Make delicious, moist Coconut Macaroons without condensed milk! This ultimate coconut treat has slight crispness on the outside and chewy coconut centers. A quick and easy gluten free recipe that's also great for Passover.
Why you'll love this recipe
The best coconut macaroons are soft, moist, and chewy with intense coconut flavor. The main difference between macaroon recipes is the ingredients used to achieve that perfect taste and texture.
Many homemade macaroon recipes, like this one, are flour and grain free, but the biggest difference is whether or not the recipe uses sweetened condensed milk.
Using condensed milk results in a consistently moist and chewy cookie, but they also tend to be cloyingly sweet and aren't dairy free.
Instead of depending on super sweet condensed milk, this recipe uses potato starch (or corn starch. It works as a binding ingredient that keeps the cookie from crumbling, and adds a chewy texture.
I added another unique ingredient, Lyle’s Golden Syrup, which adds extra moisture and a slight caramel flavor accent. You can substitute honey or corn syrup if you prefer.
Macaroons are fast and easy to make with simple ingredients any time the tropical flavor of coconut beckons. For eating at home or shipping in cool weather, I suggest dipping the bottoms in chocolate. The bitter-sweetness of dark chocolate pairs beautifully with the light sweetness of this cookie.
Ingredients
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a large bowl, mix together unsweetened coconut, starch, sugar and salt.
- In a small bowl, whisk egg whites and vanilla until foamy (about 2 minutes).
- Combine the wet and dry mixtures and stir to fully combine. Allow to sit for 20-30 minutes to rehydrate the coconut.
- After the 20-30 minute rehydrating, stir the batter and use a medium (2 ½ tablespoon) cookie scoop to portion the batter onto a parchment lined baking sheet about 1” apart. Bake at 325 degrees F for 15-17 minutes, just until the bottom edges turn golden brown. Cool completely on the baking sheet.
- To decorate with melted chocolate: In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate pieces in the microwave for 1 minute at 50% power. then dip the bottoms of the macaroons into the melted dark chocolate and place on a wax paper lined baking sheet to set.
- Spoon remaining melted chocolate into a small plastic ziplock bag (or piping bag), cut off a tiny piece of one corner, and drizzle over the macaroons.
Storage
Store homemade macaroons at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
Tips and variations
- Use unsweetened, finely shredded coconut for a lightly sweet flavor and a compact shape. You can substitute regular shredded, sweetened coconut for a sweeter cookie with a more textured shape.
- The golden syrup in this recipe adds moisture and a bit of flavor to the chewy interior of these coconut cookies. Honey or corn syrup can be substituted with excellent results. You can also omit this ingredient completely.
- Use ½ cup of add-in ingredients for variations in flavor and texture. Try chopped dried fruit,nuts or mini chocolate chips.
- For macaroons that taste like Almond Joy candy bars, place an almond at the center of each dough ball before baking. For even more almond flavor add ¼ teaspoon of almond extract.
Frequently asked questions
Macaroons are dense, chewy cookies with shredded coconut as the main ingredient. French macaron are light, crunchy cookies, often sandwiched with filling, with almond flour as the main ingredient.
Coconut macaroons originated as a flourless Italian cookie made with almonds. The lack of flour made it popular with Italian Jews for use during Passover. When European Jews brought the recipe to the United States, macaroon were made with coconut which was a more readily available ingredient.
Freeze macaroons for up to 3 months, either individually wrapped in plastic or in an airtight container in layers separated by wax paper.
More gluten free recipes
Use these flourless recipes for Passover or any other time of year!
Gluten Free Brownie Brittle is like a thin and crunchy brownie packed with chocolate fudge flavor!
Marzipan Cookies, made with just a handful of ingredients, have a crunchy, almond encrusted exterior and are soft and chewy inside!
Almond Flour Cookie Bars are soft, tender cookie bars swirled with melted chocolate chips.
Gluten Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are chewy and super chocolaty just like regular crinkle cookies, but this cookie recipe is made without flour!
S'mores Peanut Butter Cookies take plain peanut butter cookies to a gourmet level with lots of marshmallows and chocolate chunks.
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Coconut Macaroons without Condensed Milk
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups unsweetened dried coconut finely shredded
- 1 ½ tablespoons potato starch or corn starch for non-Passover use
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon Lyle’s Golden Syrup optional for extra chewiness and moisture
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ounces dark chocolate
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together coconut, starch, sugar and salt.
- In a small bowl, whisk egg whites ,vanilla, and golden syrup until foamy (about 2 minutes).
- Add the egg white mixture to the coconut mixture and stir to fully combine. Allow the mixture to sit for 30 minutes to rehydrate the coconut.
- Preheat oven to 325° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- After the 30 minutes rehydrating, stir the batter.
- Use a medium scoop (1 ½ tablespoons) to portion the batter onto the prepared baking sheet about 1” apart. If desired, use wet fingers to gently shape the coconut mounds.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, just until the bottom edges turn golden.
- Cool completely on the baking sheet.
- To decorate with melted chocolate: In a small bowl, melt the chocolate pieces in the microwave for 1 minute at 50% power. then dip the bottoms of the macaroons into the melted chocolate and place on a wax paper lined baking sheet to set. Spoon remaining melted chocolate into a small plastic ziplock bag, cut off a tiny piece of one corner, and drizzle over the macaroons.
- Store macaroons at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
Notes
- Unsweetened, finely shredded coconut provides a lightly sweet flavor and a compact shape. You can substitute regular shredded, sweetened coconut for a sweeter cookie with a more textured shape.
- The golden syrup in this recipe adds moisture and a bit of flavor. Honey or corn syrup can be substituted with excellent results. You can also omit this ingredient completely.
- Use ½ cup of add-in ingredients for variations in flavor and texture. Try chopped dried fruit,nuts or mini chocolate chips.
- For macaroons that taste like Mounds candy bars, place an almond at the center of each dough ball before baking.
Nutrition
First Published: April 9, 2015. Last Updated: April 22, 2022. Updated for additional information, improved photos, and better reader experience.
Cindy
Wendy, these are so pretty.
The addition of the Golden Syrup is a great idea. I agree that coconut macaroons made with condensed milk are way too sweet. I have been making a Cooks Illustrated macaroon recipe for years now that uses Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut. (Used for making pina coladas). Cream of coconut is quite sweet but the intense coconut flavour really balances out the sweetness. Recipe link here in case you’re curious.
http://www.saltandserenity.com/2014/04/triple-coconut-macaroons/
Wendy Sondov
Thank you, Cindy! You know that now I am going to have to try those too! I've never baked with cream of coconut. You have my curiosity peaked and my taste buds excited. Thanks for the link! 🙂
Cristina at Ava's Alphabet
Oh, my! These look amazing. Mouthwatering good! Pinned and sharing. Thank you for joining us at Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party. I hope you will join our next party starting Sunday at noon EST.
Samantha @ Sammyapproves.com
These macaroons look so fluffy and delightful. They definitely look too yummy to be gluten free. Thanks for sharing with us at the Family Joy link party!
April J Harris
Pinning and scheduling to share on the Hearth and Soul Facebook page, Wendy. These macaroons look so pretty and sound so delicious. Love how they are dipped in chocolate too. What a lovely gift for your mother! Thank you for being a part of Hearth and Soul.
Donna @ Modern on Monticello
These look so good. I like anything with cranberries. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
The Monday Box
Thanks, Donna!
Julie Christiansen
Yum. Believe it or not, out of all the desserts out there, I have never tried making my own macaroons. This recipe may have changed my mind though! I wish I could sample straight from the photo, they look that good! Thanks for sharing!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Julie! I do believe it about never having made macaroons, because I hadn't either before I started experimenting with the pile of macaroon recipes that resulted in this one. Give them a try. They are amazingly easy, quick, and chewy good!
The Monday Box
Thank you, Gloria, for the feature! Thank you,also, for hosting Friday Favorites Linky Party!