I also had a problem with them turning out much flatter than the photo. (Still looked like mice, but not like the picture) Even making the balls round and large, they still flattened out. I'm guessing the test kitchen uses a convection oven and that might have helped with the ones in the picture.
Some of the peanuts fall out when the cookies flatten.
I was able to freeze these with licorice and candies in.
I used green and red sprinkles rather than the cake decorator holly and berries. Still looked fine.