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These Coconut Macaroons are chewy and moist on the inside and crispy on the outside! Made with lemon zest and without sweetened condensed milk, these sweet and easy coconut cookies are going to be everyone’s favorite treat this holiday season.

A white cookie box with red reindeers, lined with a red napkin, containing coconut macaroons.

Coconut Macaroon cookies are my favorite Christmas cookies! I love the chewy texture and the crispy outside. These cookies are definitely every coconut lover’s dream!

In Germany, Coconut Macaroons are called Kokosmakronen and are traditionally made without sweetened condensed milk. So my recipe would be perfect for you if you don’t like the taste of condensed milk or don’t have some on hand and still want to make your favorite coconut cookies.

I’ve tried many coconut macaroons before but these are my favorite by far! They keep their shape in the oven, don’t burn easily, and they keep well for days. A perfect cookie to make ahead or give as gifts during the holidays!

Coconut macaroons with chocolate bottoms and stripes on a white plate next to a white dishtowel.

Tips & Tricks on How to Make Coconut Macaroons

  • Be careful when using a double boiler! The steam is very hot and you can easily burn yourself if you#re not careful.
  • The water in the pot shouldn’t touch the bowl and you need to keep whisking constantly or you will end up with scrambled eggs. Better combine the egg whites and sugar before putting the bowl on top of the pot.
  • Don’t let the batter sit too long in the fridge or it will get difficult to shape the macaroons! 30-45 minutes are enough in my experience.
  • After dipping the macaroons in chocolate place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to allow the chocolate to set faster.
  • The cookies keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week.

You need three egg whites for this recipe, the leftover egg yolks are perfect for making Creme Brulee.

Close-up of a white cookie box, lined with a red napkin, containing coconut macaroons.

Looking for more easy Cookie Recipes?

You can find all my Cookie Recipes here.

Coconut macaroons with chocolate bottoms and stripes on a black cooling rack.

Tools used for Making this Coconut Macaroon Recipe

Sheet Pan: These are my favorite baking sheets!
Chocolate Chips: According to America’s Test Kitchen these are the best chocolate chips!

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5 from 2 votes

Coconut Macaroons Recipe

These Coconut Macaroons are chewy and moist on the inside and crispy on the outside! Made with lemon zest and without sweetened condensed milk, these sweet and easy coconut cookies are going to be everyone's favorite treat this holiday season.
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 40

Ingredients 

  • 3 egg whites
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp lemon zest
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded coconut, unsweetened
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Instructions 

  • In a double boiler, whisk egg whites, sugar and salt together. Heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is thoroughly heated, then remove from heat.
  • Stir in vanilla extract and lemon zest.
  • Add shredded coconut and flour, stir until combined.
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 45 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Using two spoons, drop heaping tablespoons of the mixture on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart.
  • Bake for about 20 minutes until the tops and edges are golden.
  • Let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  • When the macaroons are cooled completely, melt the chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water (or in the microwave).
  • Dip the bottoms of the macaroons in the melted chocolate. Let any excess drip back into the bowl and put the macaroon back on the baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Drizzle tops with chocolate if desired. Let stand until set.
  • Then store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
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About Julia Foerster

Hi, I'm Julia! Born in Germany, I call Canada now my home and love to share my favorite dishes with you! Here you'll find hundreds of recipes, all made from scratch, with lots of tips and detailed step-by-step instructions.

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