Pink Cherry Coconut Cookies: Also Known as Santa’s Blushing Whiskers
These delightful Pink Cherry Coconut Cookies, affectionately nicknamed Santa’s Blushing Whiskers, are a charming addition to your dessert repertoire, perfect for festive occasions such as Valentine’s Day, baby showers, or holiday cookie trays. Their vibrant color and delicious flavor make them a visual and culinary treat. While the prep time is around 20 minutes, it’s essential to allow for a chilling period of at least 4 hours to achieve the perfect texture. Although you can prepare the dough in advance and freeze it, once baked, these cookies are best enjoyed within three days.
Recipe Details
| Category | Dessert |
|---|---|
| Prep Time | 20 minutes |
| Cook Time | 12 minutes per batch |
| Total Time | 32 minutes (not including chilling) |
| Servings | 108 cookies |
| Description | Bright, festive cookies perfect for any occasion. |
| Keywords | Cookie & Brownie, Cherries, Coconut, Fruit, Nuts, Christmas, Sweet, Brunch, < 60 Mins, For Large Groups |
Nutritional Information
| Nutrient | Amount per Cookie |
|---|---|
| Calories | 67.8 |
| Total Fat | 3.6 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1.9 g |
| Cholesterol | 7.2 mg |
| Sodium | 10.1 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 8.3 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.4 g |
| Sugars | 4 g |
| Protein | 0.7 g |
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 3/4 cup | Sweet unsalted butter |
| 3/4 cup | Shortening |
| 1 1/2 cups | Granulated sugar |
| 1/4 tsp | Baking soda |
| 1/4 tsp | Salt |
| 1 | Egg |
| 1 | Egg yolk |
| 3 | Tablespoons milk |
| 1 | Teaspoon vanilla extract |
| 4 1/2 cups | All-purpose flour |
| 2 1/4 cups | Red maraschino cherries (well drained) |
| 9 | Ounces dried shredded coconut |
| 1 1/2 | Drops of red food coloring |
Instructions
-
Cream the Butter and Shortening: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweet unsalted butter and shortening, then beat them together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process typically takes about 3-5 minutes, and it’s important to ensure that both fats are well combined to create a smooth texture.
“Link To Share” is your all-in-one marketing platform, making it easy and professional to direct your audience to everything you offer. • Modern, customizable bio pages • Link shortening with advanced analytics • Interactive, brandable QR codes • Host static sites and manage your code • Multiple web tools to grow your business -
-
Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Add the granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt into the bowl, and continue to beat the mixture until everything is thoroughly combined. Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure even mixing.
-
Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the whole egg, egg yolk, milk, and vanilla extract, mixing until the ingredients are fully incorporated and the batter is smooth. This will add moisture and richness to your cookies.
-
Mix in the Flour: Take a wooden spoon and gradually stir in the all-purpose flour, one cup at a time. Avoid using a mixer at this stage, as it could toughen the dough. Continue until the flour is just combined into the batter.
-
Color and Flavor: Add enough drops of red food coloring to tint the dough a delightful pink, and fold in the well-drained red maraschino cherries. Ensure that the cherries are evenly distributed throughout the dough for balanced flavor in each cookie.
-
Shape the Dough: Divide the dough into three equal portions. Roll each portion into a log approximately 10 inches long. Once shaped, roll each log in the dried shredded coconut, pressing gently with your fingers to ensure that the coconut adheres well to the surface.
-
Chill the Dough: Wrap each coconut-covered log tightly in wax paper and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until the dough is very firm. This chilling step is crucial for achieving the perfect cookie texture.
-
Preheat the Oven: Once the dough has chilled sufficiently, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking.
-
Slice and Bake: Carefully remove the logs from the refrigerator and slice them into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Place the rounds on parchment-lined baking sheets, ensuring they are spaced about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
-
Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. Enjoy these lovely cookies fresh, or store them in an airtight container for up to three days.
Enjoying Your Cookies
These Pink Cherry Coconut Cookies are not only visually appealing but also bursting with delightful flavors that make them a hit at any gathering. The combination of buttery cookie dough, chewy cherries, and sweet coconut creates a unique treat that your family and friends will adore. Whether you present them on a festive cookie tray or share them at a brunch gathering, they’re sure to spread joy and sweetness wherever they go.
Feel free to experiment with the ingredients; you might want to add a sprinkle of chopped nuts or swap in different types of food coloring for a variety of occasions. The possibilities are endless, making these cookies a versatile recipe to keep on hand.
Happy baking!
