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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129 comments on “Chocolate Coconut Balls {5-ingredients}”
I made this vegan and dairy free with margarine and dark chocolate and vegan condensed milk. Absolutely sensational thanks so much for this recipe
Thanks Miranda!
1 3/4 cup powdered sugar- does this mean 1 cup + 3/4 ? i dont uder stand
Hi Tammie. Yes, you will use 1 cup and then another 3/4 cup so a total of 1 3/4 cups.
These are outstanding! You can’t go wrong giving these to family and friends. They’ll think you are a candy wizard when they bite into these yummy chocolate coconut balls.
Thanks CJ!
The instruction for the recipe should helpfully say “gradually add the confectioner sugar to the coconut and condensed milk.” Because combining everything at once left me with uncombined sugar. I had to add additional condensed milk (as the binding agent). If the sugar was added gradually, I could have stopped adding sugar when all was combined and the mixture would have been less of a wet sticky mass. I added more condensed milk to combine the sugar and the extra made rolling the balls between hands, difficult.
After the balls were rolled and firmed up in the fridge, dipping them into the chocolate was simple. And the end result was a sweet tasty treat.
Chocolate will not firm up
Sorry to hear that Will. It may take a little longer depending on whether you used shortening or butter.
I’ve been looking for awhile (love coconut centers) this will cover my craving.
Curious can I use coconut oil instead of shortening in the chocolate dip mixture? Will they set up the same? If not I’ll just do the healthier version. Can’t wait to try these yum!
Hi Pamela. Yes, coconut oil works well with the melted chocolate.
Delish! Thank you my friends and family love the coconut mounds!
Thanks Deb!
Can I use shredded coconut instead of dessicated coconut?
Hi Judy. Yes you can use substitute shredded. The dessicated has a better texture for these balls but the taste will be the same.
So so so delish! So easy and so satisfying- keep me away from these!
Thanks HelenMae!
I am going to try these this weekend during a girls day out. About how long they need to be refrigerated? I am wondering if I need to refridgerate before going. Thank you!
Hi Kathleen. These store best refrigerated but will keep at room temperature if it’s not too hot. Depending on the temp of where you are or are taking them you may want to refrigerate first.
Delicious! I used regular coconut and Ghirardelli’s dark chocolate and they turned out great.
Thanks Lisa!
I love it first time ever trying it .The kids love it.
Thanks Irish!
Delicious! To make the dipping easier, I stuck a toothpick in each ball and froze for about 20 minutes first. So much easier and neater to dip in chocolate. Once chocolate hardened, you can always go back and fill in the little dot hole from toothpick if it bothers you
Hi what is shortning please never heard of it. Also is powdered sugar icing sugar
Hi Julie. Shortening is basically solid vegetable oil. Crisco is probably the most popular. Yes powdered sugar is the same as icing sugar.
Where do you get dedicated coconut?
Hi Charlene. Some grocery stores will have it in the baking aisle or the organic section. If not, you can also order online. I know Amazon has it.
These are fantastic. Can they be frozen?
Hi Anita. Yes these can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months.