Santa's Whiskers

Like so many families a tradition on Christmas Eve is to set out a plate of cookies, glass of milk and a carrot for Santa and his Reindeer.  These refrigerator cookies are transformed into what I call "Santa's Whiskers". These cookies have become our family tradition for Santa's Cookie Plate.

The dough can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator to be baked at a later time.




Ingredients:
1 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond flavoring
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries

Cream together butter, sugar, eggs and flavoring.  In a separate bowl combine the dry ingredients and mix well.  Add dry ingredients to the wet.  Once combined mix in the cherries.

Divide dough into 2-3 equal parts.  Shape each part by rolling into log 2 inches thick. Roll dough into shredded coconut and wrap in wax paper or plastic wrap, chill for 4 hours until firm.

When your ready to bake preheat the over to 375 degrees.  Slice the roll into 1/4 inch slices and place on a cookie sheet.  Bake 8-10 minutes until the edges start to become light brown.  Remove from oven and transfer onto a cooling rack.

This recipe can be changed up just slightly to make a refigerator cookie by subt