Coconut Macaroons Recipe (2024)

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Make these classic Coconut Macaroons with just 6 ingredients for delicious cookies that are slightly crispy and golden on the outside with perfectly soft, moist coconut centers.

Coconut Macaroons

These chewy, soft Coconut Macaroons taste like the irresistible coconut center of an Almond Joy or Mounds bar. They're slightly crisp and golden on the outside with a sweet, chewy coconut center.

With just a few simple ingredients, you will be biting into these moist coconut cookies. Up the decadence level with a little chocolate dip or drizzle.

What Is the Difference Between Macaroons and Macarons?

Though the two cookies have similar names, they don't look or taste alike at all!

Macaroons are made with egg whites and coconut. They are a dense, chewy cookie. Macarons are also made with egg whites but are typically combined with blanched almond flour to make the batter. Macarons are usually presented as a sandwich cookie with some kind of cream or curd between the two cookies.

Why Did My Coconut Macaroons Spread?

If you've measured all of your ingredients accurately, the culprit is likely under or over mixing.

  1. Under-mixing. If you don't beat your egg whites enough so that stiff peaks form, your batter will be too runny and they will fall in the oven (or before then even!)
  2. Over-mixing. Over-mixing will usually occur when you fold the other ingredients into the egg whites. Even if your egg whites are properly beaten, if you mix the other ingredients in too aggressively, you can lose too much volume and stiffness from the egg whites. Fold in gently and just until combined!

Are Coconut Macaroons Gluten Free?

No, these macaroons contain wheat flour, which contains gluten. Try these meringues for a gluten free alternative!

How to Dip and Decorate Coconut Macaroons with Chocolate

These macaroons are delicious and pretty on their own, but adding just a touch of chocolate can take them to the next level.

You can use any type of chocolate you'd like including dark, milk, or white chocolate.

Place 8-ounces chocolate in a dry (moisture will make the chocolate seize and harden), microwave-safe bowl with a teaspoon shortening or cooking oil. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each increment, until melted and smooth.

Using a fork, you can dip the bottom or side of the coconut macaroon into the chocolate. Then set on wax paper until set.

Alternately, you can transfer chocolate to a piping bag or zip baggy. Cut off a tiny corner, and gently squeeze to drizzle chocolate over the top (or just do it with a spoon, if you prefer).

Storage and Freezer Directions

Macaroons stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

To freeze, place baked cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.Freeze for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Transfer cookies to an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

More Cookie Recipes You'll Love

  • Vanilla Meringues - light and airy and easy to make.
  • Fudge Butter Cookie Pinwheels - one of my all-time favorite cookies. Butter cookie dough is swirled with a quick homemade fudge for the ultimate soft, melt-in-your-mouth, buttery, fudgy cookie.
  • Gingersnaps - a classic cookie made with molasses and spiced with ginger and cinnamon
  • Funfetti Cookies - vanilla sugar cookies that are crisp around the edges and chewy in the center are mixed fun rainbow sprinkles.
  • German Chocolate Cake Cookies - a decadent, fudgy chocolate cookie topped with classic German chocolate coconut pecan frosting.

Coconut Macaroons Video

Collage with a close up of a coconut macaroon with chocolate drizzled on top on top, the same macaroon with a bite taken out on bottom, and the words "coconut macaroons" in the center.

Coconut Macaroons Recipe (4)

Coconut Macaroons

Make these classic Coconut Macaroons with just 6 ingredients for delicious cookies that are slightly crispy and golden on the outside with perfectly soft, moist coconut centers.

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Coconut Macaroons

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 18 cookies

Calories: 65kcal

Author: Michelle

Ingredients

  • 1⅓ cups shredded sweetened coconut
  • cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 large egg white room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine the coconut, sugar, flour, and salt.

  • Add egg whites and vanilla, and mix well.

  • Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets.

  • Bake at 325°F for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

  • Cool on a wire rack.

Notes

Nutrition facts do not include chocolate.

  • Storage:Macaroons stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
  • Freezer Directions: Place baked cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Freeze for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Transfer cookies to an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter when ready to use.

Nutrition

Serving: 1macaroon | Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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Coconut Macaroons Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are coconut macaroons made of? ›

Mix coconut, sugar, flour and salt in a large bowl. Stir in egg whites (not whipped) and almond extract until well blended. Drop by tablespoonful onto greased and floured cookie sheets. Bake 325F for 20 minutes or until edges of cookies are golden brown.

Why are my coconut macaroons sticky? ›

There are a number of reasons your macaroons can be sticky. First, if they're stored in a location with high humidity, they can easily get sticky. Other possibilities include over-whipping the egg whites or not baking long enough. But don't worry, even sticky macaroons are delicious!

Why did my coconut macaroons spread? ›

Why do my coconut macaroons spread? Coconut macaroons may spread due to too much moisture. Try adding another tablespoon of flour or whisking your egg whites until fluffy. (Here are other ways to prevent cookies from spreading.)

What are the 2 types of macaroons? ›

French macarons are softer with chewy shells and more subtly sweet taste, giving you more of that distinct almond flavour. Whereas Italian macarons are more crisp, even powdery at times and have a more pronounced sweet taste. A trained eye may even be able to tell the difference simply by looking at them.

Are coconut macaroons unhealthy? ›

That said, because macaroons are high in sugar and offer little nutrition, eating too many of them regularly could be problematic, especially if they replace more nutritious foods in your diet.

What makes macaroons hard? ›

Macaron Troubleshooting Issue #5: Why Are My Macarons Crispy/Hard? Sometimes if your batter is overmixed it causes your shells to spread more and bake up crispy. They may also just be overbaked! Keep in mind that macaron shells soften once they're filled and have time to mature in the fridge.

What's the difference between macaroons and coconut macaroons? ›

Macaroons are larger, denser and chewier that macarons, and definitely easier to make. Coconut macaroons are flavored with sugar and vanilla, but their main flavor is the coconut itself.

What's the difference between a coconut macaroon and a macaron? ›

A macaron is a meringue-based sandwich cookie that is tinted with food coloring. A macaroon is a drop cookie made with shredded coconut. The preparation for these two cookies is also very different. Macarons require multiple steps and painstaking precision, while a batch of coconut macaroons is very easy to prepare.

Should you refrigerate coconut macaroons? ›

If you're planning on eating your macaroons within 2 weeks, then definitely go ahead and keep your coconut macaroons in the refrigerator. That will help them retain moisture so they don't dry out.

Is the paper on coconut macaroons edible? ›

6 Coconut macaroons with chocolate flavoured decoration on edible rice paper.

What country are coconut macaroons from? ›

The tasty treats were eventually introduced to French royalty in 1533 when Queen Catherine de Medici of Italy married King Henry II of France. Most historians believe that macaroons and coconut macaroons both date back to Italy, likely in the Venice region, before they were transported to other parts of the world.

What went wrong with my macaroons? ›

Browned macaron shells

High oven temperature will often cause the shells to brown too much. In this case, make sure to have an oven thermometer, also consider experimenting with lower temperatures. Baking the macarons for too long will certainly make them browned, and will make them lose the vibrant color.

Why are coconut macaroons different? ›

Coconut macaroons: Think of the coconut macaroon as a cousin to the above macaroons. These tasty goodies are made with shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, vanilla, and salt. More importantly, they look different from the above two – they often look a little more round and a little lumpier.

Do coconut macaroons contain flour? ›

Definitely not! While there's literally no good reason for a macaroon to contain any wheat flour (or other carbohydrate filler), lots of recipes for coconut macaroons exist that contain flour.

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