Classic Coconut Macaroons Recipe
This Classic Coconut Macaroons Recipe is absolutely the best! These cookies are perfect with your cup of afternoon tea or to bake for the holidays.
Coconut Cookies are some of my favorites, but unfortunately, my family does not share my passion for coconut. This Alice Medrich recipe got rave reviews from my friends, and now is the gold standard for the Best Macaroon Recipe.
Why You Must Make
- The recipe comes from Alice Medrich, the baking guru and cookbook author.
- These macaroons are perfectly sweet and chewy.
- This is a classic recipe, made without sweetened condensed milk.
Ingredient Notes
There are only five simple ingredients in this recipe!
- Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Salt, Real Vanilla Extract
- Egg Whites – Separate your eggs when they are cold. The yolks are less likely to break.
- Sweetened Coconut – Like Baker’s Angel Flake Coconut
Expert Tips
If you’re used to making a macaroon recipe with sweetened condensed milk, this recipe has an extra step. But, I promise you, it’s worth the extra time.
- PRO-Tip: If you don’t have a double boiler, you can create a makeshift version by boiling water in a saucepan and nestling in a heatproof bowl. The bottom of the bowl should not touch the water.
- The mixture must be stirred frequently while being heated until it thickens and becomes opaque, or loses its transparency. At that point, the mixture can be taken out of the water and cooled.
- Use a cookie scoop to place rounds of the batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- To bake, the macaroons start at a higher oven temperature first, then decrease after 5 minutes in the oven.
I will never make macaroons with a can of sweetened condensed milk again. This is the ultimate recipe. They’re sweet, moist, chewy. Just spectacular!!! One of my local foodie friends told me these were the best macaroons she’s ever eaten. Go ahead, coconut lovers, give this recipe a try!
Frequently Asked Questions
These coconut cookies will last up to a week if stored in an air-tight container at room temperature. They can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
There are a number of reasons your macaroons can be sticky. First, if they’re stored in a location with high humidity, they can easily get sticky. Other possibilities include over-whipping the egg whites or not baking long enough. But don’t worry, even sticky macaroons are delicious!
Macaroons are made with egg whites, sugar, and coconut. Coconut is key as it’s not a macaroon without coconut. Many versions are made with a can of sweetened condensed milk, which definitely makes for an easy recipe. But to taste the real classic macaroons, make a batch with egg whites. The texture of a macaroon is chewy.
Macarons are French sandwich cookies. Best made with older egg whites, macarons also contain almond meal. Where macaroons are always coconut flavor, macarons can be made in numerous flavors and filled with just as many flavor alternatives. Macaroons (with the double “o”) are super easy to make whereas Macarons (use your best French accent and roll your “R”) are fussy. The goal when baking up your macarons is for each “cookie” to have a “foot” or base that has a slightly different texture. The resulting macarons are not chewy but crisp like a baked meringue.
You May Also Like:
- Banana Coconut Sweet Bread from Cravings of a Lunatic
- Coconut Cream Pie
- Coconut Truffles
- Chewy Coconut Cookies
- Coconut Cupcakes
- Chocolate Dipped Macaroons
- More Cookie Recipes
Classic Coconut Macaroons Recipe
This classic macaroon recipe from Alice Medrich is the best you'll ever make!
Ingredients
- 4 egg whites
- 3 cups sweetened coconut (like Baker’s Angel Flake)
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment. Set aside.
- Fill a skillet halfway with water and bring to a simmer. In a heatproof bowl, combine all ingredients and place the bowl into the skillet.
- Cook, stirring frequently for about 5 minutes, till the mixture thickens and becomes opaque.
- Remove the bowl from the water and let it cool for about 30 minutes.
- Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of batter (I used a medium cookie scoop) and place about 2 inches apart on baking sheets.
- Bake for about 5 minutes, then decrease oven temperature to 325º and bake till cookies are lightly browned with some darker edges, 10-15 more minutes.
Notes
Eggs separate best when cold. The yolk is less likely to break.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 92mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 2gSugar: 15gProtein: 1g
83 Comments on “Classic Coconut Macaroons Recipe”
I’m sure I could eat a whole batch of these in one sitting! Anything with coconut..
Michael’s favorite cookie. I never was very successful when I baked them. I always blamed the altitude (which was blamed for everything when I had a Fail). Thanks for the tips. I may try again when I making cookies for the holiday.
My family isn’t too keen on coconut either, but my feelings won’t be hurt if I have to eat all of these.
although i’m not frequent to this site but whenever i saw post here it urges me to make one of it recipe and this time i’m going to make this one looks so delicious 🙂
Dear Liz, these classic macaroons are calling my name! Although I love coconut treats, I have never ever made any macaroons – your recipe looks like I would really enjoy it! Whenever I use shredded coconut in my baking, I like to use the coarse kind (there is fine and coarse shredded coconut available in stores around here) – makes for a nice texture.
Thank your for another amazing recipe!
Andrea
Coconut is one of those divisive ingredients – people seem to love it or hate it! Your lucky sorority sisters, getting to enjoy these plus two other treats!! I haven’t made macaroons this way, but now I’m inspired to try! Love the texture.
With all these fabulous tips, I’m sure to be able to make amazing macaroons!
What a gorgeous treat! Love coconut and chewy is definitely on my radar.
This is going to be added to my holiday baking list. I am going to make a batch now because I can’t wait that long! 🙂
Can I give a 10++++ stars!! You bet I’ll be making these!! xo
these look perfect and delicious dear Lizzy! Absolutely love them!!
I have never seen sweetened coconut flakes here…these macaroons look chewy and yummy!
This is such a great recipe! Always a favorite around the holidays, and your classic recipe is perfect!
Making these again for the holidays. They are always a favorite.
These are so good! My kids can’t stop eating them! I can’t wait to make it again!
This is a great recipe! My husband is a huge coconut fan and he couldn’t stop munching on these macaroons!
These are so delicious! I love how simple and quick they are to whip up. Pinning these for later too, thanks for sharing!
love dessert recipes that take less than an hour! quick & delicious. thanks for sharing
Dear Lizzy, I love coconut in all forms…it happens to be one of my very favorites. Funny enough though, I have never made macaroons. I will have to try these…they look perfect dear. xo, Catherine
Yum!!
I love coconut and this is such a wonderful reminder. I got to make this.
Kristy
We do love coconut at our house–these would be a treat. Looks like it’s on, ‘the list’!
Haha, I’m also the only macaroon fan in my house too… I could go nuts on these things… eat them by the case! I love them when the bases are dipped in a thin layer of chocolate. Oh my God it’s good!
I’m also the only macaroon fan in my house. I’ve never baked them but really love how easy the recipe sounds. Thanks for sharing Liz & have a great weekend:)
You had me at macaroon. I love coconut. I mean love it. Occasionally I just buy a fresh one and crack it open and nosh on it like potato chips. It’s how I roll. These cookies would be gone in 3.196 seconds. I would point at someone else but we all know it would be me who ate them all.
These look like pure puffs of pleasure…I really need to make them, since we adore macaroons!
Love your macaroons. I am the only one that likes coconut in my house, so I never bake with it. So sad!
I’ve always been too terrified to make these!
Really nice macaroons, I like that technique.
Thank You.
I am definitely not keen on anything with sweetened condensed milk in them. It has a very distinctive flavour and it’s loaded with calories. Yours look much more mannageable.
I need to hang out with you and your friends! These seem so simple to make and I’d love to have them on one of my dessert tables.
Lovely! Can eat it anytime of the day…
love these macarons Lizzy look perfect!!!
Liz, they look fabulous. I make very similar three-ingredient coconut cakes (I just never call them macaroons and don’t add vanilla). I can imagine how yours are soft and sticky…
Oh look at those beauties…I love me a classic!! I use my mom’s recipe which is quite the same as the one you have. 🙂
Those LOVE macaroons so much, and yours look amazing!!! In my opinion, I think macaroons > macarons. I’m not sure what all the rage with the latter is. Anyway, great job…I’ll have to try my hand at these soon!
Alice has amazing cookie recipes and these look so good. I would probably be only one eating them here too (not that that’s a problem!):)
These look incredible my friend, definitely perfect 😀
Cheers
CCU
My immediate family, mom, dad and 2 sisters all grew up loving macaroons but my own family; husband, son, and daughter dislike them – I on the other hand love them. I will be sure to give these a try. They sound so easy and with so few ingredients
it’s not that bad to be the only fan.. you can have all of them just by yourself. I actually like macaroons, so I would help you gladly! 🙂
I have to admit I am not a coconut fan. I like the taste of it but not the texture which is why I always go for the almond macaroons. But if you brought these over around the holidays, everyone else in both our families would positively inhale them!
Your macaroons look so dainty! I am pinning this for future reference:)
Lizzy, your Macaroons look delicious. I love Macaroons. I will be making this recipe soon:) Thanks for sharing.
I love macaroons…and yours look delicious Liz.
Thanks for the recipe and hope you are having a great week 🙂
I love this macaroons love to try it. It is my favorite order in a near by bakery.
I’m embarrassed to admit this but…I’ve never had a macaroon before!! They look absolutely divine, though!
We all love macaroons in our family, and I don’t make them often enough.
Lizzy yours is exactly how mine looks, except w/ chocolate drizzle that the little guys love so much. Yumm) xo
My husband is crazy for macaroons! I will try these for sure as I haven’t found a really good recipe, thanks Lizzy!
Ooooh girl! Sign me up for this one! You know my fridge is just LOUSY with coconut so this is perfect for us 🙂
I love such easy desserts. I make macaroons with coconut, dates and banana. I will try your version soon.
Yes, a macaroon – not a macaron! Seems easy enough – I”m going to have to try your recipe. Total coconut freak, so that made Mounds my favorite candy bar back in the day 🙂
Oh nice is has more of a meringue base to it, they look awesome. I like them, my dad would devour them all.
Oh I love macaroons! I should try this recipe!
I have only tried to make these once and they were pretty good, but I think I will try your recipe some time!
Macaroons are one of my favourites and thanks for the reminder. These look amazing and I bet were a huge success at the tailgating.
Great recipe! The condensed milk version is pretty good, although awfully sweet. Definitely need to give these a try – thanks.
I hear that angels eat this stuff… =)
We love them – I usually make Ina’s recipe, but will definitely give this one a try. Absolutely lovely photo!
my husband loves these, i will have to surprise him with some!
nice macaroons
Lizzy , if only the other macaron is as easy to make as this macaroon , I’ll be a happy camper ! lol I guess this recipe is much better than the one using condensed milk which is overly sweet and much more dense 😀 Beautifully-made and looks yummmmmm !
I’m not a macaroon person myself, but my significant other sure is. Good to have a can’t miss recipe on hand!
My friend Liz.
Oh my God!! Please, share with me those delights of macaroons, I love these mainly coconut. hummmmm delicious! …. Kisses Gina
Love chewy macaroons. These would be great for my afternoon tea.
I love macaroons… I actually only knew of this kind before I became a blogger and met Jill the macaroon queen. 🙂 I still have a soft spot in my heart for this coconut treat. 🙂
These look so perfect Lizzy , I gotta try them 🙂 .
Liz, I would be included in the coconut freak group! I’ve never made macaroons, so this would be a fun first for me. I will be catching up and reading all of your posts that I missed while I was gone. I am sure you baked up a tremendous amount of wonderful recipes!
xoxo
Roz
Macaroons sweet, moist and chewy: your local friends are very lucky to be invited for tea.
Love macaroons–thanks for sharing. I will definitely make them. Again, Liz, your photos are beautifully styled.
I cannot wait to make this recipe…
Love these!
Beautiful macaroons, I love coconut!
would love to have a bite… looks yum
I can tell it’s past my bedtime cuz when I saw a new post in my inbox from you, I thought it said “That Skinny B—- Can Bake!” LOL! Well, you certainly can, and these macaroons are further proof. A great thing about macaroons is that they ship really well b/c they are one of the rare cookies that improve with age and stay moist and are so sturdy they can withstand some rough handling. Plus. They’re delicious. Yours look perfect!
I´m not particularly fond of coconut by itself, but this type of macaroons are really great. Wonderful recipe, and I love the size!
I love macaroons! I’ve only ever made the BH&G version that came with my cookbook. The water bath sounds interesting:@)
Delicious and dainty! Great classic recipe.
These look great! I love macaroons, but have to get them out of the house quickly or they’ll all end up on my tush!
Surely will give it a try since is simple & easy
I love macaroons! There simple, pretty healthy and oh so good!!! Yours look out of this world!! I want one!
Lizzy, it’s extremely sweet…..
These macaroons are out of this world! Looks so moist and…of course, sweetly sweet. Huge fan.
Another classic made just a little more perfect. On my radar to make this week…cannot wait!