Ultimate Chewy Paleo Coconut Cookies (V, GF): the best coconut cookies! Moist and chewy on the inside, with delicious crispy edges, bursting with amazing coconut flavor. Made with healthy ingredients. Paleo, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free.
Today we’re celebrating my favorite person’s birthday!!! Erik, you can sit back down. I’m talking about my momma, of course! 😉 Okay, Erik, you can stand up too!! (Second place should get something, right?) Hehe. J/K!
Every year, I make sure to write a post or two or three dedicated to my mom. She’s known as “Popo” in my family, aka “Grandmother” in Chinese, and “Grams” in English. One of her favorite things in the world, besides family and fitness and making fun of my less-stylish-than-hers gym outfits… is coconut!
Omigosh, that was a mouthful!
If you’ve been with me a long time, you know that Grams can not get enough of this drupe! Yep, I had to say drupe. One day, I might even achieve my lifelong dream of saying “drupe” out loud. Stay tuned. Anyway, I’ve dedicated these chocolate coconut bars, this paleo almond joy, friggin’ coconut chocolate chip ICE CREAM, and chocolate coconut truffles (!) to her. But by far, one of her very favorites was my paleo vegan coconut macaroons.
Funny thing about those macaroons? If not made with the correct type of coconut flakes, they become… just the thing you did not expect. Which can be quite a bit disappointing. See, if you make those macaroons with these small coconut flakes, you’ll make the most delightfully round, thick, and perfectly tall macaroons. But if you use large coconut flakes, they go flat. Like a thick, delicious pancake that’s actually a cookie. Made out of coconut.
So guess what we did today?
WE MADE ‘EM. With LARGE coconut flakes. Into these Chewy Paleo Coconut Cookies. They’re so unbelievably good… sweet and moist on the inside, with crispy, chewy edges on the outside. The Ultimate coconut cookie.
The second my mom saw these, she immediately started making plans to hide and portion them. She has the same problem I do with, ya know, not eating the whole batch. In one sitting. She gushed over them, and asked me, “HOW do you do it??” And I’m like, “HOW do you cook so well?!” My mom thinks it’s the funniest thing in the world that she cooks savory food like a boss, and I pretty much exclusively bake.
Still, I’m in the kitchen, so… like mother, like daughter. 🙂
So will you join me in making a special birthday batch for one of the best moms on the planet? I dedicate everything I do that has any meaning at all, any positive impact at all, to her. She’s my constant inspiration and my guidance.
Love you, Mommy! <3
Here’s a little bit about these Ultimate Chewy Paleo Coconut Cookies, just in case ya needed a quick summary. They’re:
- so easy to make
- the tastiest thin and crispy coconut cookies on the outside, and the most droolworthy chewy ‘n moist coconut cookies on the inside (if ya get my drift) 😉
- made with just 4 ingredients
- paleo, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar-free
- just the perfect healthy coconut cookies to add to your healthy cookie recipe box
- so unbelievably good when paired with my paleo chocolate almond butter bars and my vegan peppermint mocha frappuccino
- soon-to-be your favorite gluten free vegan crispy coconut cookies recipe!
- dedicated to someone super special 🙂
So whaddya think? You grab the cookie scoops, I’ll grab the coconut? 😉 I simply can’t wait to hear what you think of this recipe. It’s truly such a joy to share in these kitchen adventures with you. I hope you and your loved ones have a ball making and eating this recipe. ‘Til next time…
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
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If you enjoyed this Chewy Paleo Coconut Cookies recipe, then you’ll just love these coconut & healthy paleo dessert recipes:
Paleo Vegan Coconut Dessert Recipes
- Paleo Apple Pecan Coconut Crisp
- Paleo Vegan Almond Joy Ice Cream | Sweet ‘n Salty Nut Clusters Recipe (coconut-free, but I had to include this one!)
- Paleo Chocolate Coconut Macaroons Recipe
- Lemon Coconut Macaroons and Ultimate Paleo Vegan Fudgy Brownies, just for fun. 😉
- 2 ½ cups large, unsweetened coconut flakes – make sure to use LARGE flakes*
- ½ cup finely ground, blanched almond flour
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons coconut oil, solid**
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or greased foil. Set aside.
- Add all ingredients (coconut, almond flour, oil and maple syrup) to a food processor. You must use large coconut flakes to ensure flat cookies. If you use small coconut flakes, the cookies will not spread.
- Blend until you get a thick and sticky mixture that holds together, with smaller, but still noticeable coconut pieces. If any maple syrup remains at the bottom of the processor, fold into dough until well mixed.
- Using a cookie scoop, scoop firmly packed balls of coconut mixture. Drop onto the prepared baking sheet, making sure to space balls evenly apart--they will spread quite a bit.
- Bake for 12-16 mins, until golden brown around the edges and slightly golden on top. Mine took 15 mins for large cookies. Place baking sheet onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 30 mins-1 hour. Enjoy! Storing instructions below.
Adapted from my Paleo Vegan Coconut Macaroons.
Try my Paleo Apple Pecan Coconut Crisp and my Lemon Coconut Macaroons.
- **Solid coconut oil is best for this recipe.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month at room temperature. If freezing, store in an airtight, freezer-friendly container for up to 2 months. Allow to thaw for 15 minutes before enjoying.
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SHOP THE RECIPE
Here are a few items I used in today’s recipe. 🙂
Food Processor | Large Coconut Flakes | 2-Tablespoon Cookie Scoop | Maple Syrup | Coconut Oil | Blanched Almond Flour | Cookie Sheet | Unbleached Parchment Paper | Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
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Those browned crisp edges just look so delicious! I wish I had a whole batch of these sitting in front of me right now 🙂
The edges are the best part! 😋 Wish I could send you some through the computer Danielle!
Coconut cookies are a delicious treat, and these sound perfect with the chewy middle and crispy bits. So easy to make, a great recipe to keep handy.
They most definitely are! 😊 Chewy and crispy, the best combo!
These cookies sound delicious and I love that they are so simple with only a few ingredients!
Oh yes, easy to make and soo satisfying! 😋
Ah Demeter, what a really lovely tribute to your Mum. These cookies look amazing and I will happily make them and wish your Mum a very happy birthday while doing so. Have a lovely day together Xxx
Thanks Michelle! 😊 I hope you enjoy these as much as she does!
These look absolutely amazing! I love coconut as a flavour and I don’t think it is used in cookies often enough. Delicious.
Agreed! Coconut in cookies is seriously the best!
Happy Birthday to Popo!!! I prefer Popo 🙂
My favorite husband likes this type of cookie, so a trip to the store for “large” coconut flakes is the order for today. Wish me luck!
Next the vegan oatmeal chocolate chip ones are on the docket.
Hi Jackie!! For some reason, your comment totally touched me. 🙂 I’m gonna show it to Popo! Wishing you luck! Can’t wait to hear what you think of both cookies.
Love this recipe! So simple and healthy. And I just love anything coconut!
Thanks Jamielyn!!! Coconut is such an amazing ingredient! 🙂
Chewy cookies are my favorite. I love the coconut in there.
Right?!? Something about the chewy texture is so satisfying!
I love coconut flavored anything! These look so amazing!!
Yeah!!! Thanks Amanda!
These cookies look amazing — and I can’t believe how healthy these actually are!
Thanks Dee! It’s one of my fave things in the world to create guilt free treats! 🙂
I definitely need to try these cookies! Looks so delicious!
Yeah ya do!! Thanks Toni!
Hi! These look great. Hof much is ‘a cup’.
I want to Make these Today!
Hi Liesbeth! For the coconut, 1 cup is about 50 grams. Not sure about the other ingredients’ measurements in grams. I’m just starting to gather info for grams vs cups. 🙂
I am such a fan of coconut and these cookies are making my mouth water!
Yay!!! You’ll just love these! 🙂
These sound delicious! Dangerously good…
You got that right Erin! 😉😊
These look amazing!!! Cant wait to try them! Will the regular coconut flakes work? That’s all I have in my pantry.
Thanks Fedarica! If your regular coconut flakes are large, you’ll get flat cookies. If they’re small (like sprinkle-sized), you’ll get macaroons. Enjoy!
Help…mine completely flattened out. Ended up like lace cookies. And very oily. I used solid coco oil!
Hi Alison! Did you pack your cookie scoop full of the dough, for tight, round balls of dough? That might be the issue… otherwise, it sounds like there wasn’t enough coconut or too much oil. Hope this helps! Xo
Happy Birthday Popo! Guess who just bought large coconut flakes last week?! 🙋🏻♀️ I’m think my daddy would loves these for Thanksgiving!
Thanks Kami!! You did!! Hehe. 😉 Hoping that you and your dad love these!!
Can I substitute something else for the almond flour – I’m allergic….
Hi Tomi, you might be able to swap the almond flour with 1/4 cup to 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons gluten free oat flour. Not 100% sure how they’d turn out since I haven’t tried it. Good luck! 🙂
Can I replace the pure maple syrup with regular pancake syrup? That is all I have. Will it ruin the flavor?
Hi Derek! Pancake syrup won’t work, but you could use honey, agave, or brown rice syrup. Hope this helps!
Would it work to use coconut flour in place of the almond flour?
Hi Amy! I haven’t tried it myself, but a few readers have made that swap with good results. I’d say try reducing the amount by 1-2 tablespoons and see how that goes first. Let me know how they turn out!
Is there a food substitute for almond flour? I’m allergic but these look amazing !
Hi Rikki! The closest match would be cashew flour. Enjoy!