Chocolate Coconut Balls are one of our favorite no-bake holiday treats. A sweet, moist, coconut center, covered in a chocolate coating with only 5-ingredients! These are so Easy to make and always a huge hit with everyone.
If you love coconut like we do, you might want to also try these Coconut Macaroons, Hello Dolly Bars and our German Chocolate Cupcakes.
Chocolate Coconut Balls
For this recipe you will want to use dessicated coconut. That’s a bit different from shredded coconut – it’s finely shredded coconut that is not sweetened. If you do not have this, go ahead and use regular shredded coconut. That’s OKAY. I personally would pulse the coconut in a blender a few times, but I am a bit picky with texture. We also show you below how to cut back on the sugar to make a healthier version of these yummy coconut balls.
How To Make Coconut Balls
This is a recipe that my grandma made every holiday season. She loved coconut and would bake with it all the time, especially around the Holidays. Chocolate Coconut Balls are completely no-bake though. All you need to do is melt a bit of chocolate; that’s as hard as ‘baking’ gets in this yummy recipe. Even though this recipe is super easy, it will take a bit of patience dipping each ball in the chocolate. It’s worth it though, trust me!
Ingredients you will need:
- coconut
- powdered sugar
- sweetened condensed milk
- dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- shortening
Directions
- You start by mixing the coconut, sweetened condensed milk and powdered sugar. Form the mixture into balls and place on a pan lined with wax paper. Place the balls in the fridge to firm.
- Melt the chocolate chips and shortening. Dip the balls into the chocolate mixture getting rid of any access chocolate.
- Place the balls back on the paper and let them set.
Healthy Chocolate Coconut Balls
- 2 cups dessicated coconut
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 5 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips for melting
Follow the recipe as listed below using these ingredients.
Tips and Tricks
- We love to use this chocolate dipping tool for recipes like this and makes it so much easier.
- Add an almond in the center. It will taste just like an Almond Joy Candy Bar!
- You can also add in chopped almonds to the coconut mixture.
Chocolate Coconut Balls
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup desiccated coconut
- 1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 Tbsp shortening
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine confectioners sugar with coconut and condensed milk.
- Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and place onto a pan lined with wax paper. Place in refrigerator until firm.
- In a microwave-safe glass bowl, melt the chocolate chips with shortening, removing to stir once or twice until smooth.
- Dip each ball into the chocolate allowing the excess chocolate to drip off. Place the chocolate balls onto the waxed paper; let stand until set. Store in refrigerator.
Last Step:
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97 comments on “Chocolate Coconut Balls {5-ingredients}”
Good
The mom of a friend gave me this recipe, when I was a kid. I loved it then and still love it. Glad I found this because I had lost it. Thanks!
They where easy to make and good
Can I use coconut oil instead of shortening?
No because with the oil the chocolate will not harden on the coconut rounds. You need the shortening to make the melted chocolate harden. Think about what your skillet looks like after frying food with shortening
I never use shortening when I use chocolate to coat things. I do not think it’s necessary.
The way I was taught the shortening makes the chocolate not so brittle, or more pluable so it doesn’t crumble when bit.
Can you use regular milk instead of condensed?
No, it is not thick enough to hold the coconut and confectioners powder together
What can I use instead of shortning ?
Nothing. It is necessary to harden the chocolate. Some people try cooking wax but to me it changes the flavor and texture of the candy
You don’t need to use shortening at all. I melt chocolate chips all the time to coat different things, and I have never had a problem with it hardening
Do I need to add something to be able to send them to my dad in Florida? I would be sending
them from Massachusetts overnight Mail and I would hate for them to melt. Thank You so Much, Have a Blessed Christmas!!! Mary
I send mine from PA to WI. Just freeze them good and tell him to put in freezer on receiving them.
They came out perfect!! Everyone loved them and so easy to make!! Can I store I Tupperware in fridge?
Can you freeze these and if you can how long can they keep. Coconut balls. Also can I use sweetened coconut flakes.
Did you cut back on the powdered sugar?
Hi, should they be stored back in the refrigerator or are they okay to leave out overnight ?
it says store in the fridge
Looks delicious
Delicious
Can you just use sweetened coconut and leave everything else the same?
Yes you can do that.
This recipe is easy and my husband loved them. Thank you
Oh ! For I got to try this !!
Do you have to use shortening??
No, you can make without shortening.
I like your recipe because I love coconut. It is delicious once I made it thank you for putting this out in the Internet it was worth my time and saving .
Would it be ok to melt Ghiradelli’s dark chocolate melting wafers instead of the morsels?
Absolutely!
These look great. Can’t wait to try them. How long will they last once made if stored in the refrigerator?
Easy and oh so delicious
Would you use less or zero sugar if you used milk chocolate chips ?
Jane, that would be a personal preference, but I would leave the sugar the same.
Looks good but what do you use for dipping?
Is the coconut sweetened or unsweetened?
Barb, we used unsweetened.
Could you add chopped almonds to the coconut mixture ?
Sure!
I am going tomake coconut balls
Can I use butter instead of shortening and monk fruit sweetner instead of sugar
The monk fruit sweetener would work. I would try coconut oil or just the chocolate by itself instead of using butter as a substitute.
If you’re trying to be healthier, check your monk fruit sweetener… most have a medium that may be just as bad as sugar. My mom used one with maltodextrin & that causes your body to react the same as sugar.
My Mother used to make these with a cherry inside.
You dont the amount of powdered sugar or shortening?
Cindy, it’s in the recipe card near the bottom of the page.
I have made coconut balls for years❤️
I made these last christmas. Easy to make, tastes great. Makes a wonderful gift. Will make them again this year. Friends and family are already asking for them! Thank you
How do you melt chips? Mine came out pasty
this looks good love this recipie
Love it
Can this be shipped.
These would probably ship ok. Obviously, the lower the temp. outside the better to avoid melting.
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Enjoyed justlooking at the receipes .Wonderful !!!
Thanks for the Recipe. Looks great
I will be making these coconut balls.and I am adding almond in mine.Thanks for the recipe.
I have been looking for this recipe I have a friend who made this she gave me the recipe and I lost it thank you so much this first time I saw your recipe
This is something new for my holiday baking. Love it
make these but chop up almond and add almond extract, taste like almond joy
What are your measurements for the extract and almonds?
How much of the chopped almonds a n d extract should I add?
How much almond extract?
How much almond extract ?? Sounds good
Very good recipe
is there anything I an use in place of the sweetened condensed milk
Gloria, yes there are many substitutes you can use depending on your preferences about dairy and sugar content. Google “replacements for sweetened condensed milk.”
Looks wonderful but there are no measurements.
The measurements are in the recipe card near the bottom of the page.
I was looking for your coconut rum balls but the app won’t take me there? By the way these chocolate look devine!
Hi! What beautiful children!! (even your dog smiles!!) I’m planning to gift homemade candies to friends and this will definitely be a selection. (I already have that coconut!) Love your site and will try other recipes. Thank you!
I have a peanut butter ball recipe that’s alot like this except you melt the chocolate with a small piece of paraffin wax instead of shortening.
Everyone loved these! I’m making them again and sending them to my brother for his birthday. They are very sticky to work with, but worth it
can you use sweetened coconut and just omit the powdered sugar? That’s all I have on hand and would love to make these.
I have the same question. If you find out please let me know.
yes they will have a different texture but still be good. in factmy gma makes similar coconut “easter nest”after rolling balls warm water back of tsp. dibit the chocolate and add small jellybeans to your next delicious
So if sweetened coconut is used u don’t need powder sugar? Will u use more coconut then?
Those look great and it’s easy to make
What is your best source for dessicated coconut? Thank-you for posting a low sugar version.
Thank you for the recipe. I would love to make the 5 ingredient chocolate coconut balls, but it doesn’t say how much of each item I need. Could you please let me know what these are?
1 3/4 cup coconut
1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 cups chocolate chips
2Tbls shortening
Can someone explain to me please what desiccated Coconut is? Never heard of that. Thanks.
Love this page
I added chopped pecans to the coconut balls…delish!
Delicious….but add couple of drops of pure almond extract and its heavenly good!!!
Can I use butter instead of shortening?
Can I use imperial marjoran
Love the recipe and was trying to just get the print option but couldn’t with all the ads popping up.
Great recipe!
Looks real easy. Something I can fix when I’m invited last minute and want to bring a good treat for the holidays.
Hi what is shortening I’m wanting to do
chocolate coconut balls thank you
I always use coconut oil to melt chocolate. Crisco is shortening if you prefer.
Love this page
I never thought of trying that great tiip
Do you use the same ratio with coconut oil as Crisco
Do u use the same amount as the shortening?
shortening is vegetable fat . it is white and can be found in most grocery stores
Will fix these for Christmas. Thanks for the recipe. Merry Christmas.