Santa’s Whiskers
This is Day #3 of the 24 Days of Christmas Baking.
Once upon a time there was a cookie with a dream. It knew each Christmas one cookie was selected to be the snack Santa would eat just before he goes on his run to deliver toys all around the world. It was a great responsibility and honour if you were the cookie chosen for this task and it would set the tone for Santa’s whole evening.
In previous years some of the cookies chosen were ginger snaps, sugar cookies, shortbread, chocolate chip and more. This was a list of cookies with great reputation and caliber. They were classic cookies that could handle the pressure of sending Santa off on his run. But for the present year this one cookie wanted to not only be chosen, but wanted to impress the big man himself.
So, this cookie thought about what would make the perfect cookie for Santa to eat. It would need to have a classic taste. Shortbread cookies are one of the most loved cookies, so that would be the base and foundation of the recipe. Next, it would need to have something sweet. Cherries are a great choice and to give it the colours of Christmas, green and red candied cherries are even better. A crunchy texture in the cookie can really enhance the flavour this cookie thought, so chopped pecans were added to the list. Finally to resemble that they were rolled in snow, the edges would be coated in coconut.
The cookie was made and the combination of ingredients was even better than it had hoped. Everyone was surprised when this brand new cookie was chosen to be this year’s cookie for Santa. Christmas came and everything was ready at the North Pole. Santa was going throug his pre-launch routine and just before he went onto his sled he sat down on his big chair, reached over to the table and grabbed the cookie. He took a bite. All the elves were nervous as to whether Santa would like this new cookie. He smiled and said it was the greatest cookie he had ever tasted. He drank some milk and took a second cookie. Santa looked at the coconut surrounding the cookie that was supposed to resemble snow. He chuckled and said “This looks like my beard!” From that moment on this cookie was known as Santa’s Whiskers.
The recipe is not mine but the story is. 🙂
Chop up the cherries into quarters and mix with the dough and pecans.
Divide the dough into three and roll into logs. Roll the logs in the fine coconut. Place in the fridge for a few hours.
Slice the logs into 1/4 inch thick cookies. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. ake in a 350F oven for 10-12 minutes. The cookies should just start browning on the edges.
The cookies are ready for Santa!
Santa's Whiskers
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter , softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 3/4 cups candied green cherries
- 3/4 cups candied red cherries
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 3 cups fine unsweetened coconut
Instructions
- With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until it is smooth and the butter is dissolved.
- Beat in the vanilla and flour. It should have a crumbly shortbread consistency.
- Chop the candied cherries into quarters. Mix the cherries and pecans into the dough. Roll into 3 logs.
- Roll each log in the shredded coconut ensuring that there is an even coating of coconut all around the log. Cover in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 4 hours.
- Remove the logs from the fridge and cut into 1/4 inch cookies.
- Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a 350F oven for 10-12 minutes. The cookies should just start browning on the edges.
