Homemade vegan coconut macaroons that are toasty and golden on the outside and sweet, moist, and chewy on the inside. Made with just 4 simple ingredients (plus a tiny pinch of salt) and naturally gluten-free!
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Hey friends it's coconut time!! And it's all squashed up in perfect vegan coconut macaroon form. Not your regular coconut macaroons though, because these are egg-free and they come with a refined sugar-free option too.
These vegan macaroons are sweet, coconutty and delicious. They are perfectly sweet and moist in the middle and slightly chewy on the outside.
Are Coconut Macaroons Vegan?
Regular coconut macaroons are not vegan because they are bound together with egg-white. In this recipe though, I use a combination of coconut milk and cornstarch to bind them. It works incredibly well.
These are also gluten-free vegan coconut macaroons. Lots of recipe use flour as a binder but as I use cornstarch to make them completely gluten-free. Using cornstarch improves the texture a lot too.
Ingredients
These macaroons are ALL about the coconut! We've got shredded coconut, and coconut milk going on, and the option of using coconut sugar too if you want to. If you don't like coconut, walk away now ... These are not for you. But if you do, you're going to love them!
Here's what you will be needing to make this recipe:
- Shredded coconut - Preferably unsweetened as other wise they will be too sweet, and it must be finely shredded/desiccated coconut. The coarser shredded coconut with larger shredded pieces won't work so well and you risk your macaroons falling apart. Let's Do Organic Shredded Coconut is my go-to brand.
- Sugar - White sugar, cane sugar, brown sugar or coconut sugar. Any of those are fine but bear in mind that the flavour will change with each one. I like to use coconut sugar to keep the coconut theme going and for the lovely golden, toasty colour an caramel flavour it gives the finished macaroons.
- Coconut milk - Canned and full fat not light. The fat helps hold these vegan macaroons together as they cool and it gives them amazing flavour.
- Cornstarch - Acts as glue in this recipe in combination with the coconut milk and replaces the egg whites that would otherwise be used.
- Salt - Just a pinch. It's as important in sweet recipes as it is in savoury ones.
- And maybe some optional dairy-free chocolate to dip or drizzle?
What makes this recipe really fantastic is that there are only 4 ingredients (plus a tiny bit of salt) and no special equipment is needed to make them. Just a baking tray, some parchment paper or a Silpat, and an ice-cream or cookie scoop if you have one as it makes it easier to shape them.
How Do You Make Vegan Coconut Macaroons?
Here's how to make vegan macaroons step by step:
- Add everything to a mixing bowl, stir together really well then scoop mounds out onto a baking tray.
- Bake until golden.
- Leave to cool on the tray.
- Drizzle or dip in chocolate.
How To Dip In Chocolate
As lovely as they are plain, they are like OMG over the top if you dip the bottoms in some melted chocolate or drizzle it over the top of them.
Melt some dairy-free chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water or really gently in the microwave. Then either drizzle the chocolate over each macaroon, or dip the bottom of each one into the chocolate and place on a parchment paper or silicone mat lined baking tray. Then pop in the fridge or freezer just until the chocolate is set. It will only take a few minutes.
Success Tips
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. If you don't, these macaroons will stick to the tray.
- Use finely shredded/desiccated coconut, not the large coarser shreds.
- Use an ice cream scoop or cookie scoop for perfectly domed macaroons.
- Pack the mixture into the scoop really tightly each time so they look neat and tidy and stay together well.
- Don't over-bake as it will dry them out.
- Do not attempt to substitute any ingredients or to reduce the amount of sugar. Sugar doesn't just function as a sweetener, it also helps hold them together. There are such few ingredients that changing one will really affect how the recipe turns out.
Variations
Some ways you can adapt this recipe include:
- Make vegan chocolate coconut macaroons. Simply dip the baked and cooled macaroons in a puddle of melted chocolate, or drizzle it over them.
- Add ½ a teaspoon of vanilla extract (or any other extract).
- Drizzle with melted vegan white chocolate.
- Make them refined sugar-free by using coconut sugar.
Tips For Storing
Allow to cool completely on a cooling rack, then store in an airtight container for up to 1 week at room temperature. They don't require refrigeration, so are a great choice when you need to make a dessert for a party or potluck. That is unless you use the optional chocolate and the temperature is high enough to melt it. If so keep them in a container in the fridge.
To freeze, place in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag in a single layer and freeze for up to 3 months. Eat them straight from the freezer or leave them to defrost at room temperature for about an hour.
Recipe FAQs
Here you will find frequently asked questions I have received regarding this vegan coconut macaroon recipe:
You need to really pack the mixture into the ice cream scoop when portioning these macaroons out onto the baking tray. If you don't they won't hold together securely and could crumble.
The macaroons can also be crumbly and fall apart if you don't measure the ingredient accurately, change any of the ingredients (even a small change) or if you use the wrong type of shredded coconut. It absolutely has to be finely shredded.
Nothing. It absolutely has to be full-fat canned coconut milk or the macaroons won't hold together properly.
I have only tested the recipe with cornstarch so I don't know if arrowroot will work as well.
No. The sugar isn't just for sweetness. It also helps hold everything together.
Recipe
Vegan Coconut Macaroons
Author:WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Ingredients
- 2 packed cups (180 g) finely shredded/desiccated coconut , not the larger, coarser shreds
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar , white sugar, cane sugar, coconut sugar or brown sugar are all fine
- 5 tablespoons (37.5 grams) cornstarch , (cornflour in the UK)
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt
- ½ cup & 2 tablespoons (150 mls) canned coconut milk (full fat not light)
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 325°F (162 °c) and line a baking tray with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- To a medium sized mixing bowl, add the coconut, sugar, cornstarch and salt. Stir together really well.
- Gradually add the coconut milk, stirring as you go until the mixture is wet enough that you can squeeze it together in your hand and it stays mostly in one piece. You might not need all of the milk.
- With an ice cream scoop or cookie scoop that holds about 2 - 2½ tablespoons, scoop out the mixture, and press it in really tightly with your fingers or the back of a spoon or spatula to compact it. Then dollop it out gently onto the lined baking tray.
- Bake for 25 minutes, then remove from the oven and leave to cool on the tray.
- Optional - See recipe notes for how to dip in chocolate.
NOTES
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NUTRITION
This recipe was originally published on July 18th, 2019. I've updated the post with new information and now I am republishing it for you. The actual recipe remains the same. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for following A Virtual Vegan!
Monique says
I had a problem with the coconut milk oozing out of of the macaroons.
Maus says
I had two issue with this recipe. I used coconut sugar as recommended, and it was very overpowering (and too sweet as well). Second was partly user error, but I baked them for 25 minutes and they were still squishy. I didn't realize they need to "set" and I added 5 minutes, wondering it was maybe my often, and now they are too hard.
Melanie McDonald says
As per the notes in the post, you can use "white sugar, cane sugar, brown sugar or coconut sugar. Any of those are fine but bear in mind that the flavour will change with each one."
You should only use coconut sugar if you really like the flavor it gives baked goods because this is a minimal ingredient recipe so it's going to come through a lot in the finished macaroon.
As for the squishiness issue, sugar turns to liquid when baking which is why you need to leave them to cool on the baking tray when removed from the oven as per the directions. Hope that helps!
Jeanne says
I thought it sounded so easy.
So I gathered all ingredients and put them together. That was simple .
Shaped them and put in the oven.
What came out was a slab coconut macaron. They just flattened out like a big square pizza.
Have no idea what happened, other than i thought there was too much coconut milk.
Wanted to make them for a surprise for my vegan son for Christmas.
Help!!
Melanie McDonald says
If there seemed like there was too much canned full fat coconut milk then it sounds like something was mis-measured or a mistake was made with the ingredients. Canned coconut milk is so thick, and there is only a little over half a cup of it in the recipe. With all of that coconut and the cornstarch it should be perfect. Did you change anything at all, no matter how small? Everything needs to be exactly as per the recipe.
Anna says
Excellent results, amazing treats!! I cut back on the coconut sugar, used arrowroot (I do not have cornstarch), used the thick cream from canned coconut milk. I used a 2 Tbsp scoop which made 19 mounds. The macaroons are crispy on the outside and softer inside. The dome mounds held their shape perfectly. I baked for 25 minutes. I think my first batch is a great success however as my yield was higher than the recipe (meaning my mounds were smaller) next batch I might try baking for less time (as I see your note that over baking will make them dry - Yes, I’m the nerdy geek who reads entire recipes 🤓)Thanks Melanie for your great posts with helpful hints and tips!! ☺️
Luka Laylie says
Send help, they melted and now i just have a cookie sheet sized glob, I followed the recipe exactly but i used Sweetened condensed coconut milk. Was that the wrong thing to add? Everything else was exact so now I'm totally lost.
Melanie McDonald says
The recipe doesn't call for condensed milk. It calls for regular canned coconut milk. Condensed milk is super sweet. You probably pretty much doubled the sugar in the recipe. That will be why they collapsed/melted.
I'd try to make it at least useable because I hate wasting anything. Try baking til crispy. Cool, then break up into chunks, or pulse in a blender then serve sprinkled over ice cream or yogurt or something.