Coconut Macaroons made with sweetened condensed milk and chewy coconut are deliciously sweet and chewy cookies. I LOVE food with a chewy texture, and these easy Coconut Macaroons are incredibly awesome with a slight crispness on the outside and an oh-so-tender inside. Dip them in chocolate for a decadent finish!
I love plain macaroons. They are soooo yummy!
But dipping them in chocolate? I may never make them plain again!
SAVE THIS COCONUT MACAROON RECIPE TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!
What is the difference between these Coconut Macaroons and French Macarons?
Some people get mixed up because the words “macaroons” and “macarons” sound so similar, especially when people pronounce words differently.
Macaroons are drop cookies made of egg whites, sugar, usually almond paste or shredded coconut, and sometimes a little all-purpose flour. Many recipes use sweetened condensed milk as well, like this recipe.
Macarons on the other hand refer to a round, colored cookie consisting of a creamy ganache or buttercream filling between two halves, made from beaten egg whites mixed with sugar and ground almonds. They are similar to meringue in that both are light and airy. French macarons are definitely harder to make than macaroons.
Both cookies actually come from the same original source, an Italian “Maccarone” which refers to a cake or biscuit. So, both cookies use similar ingredients including egg whites and sugar, and both often use ground almonds or almond flour.
What Ingredients are in this Coconut Macaroons Recipe?
This recipe calls for a handful of simple ingredients.
- Sweetened shredded coconut flakes
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Vanilla extract
- Egg whites
- Salt
- Milk chocolate chips (optional)
When I make coconut macaroons, I use just pure vanilla extract. Others prefer to add almond extract as well for a slightly different flavor. Or bump up the coconut flavor with some coconut extract! Add these extracts a teaspoon at a time.
Are Macaroons gluten-free?
This recipe, made as directed, is gluten-free! There are a few brands of sweetened condensed milk on the market right now and all of them are gluten-free. And of course, coconut is naturally gluten-free!
If you buy coconut macaroons at a bakery, check to see whether they add flour to the batter to make sure they are gluten-free.
How to make chewy Coconut Macaroons
These sweet treats are so easy to pull together! Here are the steps to making perfect coconut macaroons:
Prepare: Place oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven, then preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper.
Mix: Mix shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Beat: In the bowl of an electric mixer or stand mixer fitted with the whisk, beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form, adding salt during the beating. You could use a hand mixer but it does take a while.
Fold: Carefully fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture with a silicone spatula. Drop heaping tablespoons of the mixture into little mounds onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about an inch in between each one.
Bake: Bake for 25 minutes or until the tops are golden. Cool them on a baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature.
Make Chocolate-dipped Macaroons
Melt chocolate chips in a small bowl that is microwave-safe for 30 seconds. Stir, then continue to microwave in 10-second intervals until the chocolate is smooth when stirred. You can also melt chocolate in a double boiler.
Dip the bottom of each macaroon into the chocolate, making sure the bottom and edges are completely covered, and place onto a cool, parchment-lined cookie sheet.
Refrigerate the coconut macaroon cookies until the chocolate is set, about 10-15 minutes.
- Note- I used milk chocolate chips in this recipe, but you could also coat them in dark chocolate or even white chocolate!
Tips for Perfect Macaroons
To avoid dry, flaky macaroons, try some of these helpful tips:
- Make sure you have stiff egg whites- don’t be tempted to stop when your egg whites reach the soft peak stage. You need stiff peaks to form for the proper texture. Make sure your bowl is completely clean and dry, and I find cold, metal bowls help egg whites form stiff peaks the fastest.
- Try using smaller coconut pieces in your cookies by pulsing coconut in a food processor before using them in the recipe. Smaller flakes help create a denser cookie, which helps with uniform baking.
- If your macaroons spread, try adding some flour to the batter, just a tablespoon at a time. Note- they will no longer be gluten-free!
- If your macaroons are too sticky, next time don’t use the whole can of sweetened condensed milk.
- Use a cookie dough scoop to form uniform mounds on your baking sheet. This also helps them to bake evenly!
- Don’t over-bake your macaroons! This will make your cookies dry out. A light golden brown is a perfect color.
Can I make Macaroons ahead of time?
Because this cookie uses whipped egg whites, the batter doesn’t last in the refrigerator very well. The best way to make these ahead of time is to follow the recipe as directed, including baking and cooling, then store them in the refrigerator
How to store Coconut Macaroons
Macaroons are easy to store! They are best when kept at room temperature in an airtight container. They will keep up to a week like this.
You can also freeze these cookies. After they are baked and cooled, wrap each macaroon individually, then place them in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
These chewy cookies, packed with coconut flavor, are the perfect treat for the coconut lover or anyone who just loves sweets!
Other Coconut Recipes You’ll Love
You can use coconut in a dessert and in a garnish, like in this Toasted Coconut Almond Shake. It’s delicious in a pastry cream for this Double Chocolate Coconut Cream Filled Bundt Cake. Another easy cookie to make with coconut is this recipe for Lemon Coconut Sugar Cookies. I love the combination of sweet and tart!
Here are even more coconut recipes:
- Toffee Coconut Oatmeal Bars
- Chocolate Coconut Cookies
- Coconut Cooler
- Brown Butter Coconut Krispie Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Coconut Macadamia Sugar Cookies
These cookies were inspired by this recipe from Once Upon a Chef.
Coconut Macaroons
Ingredients
- 14 ounces sweetened shredded coconut
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 large egg whites
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips melted – if desired, this amount will coat about 36 cookies
Instructions
- Place the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper.
- Mix the shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla in a medium bowl.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks are formed, adding salt during the beating.
- Fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture with a rubber spatula.
- Drop heaping tablespoons of batter onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about an inch between each.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until the tops are golden. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- If coating the bottoms with the milk chocolate, prepare a room temoerature baking sheet by lining it with parchment.
- Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds. Stir and microwave for 10 second intervals until chocolate is smooth when stirred.
- Dip the bottom of the macaroon into the chocolate, making sure bottom and edges are completely covered and place onto prepared cool baking sheet.
- Refrigerate for 10 – 15 minutes or until set.
Nutrition
This post was first published 3/10/15. In the original post, I discussed our dog Keiser, his health issue and how we had to say goodbye to him to give him peace. It has been updated in format and with pictures on 2/27/23.
Comments & Reviews
so sorry for your loss, I feel for your family. We loss our 11 1/2 year old Yorkie the end of January. The pain does get easier but is still there. The good memories help. They do take a piece of your heart with them.
Thank you so much, Charlene. We do have really great memories and every time I think of Keiser, I can’t help but smile. It’s still so weird around here without him.
I am so very sorry for your loss…we have been there and it is truly heartbreaking. Thanks for sharing pictures of your lovely dog.
You’re very welcome and thank you so much, Chris.
I’m sorry for your painful loss. May his journey is a peaceful one, as he goes over the Rainbow Bridge.
Rachelle
Thanks you so much, Rachelle. It definitely wasn’t an easy thing to go through, but was far more painful watching him have the seizures. Poor boy. Thank you so much for your love and comment. 🙂
I’m so sorry for your loss of your precious baby.
I am so very sorry for the loss of Kaiser. It never is easy when losing a family member even the 4 legged ones. We had a Golden that also had seizures. Though he did have both conclusive and non it was never easy. By the Grace of God he did not have them as often and lived to an old age of 13. I’m sure the time Kaiser had with his family was full of such love and joy to have carried with him forever more.
Oh, Mary, I’m sorry for your loss as well. It’s wonderful that yours lived until he was 13. Whenever they have a seizure, no matter how severe, it’s difficult to watch because you just feel so helpless.
There was lots of love shared with Keiser! He brought us so very much joy which eases the pain and we know he’s now free of the seizures.
Thank you!
I just got done reading your blog, I started crying having had to put a dog down myself in the past. Our dogs have always been one of our kids and I think from reading your blog it is the same in your family. My prayers and thoughts are with your family, all animal lovers are one big family.
Oh, Cheryl, I am so very sorry for your loss. It is so very difficult. While we had our older dog, Brady, first, this has been the first experience we’ve had with saying goodbye to a family pet and Keiser was just one of those dogs we’d hoped would live with us forever.
He’s in a better place now, but we have some pretty awesome memories that will always bring smiles to our faces. Thank you.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing him with us.
Thank you very much, Patti.
So very sorry and sad for the loss of your beautiful baby ,Keiser. Beautiful photos of happy times. Prayers.
Thank you, Peggy, so much. I really appreciate it. 🙂
So sorry for your loss. Our animals become such a loving part of our families. It was wonderful to see the pictures of him and read about his mischievous ways.
Thank you, Judy and thank you so much for reading. Keiser was a keeper and although I’d get aggravated at times I still giggle when I think about him sneaking up onto our couch as I was sitting on it. It was too cute the way he did it and I didn’t even have the heart to reprimand him.
So sorry for the loss of Keiser. =( We let our Golden go a year ago. It been so hard, but keep in mind he’s always with you.
Thank you, Kim. I’m sorry for your loss as well! He will always be with us and his muddy paw prints are still on our back porch. 🙂
I’m kind of hoping we don’t see rain here for a while in Phoenix.
What a precious life you had in your care. He was smiling even with porcupine quills in his face. Animals enrich our lives so much. So sorry your family is having to deal with this loss.
Thank you so much, Suzanne. Yes, the night of the porcupine, he did seem to smile. haha
He was a nut and definitely one of a kind which makes us miss him all the more.
Coconut is one of my all time favorites, so of course I want to make this recipe! These are like little bites of heaven! 🙂 Pinning, Stumbling and Yumming!
Sandra, you are a sweetheart! Thank you so very much. It’s very hard to eat just one of these, too!
awww…you made me cry. So sorry for your loss.
Awww, Dorothy, thank you. He was pretty wonderful which made it so much more difficult to let him go.
So sorry for you loss, what a gorgeous looking dog! Your coconut macaroons look totally lush and I’m not even that keen on coconut!
Camilla, thank you so much. He was a pretty one. These macaroons are just melt-in-you-mouth yummy! They might just even change your mind! 😉
Sorry to read about the loss of your wonderful furry friend. He sounds like he was a wonderful family member.
Judy, thank you so much. He really was a great part of our family and it was really tough to let him go, but he’s in a better place now. We’ll definitely miss him.
What a great companion and family member! You can tell from his eyes he was loved and he loved back! So very sorry for your loss…
Thank you so much, Kathy. He was very loved and gave so much back to us. His dirty paw prints are still on our back porch because we haven’t had any rain to wash them away. It makes me smile to see them.
I am so sorry for your loss Lynn. Losing a pet is so hard.
I am so sorry for your loss! I lost a Belgium Shepard who just disappeared after two years and I had to put our best girl down when she was 13 and was bitten by a copperhead. It is not easy losing a best friend and the memories will last forever. We now have two more and they are a handful but I love them to pieces.
Thank you so much, Phyllis, and thank you for sharing your story. I’m sorry for your losses as well. They are most definitely part of the family and it is a hard loss when they’re gone. We often smile when we think about him and his antics, but he will forever be missed. Hugs to you!
I’m so sorry. We just lost a cat too. He was about 12 but showed no real health issues, ate well, etc etc. We took him in for an ingrown toe nail and found out he had congestive heart failure. So sad..it never gets easy..
Oh, Janie, I’m so very sorry. Thank you. It was extremely difficult to go through at the time and is still hard at times, as I’m sure you know. He’ll always hold a very special place in our hearts and I know we’ll always treasure those memories. Hugs to you!
I have made these several times, but I always use Ghiardelli Dark Chocolate instead of milk chocolate. I have made these so much that my daughter wanted me to start a business on Etsy. She even had a name for them
“Nanceroons” i.e. Nancy
I LOVE that, Nancy – Nancerooons!!! Your daughter is a smart one and I say go for it! She can be your business manager. 😉
Thanks for sharing.
Loved the recipe. So very sorry about your families loss.
Your story brought back lots of memories of what we went through last year with our 12 year old Jack Russell
His seizure, trying medicine, and watching him slip away.
We miss him a lot and I am glad he is in a better place.
I know we will see him again one day.
Oh, Kevin, thank you SO much! I am sorry for your loss as well. Those pups become a very important family member and it’s so difficult to watch them struggle knowing that there’s little we can do to help them. I know they’re both happy as can be now and are seizure free. I can’t wait to see Keiser again either. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
So sorry for your loss. Our beloved pets have such special places in our hearts forever.
Thank you for the Macaroon recipe. It sounds great and I will be trying it very soon.
Cathy, thank you so much for your comment. We still think of Keiser often and you’re right, he will always hold a very special place in our hearts.
Enjoy the macaroons – they’re one of my favorites.
This animal was so beautiful and obviously loved! The picture in the snow made me laugh!!! So many sweet and mem orable pictures. Will try the macaroons because I adore coconut but the story touched me and had to reply!!
Susan, thank you so very much. He was very well loved. He was full of mischief as he was still in puppy mode, but I’m sure his antics would have continued had he lived to a ripe old age. We miss him dearly, but always smile when we think of him.
So grateful you took the time to comment. It means so much. Thank you!
Sooooo sorry for your loss! My heart aches for you.
Aw, thank you so much, Deb. Keiser was a sweetheart and we miss him lots, but we always smile when we think of the many memories we had with him.
Went to your page to find the recipe for Coconut Macaroons, and when I saw the photos of a gorgeous dog,
I smiled. Then read your story about Keiser and looked at all the other photos. Tears filled my eyes….
So sorry about the loss of your wonderful, beloved dog….
Diane, thank you so much. He was a beauty and will always have a very special place in our hearts. We miss him and his ol’ goofy self. It’s pretty incredible how pets have such personalities and are such a huge part of our family!
Thoughts and Prayers for your Baby, You & Your Family!
j
Bec, that is very sweet. Thank you so very much.
so sorry for the loss of your beautiful dog, it made us all sad:( …maybe you will get a new puppy to ease the sorrow:)
Thank you so much, Carrie. He was a sweetheart and we miss him lots.
I stumbled across this recipe when looking for coconut macaroons and read the story of your Keiser. What an absolutely beautiful boy–he was gorgeous! Both of them are. My heart broke for you and your family. It has been almost a year for your family and hopefully the pain has eased up. We have three small dogs and they certainly do become your children. I am so sorry for your loss. Have you gotten a new furbaby? Thanks for sharing such beautiful pictures of your boys. They look so cute and you can tell how much fun they are having.
I am eager to try this recipe–looks so easy and yummy. My email address is named after one of my dearly loved dogs.
Sheila, thank you so very much. We do miss Keiser terribly and think about him and his antics quite often. He was a goofball who brought a lot of smiles and joy into our home. Yes, they definitely become a part of the family and are dearly loved which is why it’s so hard to let go.
I love your email and hope you enjoy the recipe. Enjoy your time with your fur babies and thank you so much for your comment.
Stumbled on your blog today when that yummy looking picture of the macaroon was shared on FB. I am so very sorry about your sweet Keiser….ohhh…he was quite the looker. Praying for you and your family, including Brady.
Prayers for your family…he was blessed to have you all in his life.
The profound impact these beautiful creatures make in our lives is truly immeasurable, aside from the huge void of their absence. Your post took me right back to 18 months ago, letting go of our boy, of almost 11 years. The seizures were so difficult to endure… It was all just devastating to our family. I hope, like us, your days have gotten “easier”, and that every time you see another goofball you’re filled with the wonderful memories of your own. Thanks for sharing your story, and this recipe 😉
Oh, Nanette, I’m so, so very sorry. It is just heart-wrenching to watch them seize, knowing that it just has to run its’ course and that there’s nothing we can do to stop it. We knew that he couldn’t continue living like that – it just wasn’t fair regardless of how young he was.
As you know, I’m sure, the days have gotten easier though we still miss him a whole heck of a lot. Seeing old pictures and remembering the silly things he did always bring a smile to my face and I know they always will.
Thank you so very much for your comment. Hugs to you, Nanette.
I know it’s been a year now since Keiser has passed but I felt so sad for you all when I read this. He was so beautiful and I know he was a joy to you all. I always cry when I read this kind of stuff. It’s so hard to lose your fur baby. My fur babies are like my children and I worry about them and care for them like I would a human. So very sorry for your loss.
Patricia, thank you so very much for your kind words. Keiser was extremely special to us and we miss him a lot. I think of him often and always do so with a smile. I miss that nut.
Give your fur babies a big hug!
So, so sorry for your loss..I also have Golden and he looks just like your Keiser..They are wonderful, loving Goof Balls as you put it..They are a part of your family..Know he is no longer in pain, and you did the best thing for him..You have many beautiful memories of him.. Hugs …
Thank you so much, Sissy. Yes, we do miss him and when we think of him it’s always with a smile. Goldens are lovable and I can’t imagine being without one. Give yours a hug for me. 🙂
Oh so very sorry for the hurt in each of your hearts. No words can ease the ache. They are family and the missing them is so hard .
I just found your recipe for Coconut Macaroons and read about sweet Keiser. I know he’s been gone a while now, but I’m so sorry his life had to be so short. I’ve lost several dogs that were such a part of my life, so I know how much it hurts to say goodbye to them. Remembering the joy they brought and the love they gave helps ease the pain, and the memories of them are precious.
Grief is the price we pay for love. Have suffered through the loss of cats and dogs. The holes in my heart have still not healed. We will meet again!
Although it’s been a while since this post, I am sorry for your loss. We too had a dog with epilepsy and eventually had to put her down. It’s never easy making that decision.
Losing any furbaby is terrible, especially when they are so young. I really do believe they are angels sent to remind us to love, laugh, and enjoy the moments… Along with the memories.
Thanks for giving us so many wonderful recipes!!
So, so very sorry for your loss. I lost my great dane 2 years ago and it still hurts. I have wonderful memories of her and will always treasure them. They certainly do become a member of the family, but wish they could be around longer. Sadie was with me over 11 years. Know Keiser is in a better place and one day you will be reunited.
I am so sorry that your heart is hurting. I lost my little soul-mate Smokey last May and still miss him every day…
I just took “his” afghan to the laundry so I certainly understand not wanting to wash away the nose prints just yet.
Hugs to you and your family.
So very sorry to read of your loss. I have tears in my eyes. So sad. Such a lovely boy. You did
the right thing even though it was hard, it was the best for him. So very. very sorry.