Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons

12/15/2021 By Laura 28 Comments

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One of my ALL TIME (!) favorite cookies, these Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons are so scrumptious! Definitely one of my most-requested recipes, these dreamy Macaroons are crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. And a coating of dark chocolate is the perfect touch! Perfect for the Holidays (my FAVORITE Christmas cookie!) or any given Wednesday.

Sometimes we all just need to get out of our own heads, you know what I mean? The very first time I was making these delicious mounds of coconut coated in a shell of smooth, luscious, dark chocolate, I was talking to my then 6- and 8-year-old daughters about our decision to send them to a new school for 1st and 3rd Grades. While my Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons were baking in the oven, I asked what questions they had about this move. Rather than ask directly, they retreated to the kitchen table, and huddled together, big sister writing the questions they each had about this move to a new school right on the paper where this recipe is written.

I hesitate to admit that the questions they asked were kind of shocking to my (then) working-mom sensibilities. Do you think they were curious about the strength of the academic programs, about whether there would be art, music and drama, whether they would be able to make friends? It turns out, none of these items were on their list. Rather, “How many recesses a day?” (“We will ask,” I wrote in reply.) Also, “Can we wear our spring dresses?” (“Some days, yes.”) and, “Will our baby brother get to go?” (“When he’s 5.”) For me, this was a lesson in perspective, to get me out of my own head and understand their wants and needs. Stopped me in my tracks, to be sure. Isn’t this a lesson we all need occasionally!

Anyway, now when I hear a question I didn’t expect, I stop. And realize I don’t have all the answers precisely because I don’t know all the questions. That is, unless the question is, “What cookie do you make during the holidays every year?” Well, the answer to that is my Chocolate Dipped Macaroons! It’s a classic macaroon recipe, one where you’ll cook the easy dough, let it cool a bit, and then scoop it onto cookie sheets. They bake up with a nice crispy edge and nicely tender, sticky and chewy coconut middle. I love dipping them in Bittersweet Chocolate, but if your aren’t as Bittersweet as I am (!), go ahead and use Semi-Sweet or Milk Chocolate. You can’t go wrong with a chocolate coat, right?

So, when, months later, I made these cookies for our new school’s staff meeting, the next day, an email arrived – “Especially good were the coconut macaroons. Whoever made those, would you be willing to share the recipe?” Of course! Here it is!

Now I treasure my question-covered recipe as much as I treasure this fabulous easy Macaroon recipe! Reading the recipe makes me appreciate the lesson to get out of my own “stuff” and to remember what’s really important. And it reminds me how a simple recipe can bring together people in ways you don’t imagine. Enjoy!

Looking for other Scrumptious Cookies? Why not try these:

The Everything Cookie

Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies

Old Fashioned Sour Cream Raisin Bars

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

Almond Shortbread with Cranberries and Orange

How to Make Chocolate Dipped Macaroons:

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Simple Steps to make the best Macaroon recipe:

Quick and Easy Recipe for outrageously scrumptious Macaroons!

Process shot — Mix together egg whites, sugar, extracts

Make the Batter/Dough

First, into your heavy, larger saucepan – I use a 3-qt size – you’ll stir or whisk the egg whites with sugar, salt and extracts. You don’t have to use the almond extract, but I recommend as it adds some good, nutty flavor!
Stir in the shredded, sweetened coconut.
Sift in the flour. If you stir, rather than sift, you’ll end up with lumps of flour in your macaroons – no one wants that!
Stir while heating over Medium Heat for 5 minutes. If you’re using an electric stove, preheat the burner to medium first, so you’ll get the whole 5 minutes of heat.
Turn up the heat to Medium-High, and continue to stir constantly. In 3-5 minutes, the batter will begin pulling away from the sides and the bottom while you are stirring. This signals it is DONE! Then, pour it into a heat-proof bowl, and cover the surface of the dough with a sheet of plastic. Refrigerate until chilled, or at least 2 hours until room temperature.

How to bake Coconut Macaroons

Preheat your oven to 325F. Then, using a 1 Tablespoon (15ml) scoop, scoop portions of dough onto the lined sheet pan.
Bake until they are golden brown and look crispy. In my convection oven at 300F, or an electric oven at 325F, this took 24-30 minutes, so be sure to keep an eye on them once they’ve been in around 24 minutes or so.
Let cookies cool on a wire rack to room temperature. The melt some chocolate (I like bittersweet, but you can use any type – semisweet, milk chocolate, or even white chocolate). Dip half-way, then return to the wire rack or place in the fridge until the chocolate has cooled and set. Store macaroons in an airtight container. They also keep well in the freezer when wrapped tightly.

Macaroon Recipe Variations

You could skip the almond extract if you like, or add a bit more (up to 1 teaspoon) if you don’t have any, or especially love almond!
Skip the chocolate dip and just enjoy your macaroons naked!
Or, use salted caramel chips, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips!
You can make bigger macaroons, too! I used to use a 30ml, 1 oz. scoop. They take a bit longer (maybe 4-5 more minutes) to bake, just keep an eye on them, and take them out when they are golden and crispy.

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