Coconut macaroons are creamy, delicious, and great for holidays and special occasions. These flavorful coconut cookies are easy to make in no time with only a few simple ingredients.
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Why Are Coconut Macaroons with Condensed Milk So Good?
When you taste these chewy coconut cookies you will see how delicious they are. They are light and fluffy but do not lack in flavor or sweetness. And they are so easy to make! I know you are going to love the simplicity of this coconut macaroon recipe.
Coconut Macaroons are the perfect cookie to bring to upcoming holiday parties or cookie exchanges. They’re great for anyone who enjoys coconut cake or pie.
Gluten Free Coconut Macaroons
Do you have gluten intolerance or know someone who does? These coconut macaroon cookies are made without flour so they are a great gluten-free treat.
Macaron Vs. Macaroon
Both macarons and macaroons are cookies but are each cookie has a distinct appearance, texture, and taste.
French macarons are light and airy sandwich cookies filled with jam, buttercream, or ganache. A macaroon is a creamy, dense drop cookie made with shredded coconut.
Coconut Macaroons Ingredients
This recipe only requires a short list of ingredients, but if you do have to make a quick trip to the store, these macaroons are 100% worth it. The sweet creamy coconut flavor of these cookies is unmatched. Here’s a list of what you need:
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Shredded coconut
- Vanilla Extract
- Almond Extract
If you don’t have almond extract, you can replace it with vanilla extract. However, having the two extracts adds to the amazing flavor of these macaroons.
How to Make Coconut Macaroons
Here are the steps to make these deliciously chewy coconut macaroons:
- Place all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Drop the mixture by tablespoonfuls (you may want to use a cookie scoop) onto a prepared baking sheet coated with cooking spray or lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 350°F until the edges are golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool to room temperature.
Recipe Variations
This is such a good recipe as it is. However, you can change it up a little bit if you want. Try making them with nuts or chocolate chips.
Nut Macaroons: substitute 1 cup of chopped nuts for 1 cup of coconut. You’ll need to bake them a little longer, about 10 to 12 minutes.
Chocolate Chip Macaroons: Replace half a cup of the shredded coconut with mini chocolate chips for even more added sweetness. Adding in the chocolate makes this an even more indulgent cookie!
Chocolate Dipped Macaroons: Microwave semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, just until they are melted. Dip the bottom of the macaroons in the melted chocolate. Place them on parchment paper or a silicone mat until the chocolate hardens.
Chocolate Drizzled Macaroons: Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips and drizzle the melted chocolate on top of the cookies.
Dairy Free Coconut Macaroons – Use sweetened condensed coconut milk.
How Do You Keep Coconut Macaroons From Spreading When Cooking Them?
When you are making coconut macaroons, there are a few things to consider to keep them from spreading.
Do not overwork the cookies. When they are handled a lot, the condensed milk begins to warm up making it less viscous and less capable of binding the cookies together.
Make sure to press the cookies together well. Since you are working with coconut as the main base of the cookie, these macaroons will be more fragile than your average cookie. Do your best to make a compact ball out of the coconut so it will hold together.
You may need to refrigerate the cookie mixture. If the first batch of cookies spreads out, refrigerate the coconut mixture for at least 15 to 20 minutes before making another batch. If the cookies are too warm, they will more easily spread out, whereas if the cookies are cold when they go in the oven, they will stick together better.
How Do You Keep Coconut Macaroons Crispy?
To start with, you should make sure the coconut macaroons get a light browning in the oven. This is what adds a nice crunch to the macaroons.
Then, store your cookies properly so they don’t obtain too much moisture, which could cause them to get soft or stale.
How to Store Coconut Macaroons
To keep these cookies crispy and delicious, store them in an airtight container in a dry place. They will stay fresh for up to a week.
You can also individually wrap them in plastic wrap before placing them in an airtight container to help them stay crispy longer.
Love homemade bars and cookies? Try these recipes!
- Cake Mix Cookies with Butter
- Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
- Coconut Oatmeal Cookies
- Cranberry Pecan Cookies
- Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies
- Hello Dolly Bars
- Pecan Pie Bars
Best Coconut Pie Recipes
Check out more of my easy cookie recipes and the best holiday recipes here on CopyKat!
Coconut Macaroons
Ingredients
- 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 8 ounces sweetened coconut flakes
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Blend all of the ingredients together and drop by the teaspoonful onto a greased cookie sheet.
- Bake until the edges are lightly brown, about 8 to 10 minutes.
I didn’t know these were so easy to make. My Mom loved them.
Tested this recipe out for my annual cookie exchange party. I thought these were quite good and very easy to make.
I made these and they turned out so good!