold their flavor and texture well, which makes them great for prepping for parties or gifts.
Final Thoughts
These Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites are one of those recipes I genuinely look forward to making whenever I want to add a little whimsy to my dessert table. They’re charming, delicious, and always bring smiles. Give this recipe a try—you may find yourself making a whole family of mice to share with friends and family, just like I do!
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Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 30 mice
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
Chocolate Cherry Mice are delightful bite-sized treats featuring maraschino cherries wrapped in a sweet almond-flavored dough, dipped in smooth milk chocolate, and decorated with Hershey's Kisses heads, almond slice ears, and cute faces made with icing and sugar pearls. Perfect for festive occasions or fun party snacks.
Ingredients
Dough and Filling
- 20 ounces maraschino cherries with stems, well drained and dried
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3 tablespoons corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
Chocolate Coating and Decoration
- 10 ounce milk chocolate melting wafers
- 30 milk chocolate almond Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped, for the heads
- Almond slices for the ears
- Black decorative icing for the eyes
- Red sugar pearls for the nose
Instructions
- Prepare the trays: Line two baking trays with parchment paper and set aside to keep your creations from sticking.
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine the softened butter, corn syrup, and almond extract. Use a hand mixer on medium speed to mix until smooth and fully combined.
- Add powdered sugar: Gradually add sifted powdered sugar into the bowl, kneading together with your hands or a spatula until a soft, pliable dough forms.
- Form dough discs: Pinch off approximately ½ tablespoon of dough at a time, roll into balls, then flatten each ball between your palms to form small discs.
- Wrap cherries: Place a maraschino cherry in the center of a dough disc, keeping the stem exposed, then wrap the dough around the cherry to encase it gently.
- Smooth dough: Roll each dough-covered cherry gently in your palms to smooth the surface, taking care not to break off the stem. Place each onto prepared baking sheets as you finish.
- Chill the dough-covered cherries: Transfer the trays to the refrigerator and chill until firm, about 4 hours for the best consistency.
- Melt chocolate: Once firm, melt the milk chocolate wafers until smooth. You can use the microwave in 30-second increments stirring between, a double boiler, or a candy melting pot on low heat.
- Dip cherries: Holding each cherry by the stem, dip it fully into the melted chocolate, then lay it on its side on the prepared baking sheet.
- Attach heads and ears: Before the chocolate sets, press the bottom of a Hershey’s Kiss onto the side opposite the stem to form the mouse’s head. Then, place two almond slices between the cherry body and the Kiss head to form ears.
- Decorate faces: Using a toothpick or skewer, apply a tiny bit of melted chocolate to the tip of the Kiss and attach a red sugar pearl for the nose. Use black decorative icing to dot two eyes on each Kiss to complete the mouse face.
- Chill and serve: Repeat for all cherries, then refrigerate until ready to serve. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
- Use premium Ghirardelli melting wafers (milk or dark chocolate) for best texture and flavor; avoid candy melts.
- Dough should be soft and workable—add more powdered sugar if sticky or chill briefly to handle.
- If melting chocolate in the microwave, use a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second increments, stirring well to prevent burning.
- A candy melter or double boiler keeps chocolate smooth and warm while dipping cherries.
- You can substitute the Hershey’s Kisses with any flavor as long as the head chocolate matches the dipped bodies.
- Candy eyeballs, chocolate drops, or black icing can be used for eyes as alternatives.
- Almond extract pairs well with almond Kisses; vanilla or coconut extracts are good substitutes.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 weeks to maintain freshness.
- Let the chocolate set fully before serving for neat and sturdy treats.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mouse
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 20 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
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