This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
I have a serious soft spot for these Chocolate Chip Macaroons. Whenever I want something sweet, chewy, and completely gluten-free and flourless these are my go-to recipe. They bake up golden and toasty on the outside while staying soft and tender in the center, exactly how a macaroon should be. Whether you need a simple Passover Macaroon Recipe or just have a craving for something coconutty, these come together in minutes.
I’ve tested this chocolate chip coconut macarons recipe dozens of times to know exactly how to get them just right. It comes down to two things: the brand of sweetened condensed milk you use and how hard you pack the cookies. I realized that generic brands tend to be thinner, causing them to spread, and if you don’t squeeze the ball tightly before baking, they lose their shape. Even without a speck of flour, these macaroons come out soft, chewy, and perfectly shaped; nothing like the dry, crumbly cookies you get from a can.
If you love coconut desserts as much as I do, don’t stop here! Try my Chocolate Coconut Balls or cute little Coconut Cream Pie Bites for another sweet coconut treat you can whip up in no time.
Key Ingredients and Why They Work
Take a look at the key ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe. You can find all the exact measurements in the recipe card below.
- Sweetened shredded coconut: This is the heart of the macaroons. Stick with sweetened coconut for the perfect chewy, sweet texture. Unsweetened coconut will make them a little drier and less sweet.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and flavor. You can swap in almond extract for a stronger nutty note, but use a smaller amount since it’s more concentrated.
- Sweetened condensed milk: This binds everything together while adding sweetness. Don’t try evaporated milk as it won’t hold the cookies properly. Important: Through my testing, I found that Eagle Brand works best. Generic brands tend to be a bit runnier, which can cause the milk to leak out during baking.
- Chocolate chips: I usually toss in semi-sweet chips to balance the sweetness of the coconut and milk, but milk chocolate chips work great if you have a major sweet tooth.
- Melting chocolate (optional): Perfect for dipping the bottoms or drizzling over the tops for a bakery-style finish.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Macaroons
Step 1: Prep the Mixture
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grab a large mixing bowl and stir together the coconut, vanilla, and sweetened condensed milk until it is fully combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Step 2: Scoop and Squeeze
This is the most important step! Scoop about a tablespoon of the mixture (a cookie scoop works great here). Using your hands, squeeze the mixture tightly as you roll it into a ball. If the mixture feels too sticky, pop the bowl in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to firm up. Place them on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper, leaving a little space between them.
Step 3: Bake until Golden
Bake for 15-20 minutes. You want the tops and edges to be a nice golden brown. Keep an eye on them towards the end because every oven is different, and coconut can burn quickly if you aren’t careful!
Step 4: Cool and Dip
Let the macaroons cool on the baking sheet for a bit before moving them to a wire rack. Do not move them while hot, or they will fall apart. Once they are totally cool, you can dip the bottoms in melted chocolate and pop them in the fridge for 15 minutes to set.
Make Ahead & Storage Instructions
- Make ahead: You can mix the macaroon batter and keep in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking. Baked macaroons can be made 2 to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container.
- Store: These keep really well! Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days. If it’s really warm in your kitchen, the chocolate might get soft, so you can keep them in the fridge.
- Freeze: These freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. I recommend placing a sheet of parchment paper between the layers so they don’t stick together. When you are ready to eat them, just pull them out of the freezer and let them come to room temperature on the counter.
More Desserts You May Enjoy
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it turned out in the comments below.
Chocolate Dipped Macaroons
Ingredients
- 1 14 oz. bag sweetened coconut
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 14 oz. can condensed sweetened milk
- 1-2 cups chocolate chips
- melting chocolate (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheet or baking sheet with a silicon baking mat or non-stick foil or parchment paper
- Mix coconut, vanilla, condensed milk together in large mixing bowl. Add in the chocolate chips.1 14 oz. bag sweetened coconut, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 14 oz. can condensed sweetened milk, 1-2 cups chocolate chips
- Take a tablespoon size of the mixture (a cookie scooper works great for this) and roll it in a ball with your hands (see tips above recipe!) You want the balls really tight, so squeeze the mixture in your hands!
- Place each on the cookie sheet spaced apart (they will spread a bit)
- Bake about 15-20 minutes until golden brown (the baking time really depends on your oven, you don’t want them to burn, so watch them carefully)
- Cool on a wire rack
- When totally cool – melt candy chocolate in a double boiler (follow your chocolates instructions) and dip the bottom and roll the bottom sides in the chocolate. Let cool for about 15 minutes in the refrigeratormelting chocolate
- Serve and enjoy!!
Jenn’s Notes
- Make ahead: You can prepare the macaroon batter and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking. The baked macaroons can also be made 2–3 days ahead and kept in an airtight container.
- Store: These store really well! Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for about 4–5 days. If your kitchen is very warm, the chocolate may soften, so storing them in the fridge is a good option.
- Freeze: These macaroons freeze nicely for up to 3 months. Place a sheet of parchment paper between layers to keep them from sticking together. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply let them sit on the counter until they come to room temperature.
- Not packing the balls tightly enough: If you just gently roll the mixture into a ball, the heat in the oven can cause it to collapse, leaving you with a flat, spread-out cookie. Make sure to press and squeeze the mixture firmly between your hands so it holds its shape.
- Using the wrong milk: As mentioned in the testing notes, it’s best to use Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. Some store brands contain more water, which can cause the milk to seep out and pool on the baking sheet while baking.
- Moving them while they’re hot: These cookies are very delicate right after they come out of the oven. If you try to move them to a wire rack too soon, they can fall apart. Let them rest on the baking sheet until they’ve cooled and firmed up.
Nutrition Info
Originally posted April 2014
The cookie was wonderful. So easy and will keep it in my Best Of file.
So glad you liked it!!!
I find I do not have trouble rolling them into a ball if I spray my hands with pam after every third one.
I will not be making these again. While delicious in taste, they would not roll. I spread the coconut mixture into a glass pan and cooked as a sheet, cutting into squares when cool.
Sorry they didn’t work out for you. If you do ever decide to try them again, try putting them in the fridge and chilling for a few minutes.
Not the best – they were to chewy. Will not use again- Sorry
They would not come off the paper I put on the baking sheet
my family just loved this! and i loved the easy prep. these literally disappeared and i will be making more today. i know i’ll be making this often, thanks so much for this recipe!
These look absolutely wonderful, am I’m definitely going to make them to surprise my husband! But, I just heard that a coworker’s birthday is coming up very soon, so it’s the perfect opportunity to make them this weekend. Do you know if this recipe is gluten-free? The birthday girl is on a strictly gluten-free diet, and I don’t know enough about gluten to know which foods and ingredients do and don’t contain it. Thanks in advance!
Hi, is this considered a gluten free recipe? Thanks!
I printed the recipe and just made these macaroons right now. I shouldāve looked at your Internet page and read the comments and hints. I could not get these to roll in a ball I had coconut all over my fingers and hand. I noticed in your video did you use a mixer and I didnāt I mixed them with a wooden spoon maybe thatās the trick? I just finally just used my cookie scooper and baked them and they came out OK I mean not round but they are OK. They are very delicious so I wanted to give you a five star rating but because of the rolling problem I gave you 4.
Hi Sally, yes, they can be messy. My hands are usually covered in sticky coconut! I typically use a spoon, not a mixer, so that shouldn’t make a difference. It could be the brand of condensed milk? The other thing is I really roll the heck out of them and squeeze them together. Hope you will give them another try!
Can you freeze and if so how long? Thanks!
Really delicious! And pretty to look at! I used a mini muffin pan after spraying copious amounts of Pam on it. There were still 5 more to cook so I used the silicone mat. Much easier to remove from the mat than from the muffin tin but with a lot of patience both types came out beautifully! A major hit!
Macaroons are my husbands favorite. I never thought to add chocolate chips. Great idea and great recipe.