Prepare the Mice Bodies:

1. Prepare the Almonds: Begin by selecting whole almonds. If needed, use a knife to trim off any excess skin. The almonds should be whole to form the body of the mouse.
2. Crush the Graham Crackers: In a small bowl, crush the graham crackers or cookies until you have small crumbs. This will give the almond bodies a nice coating that mimics the mouse’s fur.

Melt the Chocolate:

3. Melt the Chocolate: In a heatproof bowl, melt the chocolate chips with the vegetable shortening or coconut oil. Use the microwave in 30-second intervals or melt over a double boiler, stirring until smooth.

Assemble the Mice:

4. Dip the Almonds: Dip each almond into the melted chocolate, ensuring it’s fully coated. Use a fork to lift the almond out and tap it gently to remove any excess chocolate.
5. Coat the Almonds in Crumbs: Immediately after dipping the almond in chocolate, roll it in the crushed graham cracker crumbs to give it a fur-like texture. Set it aside on parchment paper to set.

Add the Mice Features:

6. Attach the Eyes: Once the chocolate coating is firm but not fully set, place two small candy eyes on each almond.
7. Create the Ears: For each mouse, take a small candy like a jelly bean or M&M, and place it just above the eyes to serve as the ears.
8. Add the Noses: Place a small chocolate chip at the pointed end of the almond to create the mouse’s nose.
9. Insert the Tails: Gently insert a mini pretzel stick into the back end of each almond to serve as the mouse’s tail.

Let the Mice Set:

10. Chill the Mice: Place the chocolate mice in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to let the chocolate set completely.