Coconut Desserts You Need To Make

23 Comments 5

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe

I couldn’t hide my love for coconut desserts if I wanted to. Whether it’s sprinkled on top of a cake, stirred into cookies, or whipped into ice cream, coconut plays a key role in many of my favorite desserts.

Coconut Pound Cake

Coconut Dessert Recipes

When it comes to desserts with coconut, I can’t get enough. Coconut might make you think of tropical summertime weather but I definitely don’t limit my enjoyment of these treats to the warm months of the year.

Coconut desserts are wonderful all year long and I love including them in my holiday baking. Today, I’m bringing you my ultimate list of the best coconut desserts I’ve made over the years!

Save The Recipe

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email and I’ll send this recipe right to your inbox! Plus, I’ll send you new recipes every week!

Coconut Cookies

Do you like those girl scout cookies covered in coconut, chocolate and caramel? They’re called either samoas or “caramel delights” depending on who you ask. If so, you’ll love these coconut cookie recipes.

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies are pretty much the ultimate cookie in my world. These Toffee Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies could be described as my “everything but the kitchen sink” cookie. Rich chocolate chips with crunchy bites of pecans, toffee and (of course) plenty of coconut are a little taste of heaven.

Toffee Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies - save the recipe now so that you can make it all year long!

Coconut Lover’s Oatmeal Cookies are a must-try for any coconut enthusiast like me. These cookies are extra coconutty thanks to the use of coconut oil in the dough along with plenty of shredded coconut.

When I can’t decide between making scones and making cookies, I turn to Coconut Scone Cookies for the best of all worlds.

Perfect sweet parcels of coconut delivered in bite-sized cookie form, they’re cookies you can eat for breakfast and scones you can serve for dessert.

Coconut Scone Cookies are the best of the scone and cookie worlds! - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

If you love sneaking bites of cookie dough out of the bowl when you make oatmeal cookies, these Coconut Oatmeal Cookie Dough Bites are for you.

Unlike some of the other coconut dessert recipes, these cookie dough bites aren’t super sweet, making them a perfect snack for any time of day.

Coconut Cakes

Coconut + cake = my idea of perfection on a dessert plate.

The BEST Coconut Pound Cake is deserving of its given superlative every which way. Moist and tender but dense enough to hold up to your fork, this is among the best pound cakes and coconut cakes I’ve ever tasted.

Coconut Pound Cake

I love coconut cake so much that I find it nearly impossible to resist. Having a whole cake around can be dangerous when I keep returning to the kitchen for “just” one more slice.

That’s why I love making Mini Coconut Pound Cakes. Individually portioned miniature pound cakes deliver all the coconut flavor I enjoy in a full-sized coconut cake. They look extra adorable to boot.

miniature coconut pound cake on plate with berries

This Pineapple Cake with Coconut Frosting brings together the unbeatable pairing of pineapple and coconut. A white cake flavored with pineapple and a little coconut is topped with coconut frosting and even more shredded toasted coconut for a cake that everyone likes.

That cake turned everyone in my house into a coconut fan!

German Chocolate Cake Truffles are everything I love about a dark chocolate cake covered in coconut frosting all rolled up into bite-sized truffles.

I’ve even used a German chocolate cake from the bakery to make these cake ball truffles easier to make. (Be warned: they’re completely addictive.)

If you’re looking for coconut cupcake recipes, these Blueberry Coconut Cupcakes I spotted at Life, Love & Sugar sound divine. I’ve also pinned this incredible-sounding Lemon Coconut Cake from A Beautiful Plate to try soon.

Pineapple Cake with Fluffy Coconut Frosting - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Coconut Bars

Dessert bars are always a big hit in my house. I love baking them for parties, potlucks, picnics, or just because.

My grandmother’s Coconut Chews are pure coconut perfection. Buttery shortbread with a chewy coconut topping is dessert bar heaven.

Grandmother's Coconut Chews

I’ve shared the recipe for these Dark Chocolate Coconut Blondies at the bottom of this post. It has been a go-to last-minute dessert for years. If you love coconut, you are sure to love them.

Pineapple Coconut Bars have become one of my go-to dessert bars, especially when I’m baking for someone who I know goes as crazy for coconut as I do. Juicy pineapple and shredded coconut together in bar form are bound to put a smile on your face.

Pineapple Coconut Shortbread Bars

These Strawberry Coconut Crisp Bars are packed with crisp oats, bright red strawberries, and an abundance of coconut. If you don’t usually bake with strawberries and coconut together, I think you’ll be amazed by how good it is.

This is a coconut dessert that’s just begging to be topped with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. And this Blackberry Coconut Crisp is another favorite for anyone craving a fruit-filled coconut lover’s dessert.

Blackberry Coconut Crisp is a coconut lover's dream come true!

Full disclosure, I probably made that Blackberry Crisp at least 10 times over the past couple of summers. It’s that good.

Where are all the chocolate lovers? These Coconut Cashew Dark Chocolate Bars are for you. I love the sweet coconut balanced with the slightly bitter dark chocolate. If you love almond joys, you’re sure to enjoy those bars!

Cherry Coconut Bars combine tart cherries and sweet coconut served on a shortbread crust. The filling is the best kind of gooey chocolate cherry greatness while the crust stays crisp.

Fudgy Almond Joy Brownies are a must for any chocolate and coconut lover! Rich, chocolatey, and nutty with plenty of light, flaky coconut, they’re great on their own topped with ice cream and hot fudge for a sundae.

Almond Joy Brownies with ice cream and hot fudge

Coconut Ice Cream

I know coconut in ice cream can be polarizing so if you’re looking for a coconut dessert with just a hint of coconut flavor, this Caramelized Coconut Pecan Ice Cream is for you.

It was the happy result of whipping some leftover coconut frosting into a vanilla ice cream base and I couldn’t believe how tasty it turned out.

Who can resist a pineapple smoothie with coconut? Coconut Pineapple Smoothie Ice Cream is a homemade coconut ice cream that reminds me so much of one of my favorite kinds of smoothies. And we all went nuts for this Pina Colada Ice Cream.

Pineapple + Coconut = the ultimate Pina Colada Ice Cream - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

For vanilla lovers,  Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Ice Cream is heaven in a bowl. Real vanilla bean and coconut milk make for a fabulous naturally dairy-free ice cream. It tastes great on its own and is next-level irresistible covered in fresh berries and chocolate sauce.

Then, there’s one of the best ice creams I’ve ever made: Coconut Milk and Dark Chocolate Toffee Ice Cream. Have you noticed by now that I love the combination of coconut, chocolate, and toffee? I know you won’t be disappointed by this delicious coconut dessert with rich chocolate and buttery toffee.

This Raspberry Ice Cream was a big favorite last summer. Creamy coconut ice cream filled with fresh raspberries is so easy to make, and so much fun to eat, you’re going to be making it all summer long.

This Raspberry Ice Cream is accidental vegan and completely delicious!

Coconut Candies

Did you know you can make Almond Joys candies at home? Chewy coconut centers wrapped in dark chocolate? Yes, please.

And these No-Bake Peanut Butter Coconut Candy Bars have been a staple in my holiday dessert table for years too.

German Chocolate Macaroons are chewy coconut cookies that almost taste like candy. Drizzled with caramel and chocolate they are bite-size happiness.

German Chocolate macaroons

Coconut Recipes

Perhaps the most famous coconut dessert of all is a classic cream pie. Check out this Easy Coconut Cream Pie and this Paradise Island Pie the next time you’re in the market for a slice of cool creamy pie.

My love for all things coconut does not stop at desserts. In fact, I’d probably happily eat shredded coconut flakes with a spoon if given the opportunity.

A slice of this Hawaiian Banana Bread with Pineapple and Coconut or this Blueberry Coconut Bread also does the trick in satisfying my coconut cravings, whether I enjoy it as a midday snack or with a steaming cup of coffee first thing in the morning.

Another coconutty breakfast recipe I can’t get enough of is this Pineapple and Coconut Baked Oatmeal. It’s hearty, sweet, and almost unbelievably easy to make.

Blueberry Coconut Banana Bread

There’s a reason I’ve made so many coconut desserts over the years. Not only do I love each and every one of these coconut dessert recipes, but almost everyone I’ve shared them with has enjoyed them too.

Do you have a favorite coconut dessert recipe?

Blondies have become my go-to dessert over the past few years and this recipe for Dark Chocolate Coconut Blondies is one that I’ve made countless times. I hope you love it as much as we do.

Get New Recipessent to your inbox!
We never share your information with third parties and will protect it in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Dark Chocolate Coconut Blondies

5 from 7 votes
Chewy coconut and dark chocolate combine in these irresistible blondies.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 28 minutes
Total Time: 38 minutes
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup butter melted
  • 2 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 2 cups coconut, plus another ½ cup for topping
  • 1⅔ cups dark, bittersweet, or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Combine the butter and brown sugar in a bowl and beat until well combined.
  • Add the eggs and vanilla and stir well. Slowly add the flour and the salt. Stir to combine and then add the coconut and chocolate chips.
  • Scrape the batter into a well-greased 9×13 pan. Spread evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle additional coconut on top.
  • Bake for 28-30 minutes, or until the bars are lightly browned around the edges and set in the middle. Cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

FREEZER INSTRUCTIONS: Cool completely before cutting them into bars if you will not be eating them immediately. These bars freeze beautifully.

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcal · Carbohydrates: 54g · Protein: 4g · Fat: 23g · Saturated Fat: 15g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g · Monounsaturated Fat: 6g · Trans Fat: 0.5g · Cholesterol: 52mg · Sodium: 175mg · Potassium: 210mg · Fiber: 2g · Sugar: 39g · Vitamin A: 394IU · Vitamin C: 0.1mg · Calcium: 45mg · Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!

{originally published 10/28/19 – notes and photos updated 3/1/23}

All The Best Coconut Desserts - guaranteed to thrill any coconut lover!
All the BEST desserts for the coconut lover in your life! get the recipes at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Filed under: , ,

Share this Article

PinYummly

Related Posts

Mary Younkin

Mary Younkin

Hi, I’m Mary. I’m the author, cook, photographer, and travel lover behind the scenes here at Barefeet In The Kitchen. I'm also the author of three cookbooks dedicated to making cooking from scratch as simple as possible.

Reader Interactions

23 Comments Leave a comment or review

    Rate & Comment

    Rating




  1. Karen says

    Is the brown sugar packed? Do you have a weight for it if not packed? Brown sugar used to always be packed but nowadays not so much.

  2. POOKIE PIE says

    This recipe was amazing1 it was gone in two days! a little tip though.. get sweetened coconut and not unsweetened because then it will have no flavor…

  3. P says

    These were devoured at work. I just cut the sugar to 1.5 cups and they were still sweet enough. Thank you so much!5 stars

  4. Hannah Henson says

    These are absolutely delicious! I do wish there was a way to reduce the fat that goes into it, because one cup of butter is alot! But other than that, my family enjoyed them very much!5 stars

  5. Myra Tibbs says

    I made these.they were good.only thing i changed was chocolate.i didnt have any chocolate or chips so used butterscotch chips.still good.5 stars

  6. Lisa Rom says

    I made The Coconut Chocolate Chip Blondies for the Mothers Support Group I lead. They loved it and I ended up pasding your recipe around. Thanks for an easy and delicious fix.
    -Lisa Rom (Israel)5 stars

  7. Becky says

    For some reason mine weren’t fully cooked and needed another 10 minutes. Very yummy and my family loved them!5 stars

    • Mary Younkin says

      Becky – Good to know. Baking can be tricky if we don’t do things exactly the same, and there is variability in oven temperatures I am glad you were watching them closely to adjust.

  8. Jasmine says

    These look divine! And I like that they’re quick and easy for when you need a coconut fix ASAP! lol. I have GI issues and often get sick with chocolate. Could I make this without chocolate? Or with something else as a sub?

    • Mary Younkin says

      Hi Jasmine, I’m not sure which dessert you are referring to. My best guess is that you’re referring to the Macaroons and if so, yes, feel free to skip the chocolate on top. There are other desserts with chocolate chips though, and all of them could be make without the chocolate too.

  9. Leon says

    I just made your dark chocolate blondies bars recipe it tasted so yummy i used a glass fish so i had to cook a lil longer but it was really delicious thanks for sharing this recipe with us 😂🌞5 stars

  10. Susan Moretz says

    72% cacao dark chocolate chunks and Bob’s Red Mill unsweetened shredded coconut for the win! Best brownies ever!5 stars