24 double-stuffed Oreo cookies
1 cup (6 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips
2 tsp. shortening
24 red maraschino cherries with stems, well drained
24 milk chocolate kisses
48 sliced almonds
1 small tube of green icing gel
1 small tube of red icing gel
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Carefully twist cookies apart; set aside the halves with cream filling. Save plain halves for another use. (Or munch on them while you make this recipe!) In the microwave or heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Holding each cherry by the stem, dip in melted chocolate, then press onto the bottom of a chocolate kiss. Place onto the cream filling of the cookie, with cherry stem extending beyond cookie edge. For ears, place slivered almonds between the cherry and kiss. Refrigerate until set. With green gel, pipe holly leaves on the cream. With red gel, pipe holly berries between leaves and pipe eyes on each chocolate kiss. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Yield: 2 dozen.
