I love retro recipes and these Santa cookies are a mid-century classic. I love the almost stained glass look of the maraschino cherries and the pale pink. I like to think of these as the Pink Ladies of the cookie world if cookie world was the movie Grease. I know, I’m weird. Between the beautiful color and the coconut coating, they are a whimsical addition to your cookie plate this holiday season!
I’ll be honest, I’m not even a big fan of maraschino cherries or cococnut but in these cookies, they somehow work. Sometimes we get caught up in making all of our favorites this time of year and forget to throw in a new recipe or two. This is perfect to shake up your cookie exchange and not make the same old, same old!
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Santa Whisker Cookies
Notes
Use half almond extract and half vanilla if you prefer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 12 oz. jar maraschino cherries, drained, pitted and stemmed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 3/4 cup flour
- 2 cups shredded sweetened coconut
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add whole cherries, vanilla extract, and salt and mix well.
- Gradually add flour and mix until it forms a somewhat moist dough.
- Lay a sheet of wax or parchment paper on your surface.
- Sprinkle 1 cup coconut onto the wax or parchment and transfer dough lengthwise almost like a log. Sprinkle the other cup of coconut over the top of the dough.
- Press the coconut around the dough and roll so the coconut coats the whole dough log.
- Roll the wax or parchment paper up with the dough inside and twist and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Unroll and slice the cookies 1/2" thick with sharp knife to cut through the cherries.
- Place on a lined cookie sheet and bake 12-15 minutes.
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11 Comments
I remember these cookies from when I was a kid!! I love “retro” recipes, especially the ones I haven’t seen in years. I would love to create a retro Christmas/holiday dinner with all sorts of old recipes from the past.
Me too! Except like tomato aspic gelatin molds and stuff…they can keep that in the 60’s!
Wow! Did these ever bring back memories. I think that is the best part of Christmas. I’ve pinned your post to make for a cookie bake off. Thank you so much for bringing them to FF.
I agree! Memories are half the fun of the holidays and even better when we can reconnect with the past with cookies like these!
Mrs. Kringle,
I’ve never had these cookies before but they sure do look like a winner for this time of the year. Unfortunately, DH has a slight sensitivity to coconut so I may not get a chance to try your recipe even though I’m tempted. 🙂 I’m stopping off from INSPIRE ME MONDAY and to help get you in the holiday spirit, join me for a bit a prelude of Christmas to come through music on the 4M dance floor! 😉
I don’t know if hubby has a nut allergy but if not, rolling it in almond meal over coconut would be a complimentary flavor to cherries!
Thanks for sharing with us at the To Grandma’s house we go link party – I’m featuring you this week!
Thanks so much, Tarah!!
I have never heard of these cookies but you sure do make them sound delicious. Thanks for linking up this week and sharing the recipe with us. #HomeMattersParty
We sure think so! Thanks so much for hosting!
These are so festive! Thanks for sharing😊