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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.
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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
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.
Add as Google Trusted SourceChocolate 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Would these be good using white chocolate?
Hi Dawna. Yes, several of our readers have used white chocolate with great results.
These are amazing, will definitely make again for Christmas!
Have you ever tried with a flavor extract? (Peppermint, Orange or maybe Raspberry)
Thank you for sharing
Thanks Patty! We haven’t tried other flavored extracts with this recipe but it sounds great!
Maybe Almond EXTRACT for added flavour. Just a thought.
I am absolutely making these for Christmas. My question is do you use sweeter or unsweetened desiccated coconut?
Hi Bonnie. You’ll want to use unsweetened as the powdered sugar and sweetened condensed milk will provide the sweetness.
I love all of your recipes and the pictures of the finished product
Thanks Margaret!
O M G!!!! these are sooooo good i make them for bake sales all the time and they always sell!! and I’ve had mutule people ask me for the recipe! I’m so happy i found this recipe its also so helpful when you don’t have a working oven
Yay! Thanks Forrest!
I made these with regular flaked coconut and added more condensed milk making the mix creamier.
So using regular coconut they turned out ok? I keep seeing the recipe saying use the desiccated coconut and im having a hard time finding it and when i do it’s crazy expensive. Why did you add more condensed cream?
Can regular flaked coconut be used?
Hi Phyllis. It is best to use the desiccated coconut. The flakes can be made to work but ultimately will not yield the same results.
Which desiccated coconut did you use? Never used this type of coconut before. Looking forward to trying this recipe. Think it will be a new addition to my Christmas Plate.
Hi Cindy. We usually use a desiccated coconut from Kroger. These are great for Christmas plates!
Very easy to make and out of this world delicious! They disappear within minutes, so double batch the recipe.
Thanks Masha!
Can you substitute butter for shortening? And would u still do two tbsps?
Hi Austin. Coconut oil is my go to as a substitute, but butter will work as well. 1:1 substitution.