These coconut macaroons are the easiest cookies you can make with just 3 ingredients and 30 minutes. Made with desiccated coconut and condensed milk these are vegetarian, eggless, gluten-free, and can be nut-free too. Ideal for a last-minute tea party, cookie platter, or gift to friends.
Have you ever had to take cookies where they also specify - no eggs, gluten-free, vegetarian, nut-free, dairy-free? Ah!! It drives me nuts to think of what I can take with me. I mean there is always going to be someone with an allergy that I cannot feed.
So, often this is one of those cookies that I take with me and it is such a blessing that this is eggless, vegetarian, and gluten-free. Also, if you want, you can make it nut-free too by replacing the almond meal with coconut flour.
Table of Content
About this recipe
These cookies are simple, easy, and delicious. All you have to do is mix three main ingredients together, scoop them on a baking tray, bake for about 15 to 18 minutes, and voila! You have some delicious cookies in less than 30 minutes. For me, this is effortless baking.
Because making this cookies are so easy, Aadi often takes the lead to make it and if he wants to show off with his friends he'll say - I know how to make them - mom just has to do the oven.
Ingredient and substitutes
- Condensed milk - just one cake of condensed milk makes a whole batch of cookies. You can use homemade condensed milk as well as long as you have the right consistency.
- Coconut - I'm using desiccated coconut and this works best for me so I can keep the cookies for a while. Freshly grated coconut works for this just as well though fresh coconut cookies have a much shorter shelf life.
- Almon meal - This adds flavor and texture to the cookie. You can use coconut flour or semolina too.
- Vanilla - The condensed milk does have vanilla so you can omit this ingredient but a little splash of good vanilla always works in its favor.
Step by step instructions (pin)
- Preheat oven at 170 °C/ 340 °F / Gas Mark 3
Tip - make sure the oven is well preheated before you put the cookies in or they will spread too much. - In a mixing bowl add the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and salt.
Tip - condensed milk already has vanilla extract so you can omit it. Alternatively, you can also add ¼ tsp coconut extract. - Followed by the dedicated coconut and almond meal (or coconut flour) - Combine well.
Tip - at first the mixture will be wet but as the coconut absorbs moisture it will get drier so do not add more coconut or flour. - Using two spoons or a cookie scoop - drop small mounds on a baking tray lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges. I like a slight color on my cookies but these can be baked fairly white.
- Cool on the baking tray then on a wire rack.
Tip - The cookies may appear soft at first but they will dry and continue to cook on the hot baking tray. - Enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
Coconut flakes and shredded coconut are usually used but desiccated coconut can also be used. They all work well.
The only difference is that macaroons made with dried coconut such as desiccated or flakes have a longer shelf life.
Macarons made with dried coconut flakes or desiccated coconut can be kept out at room temperature for a week. While the fresh will stay out for 2 to 3 days.
Any nut meal can be used instead of almond meal. I love pecans as well as cashew nut meal. You can even use coconut flour for a more coconut flavor.
Too much moisture in the macaroons. This can happen especially when using fresh coconut as the coconut releases too much juice. The right consistency is not too liquidy.
If you don't want coconut cookies you can make these condensed milk cookies or sweetened condensed milk cookies,
It is always a good idea to chill cookie dough before baking as it firms the butter and they tend to spread less. And, yet, these cookies do not need any chilling time before baking.
Soft almond cookies, soft molasses cookies, custard cookies, peanut butter cookies, oatmeal cookies, no-chill sugar cookies.
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Recipe
3 Ingredients Coconut Macaroons
Print Pin RateDescription
Video
Ingredients
- 14 oz (396 g) Condensed milk (1 can sweetened CS )
- 2 ½ cup (200 g) Desiccated coconut unsweetened
- ¼ cup Almond meal (or coconut flour)
Plus
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 170 °C/ 340 °F / Gas Mark 3Tip - make sure the oven is well preheated before you put the cookies in or they will spread too much.
- In a mixing bowl add the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and salt.Tip - condensed milk already has vanilla extract so you can omit it. Alternatively, you can also add ¼ tsp coconut extract.
- Followed by the dedicated coconut and almond meal (or coconut flour) - Combine well. Tip - at first the mixture will be wet but as the coconut absorbs moisture it will get drier so do not add more coconut or flour.
- Using two spoons or a cookie scoop - drop small mounds on a baking tray lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges. I like a slight color on my cookies but these can be baked fairly white.
- Cool on the baking tray then on a wire rack.Tip - The cookies may appear soft at first but they will dry and continue to cook on the hot baking tray.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Martine Arnold
Hi , a few clarification please
desiccates coconut sweetened or not ? Almond meal ? can I use Almond flour ? Condensed milk ? is it condensed sweet ?
Veena Azmanov
Hey Martine, yes, it sweetened condensed milk and unsweetened coconut. If you like sweet cookies then you can use sweetened coconut as well.
Gene
I love recipes that you can make with items you have on hand. I always have coconut in my pantry for making granola. Now visitors with little notice, sorted. Thank you!
Veena Azmanov
Me too, Gene. I know what you mean.
Mahy Elamin
These cookies were so easy to put together. Smelled so good and tasted wonderful. Definitely will make again.. Thank you for the recipe
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Mahy. So happy you enjoyed these cookies so much. The do smell wonderful. Don't they? Thanks for coming back to write this feedback. Have a wonderful week.