These coconut macaroons are made with six simple ingredients. Enjoy them plain, or dip them in melted chocolate!

Overhead view of chocolate coconut macaroons on parchment paper.

Not to be confused with the French macaron, these coconut macaroons are made with sweetened shredded coconut and aren’t filled with anything. Instead, they’re dipped in semi-sweet chocolate.

The chocolate is optional, but I simply can’t resist the chocolate-coconut flavor combo. You can easily leave it off if you prefer though.

What I love most about these chocolate-dipped macaroons is that they’re made with six basic ingredients. The cookies do have to chill in the fridge after they’ve been dipped in chocolate, but that’s the hardest part of this whole recipe!

Overhead view of the ingredients needed to make coconut macaroons with sweetened condensed milk.

Recipe Ingredients 

The ingredients list for these macaroon cookies is short, so it’s important that you buy the best quality ingredients you can. To make the cookies, you’ll need the following:

  • Sweetened shredded coconut: Can be found in the baking aisle of your local supermarket. Don’t buy unsweetened coconut flakes; they won’t provide the same flavor.
  • Flour: Some macaroon recipes don’t use any flour, but I find that it helps bind everything together and keeps the cookies crisp on the outside.
  • Salt: Balances out the sweetness from the coconut and condensed milk. 
  • Sweetened condensed milk: Is thick, creamy, and very sweet. Do not confuse this ingredient with evaporated milk, which is much runnier and isn’t sweetened. 
  • Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract will give the strongest flavor. 
  • Semi-sweet chocolate: This is completely optional and can be omitted for plain coconut macaroons. I typically use 8 ounces of chocolate for dipping the bottoms of the macaroons and an additional 2 to 4 ounces for drizzling on top.

Overhead view of sweetened shredded coconut in a food processor.

How to Make Coconut Macaroons 

Before making the dough, I recommend pulsing the shredded coconut in a food processor several times to break it down. This step is optional, but will make it much easier to form perfectly round macaroon cookies!

Add the shredded coconut to a large mixing bowl and stir in the flour and salt. Then, mix in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract.

Use a 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop to drop the mixture onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. 

Dampen your hands, then gently shape each macaroon into a round ball. The mixture is very sticky, which is why you’ll want to dampen your hands first. Make sure that none of the coconut is sticking out or it can burn in the oven. 

Then, bake the cookies until golden brown on the bottom. Let them cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling. 

Once the cookies have cooled completely, prepare the chocolate for dipping. 

Add the chopped chocolate to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second intervals until smooth, stirring often. 

Carefully dip the bottom of each macaroon cookie into the melted chocolate and transfer to a clean parchment paper-lined baking sheet. I like to drizzle whatever chocolate is left over the macaroons. 

Refrigerate the cookies until the chocolate has hardened, then enjoy! 

A pile of macaroon cookies drizzled with chocolate on parchment paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Evaporated Milk? 

No, evaporated milk will not work whatsoever with this recipe. Evaporated milk is too runny and hasn’t been sweetened. 

Do They Have To Be Refrigerated?

No, coconut macaroons do not have to be refrigerated. You can store these in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Can I Freeze Macaroons? 

Yes, these cookies can be frozen with or without the chocolate. Store them in a freezer bag for up to three months and thaw to room temperature before serving.

Can I Omit The Flour in This Recipe? 

The flour creates a denser macaroon that remains crisp on the outside. However, you can leave out the flour if needed. If you do omit the flour, I recommend reducing the sweetened condensed milk to just 3/4 cup and increasing the baking time by 2 to 3 minutes.

The cookies won’t be quite as dense and they soften some after a day or so, but they still taste good!

Close up view of a pile of chocolate dipped macaroon cookies. The top cookie has a bite missing.

Baking Tips 

  • I recommend pulsing the shredded coconut in a food processor to break it up a little. This makes it easier to form perfectly round macaroon cookies. 
  • If dipping the cookies in chocolate, I recommend melting an actual chocolate bar rather than chocolate chips. Chocolate chips have stabilizers in them that make them resistant to melting and they can easily clump up or burn in the process. 
  • I used semi-sweet chocolate because the macaroons are already very sweet, but you can use milk or dark chocolate if desired. 

More Easy Cookie Recipes to Make! 

Video Tutorial

Overhead view of chocolate coconut macaroons on parchment paper.

Coconut Macaroons

5 from 3 ratings
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Chilling Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
These coconut macaroons are made with five simple ingredients. Enjoy them plain, or dip them in melted chocolate!

Ingredients

Servings: 24 cookies
  • 1 (14-ounce package) sweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ cup (65 grams) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 (14-ounce can) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 8 to 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (roughly chopped)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
  • Pulse the coconut in a food processor 8 to 10 times to break it up a little.
  • Add the coconut, flour, and salt to a large mixing bowl and mix until well combined. Add the sweetened condensed milk and pure vanilla extract and continue mixing until fully combined.
  • Using a 1.5 tablespoon cookie, scoop the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets.
  • With damp hands, form each macaroon into a round ball.
  • Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the bottoms of the macaroons are lightly browned and they are set.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Line a separate large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Once the macaroons have cooled, add the chopped chocolate to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20 to 30 second increments, stirring well after each increment, until completely melted and smooth.
  • Dip the bottoms of each macaroon into the melted chocolate, allowing any excess chocolate to drip off, and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle any excess chocolate over the top of the macaroons, then refrigerate for 30 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened.

Notes

Storage Instructions: Macaroons may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Freezing Instructions: These will freeze well for up to 3 months, thaw to room temperature before serving.
Flour: The flour creates a denser macaroon that remains crisp on the outside, but you can leave it out if needed. If you do omit the flour, I recommend reducing the sweetened condensed milk to just 3/4 cup and increasing the baking time by 2 to 3 minutes.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate: This is completely optional and can be omitted for plain coconut macaroons. I typically use 8-ounces of chocolate for dipping the bottoms of the macaroons and an additional 2 to 4-ounces for drizzling on top.
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Danielle Rye
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