Place chocolate chips and shortening in a small microwave-safe mixing bowl.

Heat in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until chips are mostly melted.

Stop heating and continue stirring until the mixture is fully melted and smooth.

Spread a sheet of parchment paper on your work surface.

Hold a maraschino cherry gently by its stem. Be sure any excess cherry juice has been removed, or dab the cherry onto a paper towel. Dip the cherry down into the chocolate mixture to coat well. Lift out and place on the parchment paper. You can adjust how you set the cherry to determine how the “tail” of the “mouse” will set.

Place a Hershey’s kiss with the flat side leaned onto the chocolate-dipped cherry to form the mouse’s head.

Repeat these steps for about half of the cherries. This will allow the chocolate to set up just a bit before adding the other face components.

Identify slivered almonds that are similar sizes for each mouse’s ears. Break the narrower end’s tip off of each ear. Wedge the “ears” between Hershey's kiss and the cherry.

Use a small hole in the icing writer and dot two eyes onto the mouse’s head.

With a toothpick, dab a bit of the melted chocolate onto the point of the Hershey’s kiss. Place a red candy onto the tip of the nose.

Allow the chocolate to set and harden. Gently peel the “mice” off of the parchment paper to eat.