You know what’s awesome? Those little desserts in a bite size, especially when they hold some fun surprise inside. These Coconut Cookie Balls with Chocolate Centers feel like a sweet combination of chewy coconut and delicious chocolate. They are such a fantastic addition to any dessert table and make for great snacking at home, while killing some time, or even gifting.
A Family Favorite with a Touch of Nostalgia
You know, growing up, those coconut treats were always such a big thing with our family during the holidays. My grandma just adored anything coconut and completely passed that on to me. Every single holiday, she would make these coconut balls and totally sneak into the kitchen to grab one even before they were ready.
The recipe was simple yet full of love; those little coconut treats marked the beginning of holiday celebrations. Nowadays, making these coconut cookie balls reminds me of her and that feeling of warmth associated with family.
You know, over the years I have really made it my own by placing this wonderful chocolate center inside the coconut, making every bite feel like a treasure. Be it at holidays, birthdays, or just because, these coconut cookie balls really have become my favorite treat, and everybody-both kids and adults-just loves them.
What You Need for Coconut Cookie Balls with Chocolate Centers
To whip up this recipe, you just need a few basics from your pantry and some good chocolate. Let me dive into what really makes these coconut cookie balls super special:
Dark Chocolate Chips and Coconut Oil (for the Drizzle) – sprinkling some chocolates on top of these coconut balls will not only make them super fancy but will give it an added layer of chocolatey goodness. Also, the chocolate would be smooth with coconut oil and easier to drizzle. for an easy, smooth drizzle.
Unsweetened Shredded Coconut – the base of this recipe is unsweetened shredded coconut, which gives the balls their chewy texture and subtle, natural sweetness. If you prefer a sweeter taste, you could even mix in some sweetened shredded coconut.
Sweetened Condensed Milk – this binds the coconut, gives it the right sweetness, and just makes them super creamy and melt-in-your-mouth good.
Pure Vanilla Extract – you know, vanilla really brings a cozy vibe to the coconut taste, making every bite feel way richer.
Salt – Just a pinch of salt, which would balance out the sweetness level so the coconut flavor can come through.
Dark Chocolate Chips (for the Filling) – dark chocolate really vibes with the coconut. When it melts, it turns into this awesome hidden center in each ball, giving you a tasty little surprise.
Heavy Cream – this combines with the chocolate and makes this smooth, creamy ganache that’s gonna be the filling. You want the ganache to be thick enough where it’s got a solid middle but still soft when you bite into it.
How to Make Coconut Cookie Balls with Chocolate Centers
Making these coconut cookie balls is a rewarding, step-by-step process. Here’s how to go about it:
- Prepare the Coconut Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and salt. The mixture should be sticky enough to hold together when you form it into balls.
- Shape and Fill the Balls: Take about a tablespoon of the coconut mixture, press it flat in your hand, and place a small spoonful of chocolate ganache in the center. Fold the coconut mixture around the ganache, shaping it into a smooth ball with the chocolate fully encased. This part is a little messy, but totally worth it!
- Chill the Coconut Balls: Place the formed balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill them for 20-30 minutes. This step is key for helping them firm up so they keep their shape.
- Drizzle with Chocolate: Melt additional chocolate with a bit of coconut oil until smooth. Drizzle over the top of each coconut ball, creating a beautiful finish. The drizzle not only looks pretty but adds another layer of chocolate flavor.
- Final Chill and Serve: Chill the coconut cookie balls once more to set the chocolate drizzle. Once they’re firm, they’re ready to serve or store.
Dessert Information
These Coconut Cookie Balls with Chocolate Centers yield about 24 servings, with each bite-sized treat containing approximately 90 calories. The recipe requires around 45 minutes of prep time, plus chilling intervals to help the treats set perfectly.
Bonus Tips for Perfect Coconut Cookie Balls
- Use Good-Quality Chocolate: Because chocolate is at the heart of this recipe, choosing high-quality dark chocolate will make a big difference in flavor.
- Adjust the Sweetness: If you love coconut and want even more sweetness, consider using sweetened coconut or mixing half sweetened and half unsweetened for a balanced taste.
- Keep Your Hands Slightly Wet: To prevent sticking when shaping the coconut balls, dampen your hands slightly with water. This helps keep the coconut mixture from clinging.
- Store Properly: These cookie balls keep well in the fridge for up to a week. For best flavor, allow them to come to room temperature for a few minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions for Your Coconut Cookie Balls
These coconut cookie balls are versatile treats! Here are a few ideas for serving them:
- Holiday Treat Platters: Arrange them on a festive holiday platter with other small cookies and chocolates.
- Gift Boxes: Place the balls in mini cupcake liners and package them in a beautiful gift box for a homemade holiday gift.
- Alongside Coffee or Tea: These coconut balls pair wonderfully with coffee or tea. The coconut’s sweetness and chocolate center are perfect complements to hot beverages.
Add This to Your Recipe Collection
These Coconut Cookie Balls with Chocolate Centers are so super yummy that everyone will just love them. Super easy to whip up and even easier to enjoy, these make perfect additions to any dessert table or sweet homemade gift. Coconut and chocolate come together in a flavor combination which no one can resist.
Enjoyed this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for your next gathering or to add it to your holiday dessert board!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use unsweetened coconut?
Exactly, all you need to do is sweeten it up a bit-add a bit more sugar or pour in some condensed milk.
Can these be made dairy-free?
These can be replaced with dairy-free condensed milk and dairy-free chocolate truffles, so these treats are totally suitable for vegans or lactose-free diets.
How long do they last?
You can store these coconut cookie balls in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.
Coconut Cookie Balls with Chocolate Centers
Course: Uncategorized24
servings45
minutes90
kcalIngredients
- For the Coconut Mixture:
3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
- For the Chocolate Filling:
1 cup dark chocolate chips
2 tablespoons heavy cream
- For the Chocolate Drizzle:
½ cup dark chocolate chips
1 tablespoon coconut oil
Steps
- Prepare the Coconut Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweetened shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract and salt. Stir the mixture until the coconut is fully coated and starts to stick together.
- Shape the Cookie Balls: Take a small amount of the coconut mixture (about a tablespoon) and flatten it slightly in your hand. Place a chocolate truffle or bonbon in the center, then carefully fold the coconut mixture around it, rolling it into a ball. Ensure that the chocolate is completely enclosed by the coconut. Repeat this process with the remaining coconut mixture and chocolate truffles.
- Chill the Cookie Balls: Arrange the coconut cookie balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate them for about 20-30 minutes. Chilling will help the balls firm up and hold their shape.
- Drizzle with Chocolate: Once the cookie balls have chilled, melt the dark chocolate in a microwave or over a double boiler. Using a spoon or a small piping bag, drizzle the melted chocolate over the tops of the cookie balls.
- Final Chill: Return the cookie balls to the refrigerator for another 10-15 minutes to allow the chocolate drizzle to set.
- Serve: Once the chocolate has set, the coconut cookie balls are ready to enjoy! You can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Hello,
How do you prepare the chocolate center and how long do I let the chocolate cool before I work with it?
Hi Scott,
Here’s how to prepare the chocolate center and ensure it’s ready to use:
Preparing the Chocolate Center:
To make the chocolate center for your Coconut Cookie Balls, follow these steps:
Cooling the Chocolate Before Use:
Once the chocolate filling is melted and mixed, allow it to cool slightly before using it. This ensures the chocolate isn’t too hot, which could melt the coconut mixture, and makes it easier to handle. Follow these tips:
Hope that helps!
This recipe needs to be reworked and edited. The ingredients say unsweetened coconut, the instructions say sweetened. There is no mention of adding the salt. The ratio of coconut to condensed milk seems disproportionate. It was so sticky and gooey, it didn’t wrap around the chocolate well.
And clearly other people have thought this recipe is a dud which is why there aren’t any other comments. It’d be better to unpublished it than to have people wasting ingredients.
Hi Rosalyn, you’re right, there was a mix-up between sweetened and unsweetened coconut, and the salt step was missing. I’ve updated both. The texture can definitely get too sticky if the proportions are off, so I’ll be retesting the recipe to make sure it’s more balanced. I really appreciate you flagging this.
Bonjour,
Serait-il possible d’avoir les pesées en grammes s’il vous plaît. Il est difficile de trouver des bonnes conversions, ce qui fausse la recette. Pour ma part, j’évite maintenant les recettes n’ayant pas les mesures métriques. Merci pour votre réponse.
Bonjour Aurore,
Here are the metric weights to work with:
Coconut mixture
• Sweetened shredded coconut – 250 g (about 3 cups)
• Sweetened condensed milk – 300 g (1 cup)
• Pure vanilla extract – 5 g (1 tsp)
• Salt – 1.5 g (¼ tsp)
Chocolate filling
• Dark chocolate chips – 170 g (1 cup)
• Heavy cream – 30 g (2 Tbsp)
Chocolate drizzle
• Dark chocolate chips – 85 g (½ cup)
• Coconut oil – 14 g (1 Tbsp)
These are average weights; feel free to tweak a gram or two if your scale or brand differs 😊