Sara's Santa's Whiskers

Name: Sara's Santa's Whiskers
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 60
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 85 grams red candied cherries, coarsely chopped; 591 milliliters all-purpose flour; 113 grams 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla or rum extract; 237 milliliters sugar; 170 grams 3/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut; 237 milliliters (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature; 2 Tbsps whole milk

Sara's Santa's Whiskers is a vegetarian hor d'oeuvre. This recipe serves 60. One serving contains 90 calories, 1g of protein, and 5g of fat. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes around 45 minutes. Head to the store and pick up butter, coconut, sugar, and a few other things to make it today. This recipe is typical of Southern cuisine.

Instructions

Arrange two approximately 12- by 12-inch square pieces of wax paper on a work surface and spread half the flaked coconut in the middle of each.

Ingredients you will need

Coconut Flakes

Spread

Equipment you will use

Wax Paper

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar and beat on medium speed, scraping the bowl occasionally, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Butter

Sugar

Equipment you will use

Stand Mixer

Bowl

Add the milk and vanilla or rum extract and beat until fully incorporated. With the mixer on low, add the flour in 3 batches, followed by the red and green cherries and the pecans, and stir until just combined, about 2 minutes. Divide the dough in half and form each half into a 10-inch-long log, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

Ingredients you will need

Rum Extract

Cherries

Vanilla

Pecans

Dough

All Purpose Flour

Milk

Equipment you will use

Blender

Transfer each log to a sheet of wax paper and roll to coat them in the coconut. Once the logs are completely covered in coconut, roll the wax paper around each log, cover in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.

Ingredients you will need

Coconut

Roll

Wrap

Equipment you will use

Plastic Wrap

Wax Paper

Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and a second rack in the lower third then preheat to 375°F.

Equipment you will use

Oven

Slice each log crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick cookies and arrange on baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between cookies.

Ingredients you will need

Equipment you will use

Baking Sheet

Bake, switching the baking sheets between the upper and lower racks about halfway through baking, until light golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Continue baking cookies on cooled baking sheets. DO AHEAD: The cookies can be baked ahead and stored, in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 3 days.

Ingredients you will need

Equipment you will use

Baking Sheet

Wire Rack

Oven

Equipment

Ingredients

Servings:

85grams

red candied cherries, coarsely chopped 591milliliters

all-purpose flour 113grams

1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans 1teaspoon

pure vanilla or rum extract 237milliliters

sugar 170grams

3/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut 237milliliters

(2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 2Tbsps

whole milk

Recommended wine: Riesling, Sparkling Wine, Zinfandel

Riesling, Sparkling Wine, and Zinfandel are great choices for Southern. In general, there are a few rules that will help you pair wine with southern food. Food-friendly riesling or sparkling white wine will work with many fried foods, while zinfandel is great with barbecued fare. The Schlossgut Diel Nahe Riesling Kabinett with a 4.2 out of 5 star rating seems like a good match. It costs about 23 dollars per bottle.