Mediterranean Santa’s Whiskers Cookies are buttery cookies and are perfect to make for Christmas. They are coated with shredded coconut and filled with sweet cherries. The cookies are prepared with butter, white chocolate, eggs, shredded coconut, and vanilla extract. They have a lovely cherry taste, soft from inside and with a crunch texture. Cookies are easy to store in a container, so their taste and texture will never get spoiled. It contains 15 g net carbs and 1.5 g of protein. Mediterranean Santa’s Whiskers Cookies can be served with coconut ice cream, fresh strawberries, and on Christmas party platters.
STATS:
- Calories: 130 kcal
- Preparation time: 20 minutes
- Chilling time: 2 hours
- Serving size: 1 cookie
- Cooking time: 12–14 minutes
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Total time: 2 hours 34 minutes
- Course: Dessert
- Diet: Vegetarian
- Servings: 30 cookies
EQUIPMENT:
- Mixing bowl
- Electric hand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Knife
- Wire cooling rack
INGREDIENTS:
- 3/4 cup soft unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- Half tsp almond extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Quarter tsp salt
- 3/4 cup finely chopped maraschino
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 ounces white chocolate, melted
- Extra shredded coconut
INGREDIENT NOTES:
BUTTER:
- Butter will give the cookies a tasty flavor. It makes the cookies soft and extra creamy. You can use a soft butter before mixing because it will help to make mixing easier for you.
VANILLA EXTRACT:
- This provides a pleasant smell and adds some extra flavor to the cookies. You can use vanilla essence instead. It works well in the recipe to provide you with the best result as per your preference.
WHITE CHOCOLATE:
- You can use white melted chocolate to give some extra sweetness to the cookies. This will also make the cookies look beautiful; you can sprinkle just before serving, as per your choice.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Firstly, rinse the cherries and dry them, then chop them into small pieces and set them aside.
- Now add the soft butter and granulated sugar into a bowl and beat them well.
- Put the vanilla essence egg & almond essence then stir till it gets properly
- Gradually add the flour and salt; mix them on low until it forms a soft cookie dough.
- Fold the cherries into the dough mix until they are evenly spread.
- Now cut the dough into 2 equal portions and shape each portion into a log.
- Roll each dough log in the coconut until completely coated. Press gently so the coconut sticks.
- Now wrap each log and chill them for 2 hours, then heat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Then, remove the dough log from the fridge and cut it into slices, place them on the sheet, and bake for 14 minutes, until they become lightly golden.
- Rest the cookies for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack.
- Lastly, add white chocolate over the cooled cookies and sprinkle with extra coconut, then serve.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
DESSERT PAIRINGS:
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Coconut Ice Cream
- Whipped Cream
FRUIT PAIRINGS:
- Strawberries
- Orange Slices
- Fresh Blueberries
HOLIDAY TREATS:
- Christmas Cookie Platters
- Holiday Dessert Boards
- Christmas Party Desserts
TIPS:
- You should always use soft butter for easy mixing.
- Properly rinse the cherries to prevent moisture in the dough.
- Chop the cherries into small pieces for equal distribution.
- Chill the dough before slicing so the cookies will get their shape easily.
- Avoid overbaking to prevent the cookies from becoming dry.
- Cool them completely before adding the chocolate.
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- You can easily store the cookies in a container so they will never get spoiled.
FREEZER:
- You can also keep them for 2 months so their taste will never get ruined.
FAQs:
Should I use fresh cherries in this recipe?
- Yeah, you can use fresh cherries in the recipe. It will also give a good taste, as per your preference.
Should I exclude coconut from the cookies?
- Yes, you can skip the coconut, but the cookies will look different in texture.
Why does my cookie dough remain soft?
- It is because the dough may be too warm, or the cherries may contain extra moisture.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
Calories: 130 kcal
Net carbs: 15 g
Iron: 0.5 mg
Total carbs: 16 g
Vitamin A: 45 mcg
Fiber: 1 g
Calcium: 12 mg
Protein: 1.5 g
Serving size: 1 cookie
Sodium: 30 mg
Serving: 1 cookie
Potassium: 30 mg