Coconut Macaroons
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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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Such a lovely recipe! So easy and so tasty!!!
These are so darn good – easily the most delicious macaroons I’ve ever made!
My only issue is that they spread so much while baking. I followed the recipe to a “T” and whipped the egg whites until very stiff. Any suggestions?
Glad to hear you liked them, but sorry you had a problem with them spreading. If you beat the egg whites until very stiff, perhaps you used too much sweetened condensed milk. Did you happen to use the whole can or just ⅞ cup as the recipe indicates?
I have been making these macaroons for ages and I love the recipe!! I also had a problem with them spreading recently. I did exactly the amount of condensed milk and thought I had beaten the eggs enough but perhaps not? Total mystery but the still taste good. Did you find out what your issue was?
These are the best I have ever tasted. The inside is so moist and soft. A real delicacy.
I got some dark chocolate that I need to get rid of. Would the recipe taste too bitter if I used 72% dark chocolate? If it is too bitter, how much sugar should I add to the melted chocolate to make it less bitter?
Hi Hope, it should be fine with 72%. Enjoy!
Would it work to use tempered chocolate to dip the macaroons?
Sure, as long as you’re comfortable tempering chocolate, that’s fine. Enjoy!
While my macaroons may not look as pretty as your picture, they sure tasted great!!!
Very easy to make…and will again.
Commenting to share that I made two batches (separate, not a double batch) of these today for the first time. I’m not a baker, and I really did my best to stick to the script. Used the recommended brands for the coconut and condensed milk. Beat the snot out of the egg whites until they were stiff throughout before folding everything together. Lightly brushed the parchment paper with some neutral cooking oil, and rotated the pans every 8-12 minutes. When cooking at temperature, they were finished just at the end of the suggested time range. I used a grinder to generously sprinkle sea salt across the tops after pulling from the oven. Cooled on the pans long enough to mix up the next batch, then transferred to a cooling rack for about 30 minutes. Nothing stuck at any point.
All said and done, they turned out miraculous. Chewy, crunchy, salty, and sweet. Dipped half in bittersweet Ghiradelli chocolate from a double boiler and laid out on a wax paper covered, fridge-bound cookie-sheet. Feeling proud to bring such a professional looking and delicious treat to the staff bake-off at my school tomorrow (competing in the gluten-free category!)
Thanks for the great recipe!
This recipe is amazing! Best macaroon recipe I have tried, you won’t be disappointed.
Made them and love them! Now making 12 batches for a church supper. When you say 26 servings do you mean the recipe makes 26 macaroons, or something else?
Happy Camper cooking for 125 people.
Hi Denise, glad you enjoyed them. That’s a lot of batches! A serving is one macaroon. Hope everyone enjoys them as well!
I tried this recipe and love it. Very easy. I did make the rooky mistake of not spraying the parchment paper and some portions were good and stuck. Easily remedied with the next batch. I do encourage the turning of the pans every 5 minutes to get more even browning. Thank you very much for this new favorite cookie.