How to Make Chocolate Coconut Balls (Simple No-Bake Recipe)
Delicious chocolate coconut balls made with simple ingredients and easy steps—perfect for holiday trays, sweet snacks, or gifting. These no-bake treats balance rich chocolate and chewy coconut in every bite.
If you love the sweet, tropical taste of coconut wrapped in rich chocolate, these easy chocolate coconut balls are your new go-to treat.
With a creamy coconut filling that’s soft and chewy, coated in a smooth chocolate shell, they’re reminiscent of your favorite candy bar—but even fresher and more satisfying. Best of all, they come together quickly with just a handful of ingredients.
Can I Make Store-Bought Candy Bars from Scratch?
Good question, right? I had the coconut. I had the chocolate. I had sweetened condensed milk. So I went in search of a recipe for homemade Mounds Bar recipe.
I also happened to have plenty of almonds on hand. (I happen to prefer Almond Joy to Mounds.) So I decided to merge some ideas and come up with a few of those, as well.
I've been on a kick making candy shaped in ball form, so I decided to go that route again. I made Peanut Butter Snowballs, Divinity, and (most recently) No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies.
But this time I wanted to use up some of those ingredients sitting in my pantry. Chocolate Coconut Balls just made sense.
I found a couple of different recipes online but was more drawn to the one at the Girl Inspired blog. I did decide to change it a bit. I went with milk chocolate chips for some of my candies and semi-sweet for others.
This is a delicious candy treat--that firm candy shell on the outside, the sweet creamy coconut center. Yum! They're part bon-bon, part truffle, and part candy bar! They're great during the holiday season and, due to their truffle-like appearance, would be perfect for Valentine's Day, too!
Feeling tempted yet? Great! Let's look at what you're going to need to make these tasty treats.
Ingredients for Chocolate Coconut Balls
You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand. If not, they're readily available at any grocery store.
- sweetened coconut flakes
- sweetened condensed milk
- powdered sugar
- chocolate chips (your choice)
- vegetable or coconut oil (to keep chocolate from seizing)
How to Make Chocolate Coconut Candy Bars
These are so incredibly easy! You don't need the stove. You don't need the oven. Two bowls and a microwave and you're halfway there!
Start by place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper on a cookie sheet.
Make the Coconut Centers
In a large bowl combine coconut flakes, sweetened condensed milk, and powdered sugar.
Stir well. You'll get quite the workout with this coconut mixture.
Using a cookie scoop, place mounds (get it?) of coconut onto the wax paper.
I added almonds to half of mine.
Place each mound in your palms and roll until you form a ball. You'll end up with 1-inch balls (approximately).
Set the tray of coconut balls into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour.
Melt the Chocolate
Place chocolate in a medium bowl and add vegetable (or coconut) oil.
Melt in microwave in 30-second increments, stirring every 30 seconds. Mine took a minute and a half to melt.
Stir well to remove all lumps. You want chocolate to be smooth and creamy.
Remove tray of coconut balls from refrigerator.
Place one ball at a time in the melted chocolate and use a large spoon to make sure it's covered in chocolate.
Lift with a fork. Tap against the side of the bowl to get rid of excess chocolate mixture.
Place chocolate-covered balls onto wax paper. I used a small spoon to press against each ball to nudge it off of the fork.
If you like, you can cover some of your balls in milk chocolate, some in white chocolate. Or (as I did) some in semi-sweet.
Place candies into the refrigerator to firm up for an hour before eating.
Store in an airtight container in refrigerator. They should stay good for a week. You can freeze them in a ziploc bag for up to two months. Thaw naturally.
Note: You can store at room temperature if you like but I prefer mine cold.
What to Expect from These Coconut Chocolate Balls
First, I can't believe it took me this long to discover the recipe for this easy sweet treat! I'm crazy about Almond Joy so one would think I'd made these before. Nope. Today was the very first time.
I enjoyed these straight from the refrigerator. That decadent chocolate coating was cold and crisp and the inside was "set" but not overly firm. It was, in a word, perfect!
The coconut centers are super sweet, which is one reason I loved the almond version best. The addition of that crunch almond counter-balanced the sweetness of the coconut.
I'm so excited about making these again. I think they'll be a great addition to my Cookie Exchange Tray at Christmas time! (Candies are great for the holiday season, especially those you can share!)
No matter how or where you serve these delicious coconut truffles, your guests will be thrilled. They'll also be mesmerized to find a store-bought candy in home-made form.
Variations on this Tasty Recipe
I love them just as they are but I'm already loaded with ideas to change them up. Here are a few of my ideas:
Mint Chocolate Chips in place of regular milk chocolate. (Delicious, especially at Christmas-time!) You could even add a tiny bit of crushed candy cane to the coconut center if you like!
White Chocolate Chips: These are much milder in flavor and will be a perfect replacement for milk chocolate.
Butterscotch chips: I think butterscotch would be very tasty with coconut. Talk about a tasty treat.
Chopped pecans: You can finely chop pecans to add to the centers. Just dump in half a cup or so to the mix when you add the coconut.
Lemon. Hear me out. Sweetened condensed milk with lemon is delicious, very cheesecake-like. Add lemon zest or lemon juice (or even lemon extract) to the sweetened condense milk/coconut mixture then cover in white chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Sprinkle with chopped macadamia nuts for added crunch!
Shape into Christmas trees: Using a Christmas tree cookie cutter, shaper the coconut mixture into a tree shape, then freeze. Make sure they're solid before dipping in chocolate. Sprinkle with red, green, and white sprinkles.
Vanilla Extract: You can add a teaspoon to the chocolate after melting.
Sea Salt: To really take these tasty treats up a notch, sprinkle with a bit of sea salt while chocolate is still wet.
Crazy about chocolate-covered treats? Check out this fun post!
Questions People are Asking about Chocolate Coconut Balls
Can I use unsweetened coconut flakes in this decadent treat?
Absolutely. The condensed milk will add sweetness and moisture.
Are these considered Coconut Macaroons?
They have similar ingredients but macaroons are baked.
Can I use almond extract in this recipe?
Yes, you can add half a teaspoon to the coconut mixture to this luscious no bake dessert.
Welcome to the Candy Shop! Homemade Sweet Treats You'll Love
Step right up, candy lovers! If you've ever dreamed of wandering through a magical candy shop, where the shelves are lined with colorful sweets, rich chocolates, buttery toffees, and old-fashioned favorites, you've come to the right place! Here at Out of the Box Baking, we're turning ordinary kitchen ingredients into extraordinary little treats. No golden ticket required!
Whether you're filling Christmas candy tins, preparing homemade gifts, or simply indulging your sweet tooth, there's something delightful waiting around every corner. So grab your imaginary candy-shop basket and come explore some of my favorite homemade confections!
Take a Stroll Through the Candy Shop!
- Soft Christmas Peppermints (Old-Fashioned Butter Mints) – Soft, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth little morsels of peppermint happiness! These colorful old-fashioned candies look like something straight out of Grandma's Christmas candy dish.
- Old-Fashioned Jelly Nougat Candy – Imagine a snowy-white candy studded with colorful, jewel-like pieces of fruity goodness. This chewy, nostalgic treat is almost too pretty to eat. Almost!
- Easy Salt Water Taffy – Take a little trip to the seaside candy shop without ever leaving your kitchen! This sweet, stretchy favorite brings back memories of boardwalks, candy counters, and old-fashioned fun.
- Old-Fashioned Divinity – Light, fluffy, and wonderfully sweet, divinity is like a little cloud of sugary magic. It's the kind of classic Southern candy that makes every holiday dessert tray feel extra special.
- Easy Fantasy Fudge with Pecans – Rich, creamy chocolate fudge filled with crunchy pecans? Yes, please! This old-fashioned favorite is perfect for slicing into generous little squares and sharing with someone you love.
- Easy Hot Cocoa Fudge – All the cozy charm of a steaming mug of hot chocolate, transformed into a rich, chocolatey candy! This sweet treat is practically a winter afternoon wrapped up in a bite.
- Easy Peanut Brittle – Crunch, crackle, and snap! This golden, buttery candy is packed with peanuts and delivers that irresistible old-fashioned crunch that keeps everyone reaching for another piece.
- Traditional English Toffee – Buttery, crunchy toffee meets luscious chocolate in this classic homemade confection. Break it into deliciously imperfect pieces and tuck them into a pretty candy tin for a gift worth remembering.
- Quick and Easy Buckeyes – Creamy peanut butter centers dipped in rich chocolate make these little candies irresistible. They're a peanut butter lover's dream and a favorite on holiday candy platters!
- Easy Homemade Turtles Candy – Pecans, caramel, and chocolate come together in one glorious little candy. Sweet, nutty, chewy, and wonderfully indulgent, these homemade turtles are a candy-shop classic.
- Copycat Reese's Peanut Butter Cups – Who needs the candy aisle when you can make your own chocolate-covered peanut butter cups? These homemade favorites deliver that magical combination of creamy peanut butter and chocolate.
- Easy Peanut Butter Snowballs – Sweet peanut butter goodness dressed up in a snowy coating! These pretty little candies are perfect for winter celebrations, holiday gift boxes, or sneaking straight from the refrigerator.
- Easy Oreo Truffles – Who knew a humble sandwich cookie could become such a fancy little confection? These rich, chocolatey truffles are wonderfully simple to make and look right at home in a gourmet candy box.
- Lemon Oreo Truffles – A little sunshine in every bite! These bright, cheerful truffles bring a refreshing burst of lemony sweetness to the candy counter and make a lovely addition to spring parties and dessert trays.
- Easy Red Velvet Truffles – Rich, beautiful, and dressed for a celebration! These red velvet beauties are the fancy little jewels of the candy shop, perfect for Valentine's Day, Christmas, or any occasion that deserves something special.
There's Always Something Sweet Around the Corner!
Well, friends, I hope you've enjoyed our little stroll through the candy shop! From nostalgic favorites that remind us of childhood to chocolate-covered treasures that look almost too beautiful to eat, there's something wonderfully satisfying about making candy in your own kitchen.
And guess what? The candy shop doesn't close here! I've gathered even more delightful confections in my Homemade Candy Recipes: The Ultimate Guide to Delicious Homemade Treats. You'll find even more fudge, brittle, truffles, chocolate-covered goodies, and old-fashioned sweets just waiting to be discovered. So pull up a stool at the candy counter, choose your next sweet adventure, and remember: a little homemade candy can turn an ordinary day into something magical!
That's it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoy these chocolate coconut balls. They're so delicious and they're guaranteed to wow your friends, family, and other guests no matter the time of year. This is one of those easy recipes you're going to make again and again!
Why not pin some photos while you're here?
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Ephesians 4:2-3 ESV
Easy Chocolate Coconut Balls
If you're a fan of those yummy Mounds bars, you're going to flip over this simple recipe. These easy Chocolate Coconut Balls as just as good and simple to make!
Ingredients
- 12 ounces sweetened coconut flakes
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 cups chocolate chips (your choice)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or coconut oil (to keep chocolate from seizing)
Instructions
- Make the Coconut Centers: In a large bowl combine coconut flakes and sweetened condensed milk. Stir well.
- Add powdered sugar and stir, stir, stir. (You'll get quite the workout!)
- Using a cookie scoop, place mounds (get it?) of coconut onto the wax paper.
- I added almonds to half of mine.
- Place each mound in your palms and roll until you form a ball.
Set the tray of coconut balls into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour. - Melt the Chocolate: Place chocolate in a medium bowl and add vegetable (or coconut) oil.
- Melt in microwave in 30-second increments, stirring every 30 seconds. Mine took a minute and a half to melt.
- Stir well to remove all lumps. You want chocolate to be smooth and creamy.
- Remove tray of coconut balls from refrigerator.
- Place one ball at a time in the chocolate and use a large spoon to make sure it's covered in chocolate.
- Lift with a fork. Tap against the side of the bowl to get rid of excess chocolate.
- Place chocolate-covered balls onto wax paper. I used a small spoon to press against each ball to nudge it off of the fork.
- If you like, you can cover some of your balls in milk chocolate, some in white chocolate. Or (as I did) some in semi-sweet.
- Place candies into the refrigerator to firm up for an hour before eating.
Store in an airtight container in refrigerator. They should stay good for a week. You can freeze them in a baggie up to two months. Thaw naturally.
These sound so yummy! I'm going to try making these and using your suggestion to use different chocolates! Thank you!
These look great, Janice! Think I'm going to try one of the variations - perhaps switching out the lemon zest/extract for orange. I'm sure my apartment building neighbors will love them!
Blessings to you and yours! 🙏 ✝️