Description
Santa’s Whiskers Cookies are festive, buttery cookies packed with chopped red candied cherries and pecans, coated in coconut for a delightful texture and flavor. These charming cookies are perfect for holiday celebrations and gift-giving.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup red candied cherries, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
- 1 cup flaked coconut
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large mixer bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Add the granulated sugar and continue beating until the mixture is fluffy. Add the milk and vanilla extract, then beat again until well combined.
- Mix in dry ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the butter mixture, beating until well mixed. Then, stir in the finely chopped red candied cherries and chopped pecans, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Shape the dough: Form the dough into three rolls, each about 7 inches long. Roll each dough log in the flaked coconut to coat all sides thoroughly.
- Chill the dough: Wrap the coconut-coated dough rolls tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to firm up.
- Preheat the oven: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Slice and bake: Cut the chilled dough rolls into 1/4 inch thick slices and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing them evenly.
- Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies for 12 minutes or until they are done and lightly browned around the edges.
- Cool and serve: Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to wire racks. Let them cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- For best flavor, beat the butter and sugar until very fluffy to incorporate air into the dough.
- Chilling the dough is essential to keep the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- If you prefer, substitute walnuts for pecans for a different nutty flavor.
- Use fresh flaked coconut for a more pronounced coconut flavor, or sweetened shredded coconut if you like a sweeter coating.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to one week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
