Imagine sinking your teeth into a bite-sized treat that's bursting with rich chocolate and a juicy cherry surprise. This Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe is exactly that—delightfully cute, irresistibly tasty, and perfect for sharing or sneaking when no one’s looking!

A white round plate holds ten small chocolate mice arranged close together. Each mouse has two layers: a larger smooth chocolate ball for the body and a smaller chocolate ball for the head, attached in front. Two almond slices are placed on the top of the head as ears, showing their light beige color and slightly rough texture. Tiny black dots form the eyes on the front of the head, and a small red candy forms the nose at the tip of the head. A thin red string sticks out the back side of each mouse, acting as the tail. The plate is set on a white marbled surface with scattered candy and wrapping in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe has stolen my heart, partly because it’s as fun to make as it is to eat. The marriage of smooth milk chocolate, plump cherries, and a hint of almond is just magic in each tiny bite, plus they look adorable on any dessert table.

Fun and Festive: These mouse-shaped bites add whimsy and charm, making them perfect for parties or gifts.
Delicious Flavor Harmony: The combination of cherry, almond, and milk chocolate creates a delicious balance you won't get tired of.
Impress Without Stress: Even if you’re not a pro baker, the steps are straightforward and chill time does most of the work.
Customizable & Creative: You can tweak flavors or decorations to match holidays, seasons, or your cravings.

A round white plate holds thirteen small treats shaped like mice, each treat has two round milk chocolate balls stacked as the body and head, with a red cherry stem sticking out from the back as the tail. The head has two small light almond slices for ears and two tiny black dots for eyes, with a small red dot on the tip for the nose. The plate sits on a white marbled surface with pinecones and green leaves around the plate, along with some golden foil-wrapped chocolates and bowls with red candy spheres visible at the edges. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Let’s walk through what makes this recipe click. Each ingredient has a role in creating the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and fruity—all while shaping those cute mouse bites.

Flat lay of fresh maraschino cherries with stems, a small glob of softened unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with golden corn syrup, a small white ceramic bowl holding clear almond extract, a small white ceramic bowl heaped with sifted powdered sugar, smooth milk chocolate melting wafers arranged neatly, unwrapped milk chocolate almond Hershey’s Kisses, delicate almond slices spread evenly, a small white ceramic bowl of glossy black decorative icing, a small white ceramic bowl filled with shiny red sugar pearls placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Maraschino cherries with stems: These cherries provide sweetness and the “tail” that makes the mouse look authentic—make sure they’re well-drained to avoid soggy dough.
Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps the dough hold together smoothly without overpowering flavors.
Corn syrup: A little bit of this prevents the dough from drying out and gives it a nice pliable texture.
Almond extract: This gives a lovely, nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with the milk chocolate and cherry.
Powdered sugar: It sweetens and binds the dough; sift it to avoid lumps that can affect texture.
Milk chocolate melting wafers: These melt nicely and create a smooth shell for dipping—quality chocolate really shines here.
Milk chocolate almond Hershey’s Kisses: Perfectly sized “heads” for the mice, with a subtle nutty crunch.
Almond slices: Add ears and a touch of crunch, plus they look so cute!
Black decorative icing: Used for tiny eyes—easy and foolproof for creating personality.
Red sugar pearls: Sweet noses that complete each mouse with a pop of color.

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love swapping the almond extract for vanilla when I want something a bit milder, or using dark chocolate wafers for a richer bite. Feel free to customize these little mice to your taste or the occasion—you can even decorate with tiny candy eyes for a playful look!

Variation: One time I added a dash of coconut extract and used coconut-flavored Hershey’s Kisses—turned out delightfully tropical and unexpected!
Dietary tweak: You can substitute butter with a vegan alternative and use dairy-free chocolate to make these vegan-friendly without losing much flavor.
Seasonal flair: For holidays, try colored sugar pearls or tiny edible glitter to make them sparkle on the dessert table.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Dough and Cherries

Start by lining two baking trays with parchment paper—I never skip this to keep the mice from sticking later. In a large bowl, beat together softened butter, corn syrup, and almond extract until smooth. I find using a hand mixer helps get a silky base. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, then knead until a soft dough forms that's easy to handle without sticking to your fingers. Pinch off small portions (about half a tablespoon), flatten them, and place a well-drained cherry in the center; wrap the dough carefully around the cherry but leave the stem exposed for that signature mouse tail. Rolling them gently smooths out any cracks, but be patient to avoid breaking the stems. Then, pop them into the fridge to chill and firm up for 2-4 hours. This chilling step is key to making the dipping clean and easy.

Step 2: Dip and Decorate Your Mice

When chilled and firm, melt the milk chocolate wafers until silky smooth. I usually microwave mine in 30-second bursts, stirring in between—this helps prevent burning. Holding each cherry by the stem, dip it fully into the chocolate, then lay it on its side on the baking tray. Before the chocolate sets, press on a Hershey’s Kiss for the “head” and sandwich almond slices between the body and head to form ears. This part takes a little practice with timing—chocolate sets quickly, so work steadily but carefully. Once all mice are assembled, it’s time for the fun finishing touches: use a toothpick dipped in melted chocolate to help the red sugar pearl noses stick, and pipe tiny dots of black icing for eyes. After decorating, chill them again until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes to an hour.

Top Tip

From my experience making these Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites, a few little tricks make all the difference to your success and overall enjoyment.

Keep Cherries Dry: Make sure your maraschino cherries are drained and patted dry to prevent soggy dough and messy chocolate dipping.
Soft Dough is Key: If your dough feels too sticky, add more powdered sugar or chill it slightly – this makes it easier to shape without getting messy.
Use Quality Chocolate: I prefer Ghirardelli melting wafers because they melt smoothly with great flavor, unlike some candy melts that can taste artificial.
Timing For Dipping: Work in small batches so the chocolate stays melted and glossy; if it cools too much, reheat gently.

How to Serve Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites Recipe

Chocolate Cherry Bites - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with just the red sugar pearl noses and a little black icing for eyes—it’s enough to give personality without fuss. But for holiday parties, I’ve sprinkled edible glitter or swapped red sugar pearls for mini candy hearts to add extra charm.

Side Dishes

These mouse bites pair wonderfully with a light cup of coffee or a creamy hot chocolate. For festive spreads, I like to serve them alongside shortbread cookies or fresh fruit platters to balance sweetness with freshness.

Creative Ways to Present

I once created a “mouse house” display using a small dollhouse decorated with candy canes and powdered sugar ‘snow,’ placing the bites in cute little compartments. It’s a fun conversation starter and impressive for kids’ parties or holiday gatherings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover mice covered in an airtight container in the fridge. They hold up beautifully for up to three weeks, though they rarely last that long around here! This keeps the chocolate crisp and the dough firm.

Freezing

For longer storage, you can freeze these bites. Just place them in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving to maintain texture and flavor.

Reheating

Since these are no-bake treats with chilled dough, reheating isn’t necessary. Just bring them to room temperature before serving if you want the chocolate to soften slightly and the flavors to shine.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use fresh cherries instead of maraschino cherries?

Fresh cherries are more watery and don't have stems, which are essential for the mouse tails and proper dough wrapping in this recipe. Maraschino cherries offer the right texture, sweetness, and stems needed to make the mouse shape work.

What’s the best chocolate to use for coating?

I recommend using high-quality milk chocolate melting wafers, like Ghirardelli, because they melt smoothly and have a creamy flavor. Candy melts can sometimes be grainy or overly sweet, which changes the texture and taste.

Can I make these ahead for a party?

Absolutely! In fact, chilling the mouse bites for a few hours or even overnight before dipping helps the dough firm up, which makes the dipping easier and cleaner. You can assemble and store them a day or two in advance—just keep them refrigerated until serving.

What if I don’t like almond?

No worries! You can swap the almond extract for vanilla or coconut extract, and use plain milk chocolate Hershey’s Kisses instead of almond-flavored ones. It might change the flavor profile but the bites will still be delicious and charming.

Final Thoughts

These Chocolate Cherry Mouse Bites are one of those recipes that always bring a smile while making and eating. They’re approachable enough for a fun weekend project, yet impressive enough to wow your friends. I hope you enjoy crafting these little mice as much as I do, and maybe they’ll become a sweet tradition for you too!