This cookbook might be vintage but the recipes never get old. One of my favorite Christmas cookies is found in this book. They are called Santa’s Whiskers because the coconut on the outside of the cookie is symbolic of Santa’s beard. They are also speckled with candied cherries for that extra Christmas cheer. You can make the dough ahead and slice and bake them right before the party.

Ingredients

1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. finely chopped red and green cherries
1/2 c. finely chopped pecans
3/4 c. flaked coconut

Directions
In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Blend in milk and vanilla. Stir in flour, chopped cherries, and pecans. Form dough into two 8-inch rolls. To do this, roll the dough in flaked coconut on a sheet of wax paper. Pull the waxed paper as if the dough roll was a sushi roll. The dough will even out inside the wax paper tube. Place in fridge and chill thoroughly.

Cut into 1/4 inch slices. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 until the edges are browned, about 12 minutes. Makes about 60 cookies.