grandma's Christmas Cookie Recipe Contest - Peanutbutter Mice by Nikki!

Eleven years ago I had a Christmas cookie recipe contest - today I want to share with you again a recipe sent in by a reader - Peanut-butter Mice by Nikki Lancaster! Nikki says this is her children's favorite cookie! Thank you Nikki for sharing the recipe with us!

Peanut Butter Christmas Mice Makes about 5 dozen. Ingredients: 1 cup creamy peanut butter (reduced fat or generic brands of peanut butter not recommend) 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup peanut halves 2 tablespoons green and red M&M's baking bits 4 teaspoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips 60 to 66 pieces red shoestring licorice ( 2 inches each) Cake decorator holly leaf and berry candies Directions: 1.In a large mixing bowl, cream peanut butter, butter and sugars. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda, gradually add to the creamed mixture.(Dough will be soft) Refrigerate for 1 hour. 2. Roll into 1-in balls. Place 2 in. 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. 3. Bake at 350 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.