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This coconut macaroon recipe makes cookies that are crisp on the outside, wonderfully chewy inside, and delicious plain or dipped in chocolate.
As a coconut lover, I’ve tried dozens of coconut macaroon recipes over the years, and this is the one I always come back to. The macaroons bake up crisp and golden on the outside while staying rich and chewy in the center. Getting that texture comes down to the right ratio of coconut to sweetened condensed milk. Most recipes call for one full can of condensed milk to one full bag of coconut, presumably to keep things simple, but I’ve found that’s a bit too much liquid—the excess pools around the macaroons as they bake and can burn. Using slightly less condensed milk makes all the difference.
These macaroons are delicious plain, but I especially love them dipped in chocolate. And because they keep well for days, they’re perfect for making ahead for holidays, parties, or gift-giving.
“These are so darn good…easily the most delicious macaroons I’ve ever made!”
What You’ll Need To Make Coconut Macaroons
- Sweetened flaked coconut: I recommend Baker’s Angel Flake for this recipe. The texture and moisture level of packaged coconut can vary quite a bit by brand, which can affect how the macaroons hold together and bake.
- Sweetened condensed milk: Gives the macaroons their sweetness and rich, chewy texture. You’ll use just shy of a full can; using too much can make the mixture overly wet and cause the macaroons to spread and pool as they bake.
- Egg whites: Whipped to stiff peaks and folded into the coconut mixture, they give the macaroons structure and keep them from being overly dense.
- Vanilla extract & salt: Vanilla enhances the coconut flavor, while salt balances the sweetness.
- Semisweet chocolate: Optional, but I love the contrast of bittersweet chocolate with the sweet coconut. It’s melted and used for dipping the bottoms of the cooled macaroons.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
How To Make Coconut Macaroons
Make the coconut mixture: Combine the coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla in a large bowl and stir until evenly combined. The mixture should be moist and sticky but not loose or runny.
Whip and fold in the egg whites: Beat the egg whites and salt until stiff peaks form. When you lift the beaters, the peaks should stand straight up without drooping. Gently fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture, taking care not to deflate them too much.
Shape and bake: Scoop the mixture into mounds on the baking sheets, then bake until the macaroons are golden on top and around the edges. Let them cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Dip in chocolate: If using the chocolate, melt it gently until smooth. Dip the bottoms of the cooled macaroons in the chocolate, letting any excess drip off, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate briefly, just until the chocolate is set.
A Few Notes On Coconut Macaroons
Coconut macaroons are especially popular at Passover since they’re naturally flourless and don’t require any leavening. If you’re planning a holiday menu, you can find more ideas in my Passover recipes collection. And despite the similar name, macaroons are quite different from French macarons, the delicate meringue-based sandwich cookies made with almond flour. If those are what you’re looking for, try my French macaron recipe.
More Coconut Sweets You’ll Love
Coconut Macaroons
Ingredients
- 1 (14-oz) bag sweetened flaked coconut, such as Baker’s Angel Flake (see note)
- ⅞ cup sweetened condensed milk (see note below on measurement)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large egg whites
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate, best quality such as Ghirardelli, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Set two oven racks near the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the coconut, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt until stiff peaks form. Use a large rubber spatula to fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture.
- Using a mini ice cream scoop or two spoons, form heaping tablespoons of the mixture into mounds on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 in (2.5 cm) apart. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, rotating the pans from top to bottom and front to back, until the tops and edges are golden. Let cool on the pans for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- If dipping the macaroons in chocolate, melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at medium power, stopping and stirring at 30 second intervals, until just smooth and creamy. (Alternatively, melt the chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water.) Dip the bottoms of the macaroons in the chocolate, letting any excess drip back into the bowl, and return to the lined baking sheets. Place the macaroons in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to allow the chocolate to set. The cookies keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week.
Notes
- There is a lot of variability in coconut depending on the brand you purchase. For the best results, I recommend Baker’s Angel Flake.
- To measure ⅞ cup of sweetened condensed milk, use ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons.
- Freezing Instructions: The macaroons can be frozen for up to 3 months. (If you plan to dip them in chocolate, wait until you thaw them to do that.) Let them cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you’re following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Even though I absentmindedly added the whole can of sweetened condensed milk by mistake, these were still the best macaroons I’ve ever tasted. The extra milk ran out onto the parchment paper and caramelized. That’s when I discovered that baked, sweetened condensed milk is basically candy. Now I know what I’m going to do with the extra 1/8 cup.
I am so excited! I made these this morning before work… Your instructions were easy to follow and they turned out perfect! I did use the Ghirardelli chocolate bar and it set right up after cooling. Thank you so much… Happy Holidays!
i made these and shared with friends and they were all the rage! They will be my Christmas cookies this year! Thank you and delish!
The macaroons are simple and delicious. We just made 10 dozen for a cookie exchange. However, I’m surprised no one had problems with melting the chocolate to dip the macaroons. We tried several batches of chocolate in both the microwave and the double boiler method and it is too dry and sticky to create a “dip” for the cookies. When we add milk and butter to soften it, the chocolate won’t harden. (We found that out by ruining a couple dozen cookies.) Do you have any pointers for how to make this process easier?
Hi Chrissy, What kind of chocolate are you using?
Nestle chocolate chips. Target brand chocolate chips. Hershey chocolate chips. 1 was milk chocolate and the other 2 were semi-sweet. None worked for me.
Thanks, Chrissy. I did a little research and it seems the Ghirardelli chocolate chips I use might be the only brand of chips that melts easily. Other brands, like Nestle, recommend adding some vegetable shortening to make the chocolate more liquid. I’m so sorry, I’ve updated the recipe.
I just made these last week and I bought a large bar of Ghirardelli Dark chocolate and put it in a small microwave safe bowl and microwaved half power for about 30-35 seconds taking and stirring until all melted and it worked perfectly!!
that was supposed to say 30-35 seconds at a time until all melted. Using a small bowl made the chocolate deep enough to dip.
Recipe is delicious and I can’t wait to make it again! Quick and easy to make. Don’t use wax paper (hey, don’t judge me; I’m learning here) because the macaroons will stick!
lol 🙂
My husband loves coconut macaroons. Since we have made several recipes from this website and all came out beautifully we decided to give these a try. WOW!! So easy and they turned out beautiful!! These are the perfect sweetness. We did half with the bottoms in chocolate and the other half not. You have to make these, your friends and family will be impressed!
Delicious cookies! The chocolate and coconut are amazing! Great cookies for gift giving!
These are so good, and easy to make.
I used 2 different sized scoops to make minis and dessert size. Definitely fancy with the chocolate!
Made these macaroons today for a dinner party – they were an amazing hit, several people said they were the best they had ever had! I’ve tried out a lot of macaroon recipes and I have to agree, these are the best. Thanks Jen!
How much salt and how much vanilla?
Hi Jk, You’ll need 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Hope you enjoy!
The chocolate isn’t necessary but a great way to finish these cookies.