Holiday cookie for the cookie jar

Ingredients

• 0.75 cup sugar
• 0.5 cup margarine or butter, softened
• 0.5 cup shortening
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 2.25 cups flour
• 0.25 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
• miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
• red or black string licorice, cut into 2” pieces

Directions

1. Heat oven to 325°F. In large bowl, beat sugar, margarine and shortening until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg; blend well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Stir in flour, cocoa and baking powder; mix well. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
2. To form mouse, pinch one end of ball to form nose. For ears, make two tiny balls of dough and flatten slightly; gently press into dough on upper front of each mouse body. For eyes, press 2 miniature chocolate chips into dough below ears. Place shaped cookies 2-inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake at 325°F for 8 to 13 minutes or until set. For mouse tails, immediately place piece of licorice into rounded end of each cookie.
4. Remove from cookie sheets.