"Santa's Whiskers" Cookies

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From the kitchen of Meagan

This recipe has been on northpole.com from the beginning… since 1996! We hope you enjoy this classic North Pole recipe. Let us know your opinion by submitting a review!

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Recipe Details

Bake Time:

10-12 minutes

Yields:
Tags:

60 cookies
Contains nuts, Good for parties/potlucks

Ingredients

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) margarine
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup finely chopped candied red or green cherries
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
3/4 cup coconut

Directions

Beat margarine with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
Add about half the flour, also add sugar, milk, and vanilla.
Beat till thoroughly combined.
Stir in remaining flour, cherries and pecans.
Shape into 8-inch long rolls.
Roll in coconut.
Wrap in wax paper; chill 2–24 hours.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut dough into 1/4-inch slices.
Place on an un-greased cookie sheet, for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are golden.
Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Reviews

Belspar says:

This recipe always is a request. I use 1/2 green and 1/2 red candied cherries and pecans chopped fine. Easy to make ahead and slice and bake when needed too.

12/9/2016 6:33:24 PM

vivaciousredhed62 says:

Hi---I make these with 1/2 C. butter + 1/4 C. shortening. No margarine. And they are simply delicious! I use only red chopped cherries, and short, sweetened coconut (it makes the best whiskers without burning!). To those who omit the coconut: The toasted coconut adds tremendously to the wonderful flavor of these cookies. Try it some time! : )

12/22/2014 4:53:27 PM

hotchile1 says:

This recipe is from a 1960'single Bether Homes and Garden Holiday cookbook. My mom made them every Christmas since I was 8 yrs old. I'm 61 now and it has been a tradition in my home for the 50+ years. I remember leaving these cookies for Santa. One thing I changed was adoing in the coconut into dough and then making them drop cookies. Thank you for posting as this year all my cookbooks are in storage.

12/16/2014 8:46:49 PM

giggleschuckles says:

I found the dough to dry to roll and it just crumbled. i added a tbsp extra margerine and milk and it seemed to work better. tasty cookies though!

11/22/2014 11:30:39 PM

cjudd says:

the best food i have tasted!!! :-) by hunter

12/12/2012 11:27:04 PM

mrscrunch722 says:

made these, r they ever sooo goood

12/12/2012 1:21:01 PM

ryan2004 says:

yum yum

11/28/2012 10:19:33 AM

princesskrt says:

i just made them for my daughter to try and then yelled can we make these for santa !?

11/25/2012 7:27:18 PM

stitchywoman says:

YUMMY this is one of my most favorite christmas cookies out there! It's crunchy on the outside, but soft on the inside. I make them a drop cookie instead, eliminated the coconut, and rolling it into a log and chilling it. I mix them up and then drop them on the cookie sheet. I also gave them more color by using 1/2 red cherries and 1/2 green cherries. Walnuts work just as well as the pecans. Can't wait to make a batch or more for this Christmas season. Santa will just have to find another house to eat these cookies. I don't share them with anyone!

11/15/2012 10:10:45 AM

lora says:

I made these last christmas and they were delicious but I could not get the coconut to stick. Any suggestions????? I tried to dampen the outside of log but they didn't stick.... help. I would give them 5 stars if the cococut would stick.