No Bake Coconut Cashew Cookies

If you love simple no bake cookies, loaded with flavor and texture, this is definitely the recipe for you! These delicious coconut cashew cookies are easy to make and taste amazing!

Coconut and Cashews? Are you Sure? 

Oh yes. I’m sure. I’m very, very, very sure! 

When I first stumbled across this no-bake cookie recipe at CookTop Cove I knew I would love it. I’m crazy about all of the ingredients. But, upon further examination, I realized I was out of some of the ingredients. 

• I didn’t have enough pecans. 
• I had no light corn syrup. 
• Ugh. 

Still, I refused to give up on the idea.

So I took a look at what I did have. 

• I had a giant bag of cashews. (Yum.) 
• I had maple syrup. (Double yum.) 

So, I decided to make major tweaks to the recipe and come up with a flavor profile using what I had on hand. (Hey, some of my favorite recipes came about this way!) 

I will tell you up front that it worked. It really, really worked. And I’m so glad I had the “problem” of the MIA ingredients. Otherwise, I never would have known! 

I’ll tell you more about my thoughts on this cookie later on but let’s look at what you’re going to need. 

Coconut Cashew Cookie Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but this is a quick peek at what you will need. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand. 

• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup maple syrup (or light corn syrup)
• 1.5 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups sweetened coconut flakes
• 2 cups chopped cashews (or nuts of choice)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to Make No Bake Coconut Cashew Cookies

These came together so easily! I can’t wait to make them again and again. Here’s how you’re going to do it: 

Chop nuts and set aside.

Place milk, maple syrup, sugar(syrup), and butter into a medium saucepan. 

Bring to a low boil, stirring well. 

Simmer over low heat for 3 minutes or until it begins to thicken. 

Add vanilla and stir well. 

Work in the nuts and coconut. Check out that lovely golden brown color!

Stir well and allow to cool for a couple of minutes. 

Scoop onto waxed paper-lined baking sheet in a cookie shape. (Note: they will be easier to remove if you butter the waxed paper.) Parchment paper is another option if you don’t have wax paper.

Allow to come to room temperature or (for best results) cool in refrigerator until set. (I left mine about an hour.) 

Serve and enjoy! 

Store in refrigerator in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap.. These can also be frozen to eat later. 

What to Expect from This Chewy Cookie

My first thought (when I nibbled on the warm gooey cookies) was “Yum! Coconut Pecan frosting!” It does have that vibe. Once I scooped them, I was reminded of something else I love: pralines. I knew these would have a different texture, thanks to all of that coconut, but they do still have almost a candy vibe about them.

These have a chewy texture, loaded with salty crunch. I was thrilled at the flavor of the cashews, and the coconut blew me away, too. All in all, I would say these were a true winner! I give these a five star rating!

No matter what you call them, you’re going to want to eat them. They’ve over-the-top delicious! The sweetness of the coconut. The salty “bite” of the cashews. The creamy caramel glue that holds them together. . .it’s all amazing! I loved the addition of the maple syrup, (which I used in place of light corn syrup). All in all, I would say this recipe is a winner! 

Variations on this Recipe

Pecans: If you really want to have the coconut pecan frosting experience, use chopped pecans in place of cashews. Yum! 

Sunflower seeds: If you want to change the texture and flavor, sunflower seeds might be a fun option!

Sea Salt: You can sprinkle the tops of these with sea salt if you like. (Delicious!)

Melted chocolate on bottom: Melt some dark chocolate chips and dip the bottoms of these cookies in chocolate before refrigerating. 

Quick Oats: Don’t like coconut? Swap out oats, instead! 

More or less sugar: You can adjust the amount of sweetness. You could also use a completely different sugar, like a coconut palm sugar or a dark brown sugar.

Other No Bake Desserts from Out of the Box

Enjoy these delicious no-bake treats! 

No Bake Lemon Swirl Cheesecake: If you love a soft, light cheesecake, one loaded with lemony flavor, this is the recipe for you! In this post I’m going to show you how to make this delicious Lemon Swirl Cheesecake!

Easy No Bake Oreo Cheesecake Pie: If you love the rich chocolatey flavor of Oreos but you’re in the mood for pie, have I got a treat for you. This recipe for Oreo Cheesecake Pie is simple and delicious! It comes together (literally) in minutes!

No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars: If you love the idea of a protein infused bar but don’t have time to bake, this is the perfect solution for you. These easy no bake chocolate oats bars come together in minutes and are packed with healthy ingredients.

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Pie: If you love a light, fluffy summery pie, one that doesn’t require any baking at all, do I have a treat for you! In this post I’m going to show you how to make a luscious no bake strawberry cheese pie, one sure to wow your guests.

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies: If you’re in the mood for a quick, easy cookie—one loaded with oats, chocolate, and peanut butter—have I got the perfect no-bake recipe for you! 

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That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe. 

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you’re at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

See this recipe at  

• Full Plate Thursday 
• Weekend Potluck
• The Lazy Gastronome
• Busy Monday 

About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.