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Special equipment: two 6-count mouse-shaped chocolate molds; pastry brush
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For the caramel: In a heavy-bottomed 4-quart saucepan, bring 1/3 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons water, the sugar and corn syrup to a boil, wiping the sides of pan with a wet pastry brush occasionally until the mixture turns a dark amber color.
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Carefully and slowly add the heavy cream, stirring with a whisk, then add the butter, vanilla and salt.
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Bring back to a boil and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
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Cool the caramel for 10 minutes, then add the orange oil and food coloring.
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Cool completely before using.
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For the gummy tails: In a small liquid measuring cup, bloom the gelatin in 1/2 cup cold water for 5 minutes.
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Warm the mixture in a microwave on high until the mixture is liquid and smooth, 15 seconds.
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Add the orange oil, mixing it in well.
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For the shells: Temper the chocolate.
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Fill the mouse molds with the chocolate and knock them carefully on a hard surface to release any air bubbles.
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Pour out the excess chocolate back into the bowl of tempered chocolate.
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Scrape the flat portion of the mold to clean off the excess chocolate.
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Cool the mouse shells to harden completely.
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Place the cold caramel in a piping bag, with a small hole cut in the end.
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Pack the pumpkin seeds into the body cavities of the chocolate shells, then pipe in the caramel until the filling is 1/16-inch below the top.
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Pour more tempered chocolate over the filling, and scrape the excess again, then let cool and set up completely.
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Carefully dig out any chocolate that may have gotten into the tail portion of each mouse mold.
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Clean them with cheese cloth until shiny.
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Pour the liquid gelatin mixture into the tail portion of each mouse mold.
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Let cool and set up completely.
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Release the mice from their molds by gently tapping the mold, right-side up, until they all come out.
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If any of the gelatin tails do not adhere to their chocolate bodies, use a small amount of tempered chocolate to glue them back on.