Name: Sara's Santa's Whiskers
Yield: Makes about 5 dozen cookies
Ingredients: 3/4 cup (6 ounces) flaked sweetened coconut; 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature; 1 cup sugar; 2 tablespoons whole milk; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla or rum extract; 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 3 ounces red candied cherries, coarsely chopped; 3 ounces green candied cherries, coarsely chopped; 1/2 cup (4 ounces) coarsely chopped pecans; 2 large baking sheets; wax paper

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Sara's Santa's WhiskersKim Sentner

Editor's note: This recipe appears as part of our editors' Christmas Cookie Swap, 10 beloved holiday recipes from the editors of Epicurious and Gourmet Live.

This is a classic old-school Christmas recipe from my grandmother, Ethel Hughes Johnston, which uses candied fruit and coconut. If you can't find green candied cherries, you can get by with just red ones. They'll still look festive.

Recipe notes

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