Chocolate Cookie Mice

¾ cup sugar
½ cup margarine or butter, softened
½ cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 ¼ cups Pillsbury’s Best All Purpose or Unbleached Flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
½ teaspoon baking powder
Miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
Red or black string licorice, cut into 2-inch pieces

Heat oven to 325º 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.

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.

Bake at 325º F for 8 to 13 minutes or until set. For mouse tails, immediately place piece of licorice into rounded end of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheets. 3 dozen cookies.