Name: Santa’s Whiskers Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 4 h 32 min
Cuisine: American
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

One bite of these colorful, festive cookies instantly lights up the room and fills it with nostalgic holiday magic. The Santa’s Whiskers Cookies Recipe combines a buttery sweetness with cherries, pecans, and a lovely coconut coating that makes every bite a delight – perfect for gifting or cozying up with a cup of hot cocoa.

A red round tin filled with round cookies stacked in two layers, each cookie showing a light beige color dough with small pieces of red, green, and brown bits mixed inside. The cookies have a rough edge texture. Inside the tin, white parchment paper lines the base and sides. The tin sits on a white marbled surface and is surrounded by three Christmas ornaments: one red, one green, and one gold. A small Santa Claus toy stands leaning against the side of the tin. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Santa’s Whiskers Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Santa’s Whiskers Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Santa’s Whiskers Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Santa’s Whiskers Cookies have been a favorite in my family for years, and I’m excited to share exactly why they’re so special. They’re more than just cookies – they’re a festive tradition full of flavor and texture that really brings the holidays alive in your kitchen.

Delightful Texture: The combination of pecans, cherries, and coconut gives these cookies a satisfying crunch and chewy bursts of sweetness.
Easy to Prepare: Even if you’re new to baking, rolling and chilling the dough makes these cookies manageable and foolproof.
Festive Appearance: The bright red cherries and snowy coconut edges make these cookies a cheerful addition to any holiday platter.
Perfect for Sharing: These cookies bake in batches and store well, so you’ll have plenty to give away or keep for yourself!

The image shows several round cookies stacked and scattered on a white marbled surface. Each cookie is light beige in color with visible small pieces of red candied fruit and bits of nuts mixed throughout, giving it a slightly rough texture. The edges of the cookies look slightly crumbly with a coarse coating. The cookies have a soft, dense appearance with a blend of colors from the red fruit and brown nuts contrasting against the pale dough. The light in the image highlights the texture details on the cookies' surfaces. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in Santa’s Whiskers Cookies plays a key role, creating a harmonious balance of flavors and textures. Here’s why these specific ingredients make the magic happen, plus some tips when picking them out.

Flat lay of a softened stick of butter, a small white ceramic bowl of granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of milk, a small white ceramic bowl of vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl of all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl of finely chopped red candied cherries, a small white ceramic bowl of finely chopped pecans, a small white ceramic bowl of white flaked coconut, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Butter: Use room temperature, unsalted butter to achieve that rich, creamy base without any off-flavors.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps create that slight crispness on the edges.
Milk: Adds moisture to bring the dough together smoothly — no dry bits here!
Vanilla Extract: This boosts the overall flavor and warms up the cookie’s profile in just the right way.
All-purpose Flour: Provides structure, keeping the cookies tender but firm enough to hold their shape when rolled and sliced.
Red Candied Cherries: The star of the show! Finely chopping them ensures every bite has a burst of sweetness and festive color.
Pecans: Chopped pecans add a lovely crunch and subtle nutty flavor, complementing the cherries wonderfully.
Flaked Coconut: Rolling the dough logs in coconut adds texture, a tropical hint, and that magical “Santa’s whiskers” look.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I like to think of Santa’s Whiskers Cookies Recipe as a canvas for your holiday creativity. It’s easy to tweak this recipe to suit your taste or to fit special diets, and I’ve played around with a few variations you might love.

Nut-Free Variation: I once swapped out pecans for extra coconut and added sunflower seeds for crunch to accommodate a friend’s nut allergy — still delicious!
Cherry Substitution: If you’re not a fan of candied cherries, dried cranberries or chopped dried apricots work beautifully, adding their own flair.
Spiced Twist: Adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough gives a cozy warmth that’s perfect if you want a little extra holiday spice.
Mini Cookies: I’ve made smaller slices to bake bite-sized cookies, which are great for kids or as part of a cookie exchange.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Santa’s Whiskers Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar

Start by beating the softened butter until it’s creamy and smooth – about 2 minutes with a mixer works great here. Then add the sugar and keep beating until the mix is fluffy and light. This step is essential because it creates the perfect texture for your cookies, so don’t rush through it!

Step 2: Add Liquid Ingredients

Pour in the milk and vanilla extract. Beat these in well so the dough stays moist but not sticky. I always scrape down the sides of the bowl at this stage to make sure everything is evenly mixed.

Step 3: Incorporate the Dry Ingredients

Slowly add the flour, mixing just until it’s fully combined – you want a soft, slightly sticky dough. Over-mixing here can lead to tougher cookies, so keep an eye on the texture.

Step 4: Stir in the Cherries and Pecans

Gently fold in the finely chopped candied cherries and pecans. I’ve found chopping the cherries into small pieces ensures they’re evenly distributed without overpowering any bite.

Step 5: Form and Coat the Dough Logs

Divide the dough into three equal parts and shape each into a 7-inch log. Now comes the fun part: roll each log in flaked coconut so they’re generously coated like a snowy blanket – this gives you that signature “whiskers” effect.

Step 6: Chill Before Slicing

Wrap the coconut-coated dough logs tightly in plastic wrap, then chill them for at least 4 hours or overnight. I promise, the chilling step makes slicing easier and helps the cookies keep their shape during baking.

Step 7: Slice and Bake

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Unwrap the logs and slice them into ¼ inch thick cookies. Lay them on an ungreased baking sheet — no need to grease or parchment paper; they bake perfectly on the bare tray. Bake for 10–12 minutes until the edges just begin to brown. Let them cool on wire racks to crisp up nicely.

Top Tip

From my kitchen to yours, I’ve learned a few little tricks that really make this Santa’s Whiskers Cookies Recipe shine. These tips helped me avoid mistakes and brought the best texture and flavor every single time.

Don’t Skip the Chilling: The dough is soft and sticky, but chilling firms it up so you can slice thin, even cookies without them sticking to your knife.
Use a Sharp Knife: When slicing, a sharp serrated knife works wonders to cut clean edges without squishing the logs.
Even Coconut Coating: Roll your logs gently but fully in coconut to get that iconic “whiskers” look and extra flavor in every bite.
Watch the Baking Time: Pull the cookies out as soon as edges turn slightly golden to keep them tender inside and perfectly crisp outside.

How to Serve Santa’s Whiskers Cookies Recipe

Santa’s Whiskers Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple for these cookies — the coconut coating already gives them a festive look. But for special occasions, a light dusting of powdered sugar adds a snowy effect. Sometimes I drizzle a tiny amount of white chocolate over each cookie for a sweet, elegant touch.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of spiced tea, hot chocolate, or even fresh coffee — their sweetness balances perfectly with a warm beverage. At holiday brunches, I like serving them alongside a fruit platter or creamy mascarpone dip to add freshness.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I arranged Santa’s Whiskers Cookies in the shape of a Christmas tree on a large platter, garnished with fresh mint leaves as the “branches.” It was a fun and whimsical display that always got compliments. Wrapping them in cellophane tied with red and green ribbons also makes a charming homemade gift.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Santa’s Whiskers Cookies stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. I find layering them between sheets of parchment prevents the coconut from sticking and keeps the cookies looking as pretty as when they came from the oven.

Freezing

These cookies freeze wonderfully if you want to bake ahead of the holidays. I slice the dough logs first, place the raw slices on a parchment-lined tray, freeze until firm, then transfer them to a zip-top bag to freeze for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding a couple extra minutes to the baking time.

Reheating

To refresh the crispness of stored cookies, I pop them in a warm oven (about 300°F) for 5 minutes. This brings back that fresh-baked texture without drying them out. Avoid microwaving, which can make the cookies chewy instead of crisp.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use frozen cherries instead of candied cherries?

Frozen cherries aren’t a great substitute here because they release moisture that can change the consistency of the dough. Candied cherries are drier and maintain the cookie’s texture perfectly. If you want a fresh cherry flavor, dried cranberries or raisins are better alternatives.

Why do I need to chill the dough logs before baking?

Chilling firm up the dough, which makes slicing much easier and helps the cookies hold their shape during baking. Skipping this step can lead to misshapen cookies that flatten out on the sheet.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes! You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Just make sure it contains xanthan gum or a similar binder to keep the dough together. The texture might be slightly different but still delicious.

How long do Santa’s Whiskers Cookies stay fresh?

When stored properly in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh for up to one week. For longer storage, freezing is your best bet to maintain their taste and texture.

Final Thoughts

This Santa’s Whiskers Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s tied to so many warm holiday memories with family and friends. I love how simple ingredients turn into such a festive treat, and I hope you find as much joy baking—and eating—them as I do. So grab your mixing bowl, roll up your sleeves, and give these cookies a try. You won’t regret filling your kitchen with their sweet, nostalgic aroma!