Coconut Macaroons
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Soft and chewy on the inside, crisp and golden on the outside — these are the perfect coconut macaroons.
As a coconut lover, I’ve tried dozens of recipes for coconut macaroons over the years, and these are my all-time favorite. Chewy and rich on the inside, crisp and golden on the outside, they are delicious plain but even more irresistible dipped in dark chocolate. They also keep well for days on end, making them the perfect holiday cookie to bake ahead or give away. (Be sure not to confuse coconut macaroons with French macarons, which are delicate meringue-based sandwich cookies with a sweet filling.)
What You’ll Need To Make Coconut Macaroons
- Sweetened flaked coconut: The base of the macaroons; I recommend Baker’s Angel Flake for the best results, as there’s a lot of variability in coconut depending on the brand.
- Sweetened condensed milk: A key ingredient for making macaroons, sweetened condensed milk is a canned milk product from which water has been removed and sugar has been added. It’s sticky-sweet and makes the best macaroons. Many recipes call for it but, in my experience, they all have the same problem: too much liquid, which causes the sweet batter to pool around the edges of the macaroons and burn in the oven. This is because recipe developers want to keep their recipes neat and tidy with one whole bag of coconut and one full can of sweetened condensed milk. For this recipe, you’ll use just shy of one can. You’ll have to sacrifice some sweetened condensed milk (try adding it to you coffee!), but your macaroons will be perfect.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a lovely depth of flavor.
- Egg whites: Provide structure and help the macaroons hold their shape.
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor.
- Semi-sweet chocolate (optional): For dipping or drizzling.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by combining the coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla.
Mix until well combined.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt until stiff peaks form.
Stiff peaks look like this when you lift the beaters out of the bowl.
Add the egg whites to the coconut mixture and fold until combined.
Using a mini ice cream scoop or two spoons, form heaping tablespoons of the mixture into mounds onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart.
Bake for about 25 minutes, until the bottoms and edges are deeply golden and the tops are lightly golden.
Let the macaroons cool on the baking sheet for a minute, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
If you’d like to dip the macaroons in chocolate, melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stopping to stir every 30 seconds, until just smooth and creamy. (Alternatively, melt in a double boiler over simmering water.) Dip the bottoms of the macaroons in the chocolate and return to the lined baking sheets.
Refrigerate for about 10 minutes, or until the chocolate is set. That’s all there is to it. Enjoy!
Wondering with to do with those leftover egg yolks? Check out these recipes: Chocolate Cream Pie, Coconut Dream Pie, Millionaire’s Shortbread, Molten Chocolate Cakes, Tres Leches Cake, Rugelach, Banana Pudding Parfaits and Rum Cake.
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Coconut Macaroons
Soft and chewy on the inside, crisp and golden on the outside — these are the perfect 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 eggs whites
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, best quality such as Ghirardelli, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. 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 inch 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.
- Note: There is a lot of variability in coconut depending on the brand you purchase. For the best results, I recommend Baker's Angel Flake (see package in the first picture on this page).
- Note: ⅞ cup = ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons
- Note: Make sure to use parchment paper (NOT wax paper) on the baking sheets. The macaroons will stick to wax paper.
- Freezer-Friendly 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
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- Serving size: 1 macaroon (nutritional data includes optional chocolate)
- Calories: 134
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated fat: 6 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Sugar: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Sodium: 81 mg
- Cholesterol: 4 mg
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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These are delish! Made a huge batch last weekend and they turned out so go that I’m making more this weekend. Thank you for the recipe!
These are delicious! I made a double batch to avoid the wasting or measuring of condensed milk and just used a whole can. Also after reading they fell apart sometimes, I molded them with my fingers into tight little balls after dropping them onto the cookie sheets so they would stay together. This made them nicely rounded, dense and chewy in the middle. I wasn’t that impressed before dipping in the chocolate but after dipping they are heavenly. I dipped half in dark and half in semi-sweet. Both are great. I also drizzled chocolate on top to make them look even more appealing. I will be making another double batch for Christmas!
Love this recipe. I planning on shipping some to my family a few states away. Would you recommend baking then, freezing then, and then shipping them frozen (so they thaw as they ship)? Or do you have recommendations on how to ship them?
Hi Rita, Although they freeze nicely, if you plan to freeze them, I’d defrost them before packing them. (You don’t want to have condensation form when they are sealed in a box/container.)
Hey Rita-
We ship macaroons all the time. You definitely don’t have to ship them frozen or freeze them before shipping (especially this time of year). Just put em in a bag that you can seal (or a box, wrapped in plastic wrap) and you’re good to go. If you send ones without chocolate, your recipients can pop them in the oven for 10 minutes if they want to crisp them up (they’ll soften during transit).
Good luck!
OMgoodness!.. I just wanted you to know that Macaroons were my Dad’s favourite cookie, and because my sister is GF, I decided to try your recipe to give to her and honour him for Christmas.. I just took the last batch out of the oven, tried one, and well.. I sat down and cried.. (in a good way).. my Dad would be so happy to know he’s still being remembered and honoured… with this amazing cookie at Christmas and my sister will love them!.. Your recipes are a true joy to replicate.. you inspire and I’m grateful to have found you! Thank you so very much, and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
So glad you enjoyed them Kathrine- what a “sweet” way to honor your father!
These are godly. I see myself making these over and over. Thanks you!
These were the hit of the cookie exchange. Thank you for sharing.
Can you freeze them?
Definitely!
Thank you so much for posting this recipe. It is by far the best macaroon recipe I have ever tried (and I have tried quite a few). Guaranteed success. I no longer need to buy macaroons at the bakery thanks this wonderful recipe.
Just made this recipe. I used 1/2 sweetened and 1/2 half unsweetened coconut. I toasted the unsweetened coconut to bring out the flavour. One thing to note – I did used a silpat (silicone mat) and my first batch DID stick to the mat which was SURPRISING!! I lined my sheet with parchment and they ended up PERFECT. Thanks for the recipe- it is a keeper.
I made these simple cookies last weekend and they were a hit! I shared this recipe on Facebook and a friend said she makes these but adds chopped pecans to the mixture. I want to try that next but wanted to ask is would I need to make any adjustment to the cooking time or anywhere else.
Hi Suzon, Glad the macaroons were a hit! Yes, you can add about 1/4 cup of chopped pecans here and no adjustments are needed.