These easy vegan coconut macaroons are easy to make with just 4 simple ingredients. Perfect for Christmas or anytime of year!

Stack of 3 coconut macaroons sitting on a cooling rack.

Features

  • easy to make with just 4 simple ingredients needed
  • vegan and gluten-free
  • the perfect addition to a Christmas goodie tray (but totally acceptable anytime of year, of course!)
  • can be made sugar-free

Ingredient Notes

Coconut, cashews, dates and chocolates in bowls, labelled with Coconut, cashews, dates and chocolates in bowls, labelled with text overlay. overlay.
  • shredded coconut – use fine or medium unsweetened shredded coconut, may be labelled desiccated coconut
  • dates – any variety works but I like medjool best in this recipe – they’re so sweet and caramelly, they sweeten the recipe beautifully
  • raw cashews – use plain, raw cashews with no added oil or salt
  • chocolate – use dairy-free chocolate chips or dark chocolate, recipe can be made sugar-free if use sugar-free chocolate chips such as stevia-sweetened Lily’s

Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located in the recipe card below.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1. Soak the dates (pitted) in hot water for 15 minutes then drain well. It’s fine to leave them wet just make sure any excess water has been drained off.

Pitted medjool dates soaking in a bowl of water.

Step 2. While the dates are soaking, add the cashews to a food processor and blend into a coarse, grainy flour.

Cashews blended into flour in a food processor.

Step 3. Add the coconut to the food processor and process until the mixture starts to get a bit chunky, oily and almost paste-like. This may take a few minutes.

Make sure you reach this consistency as the oils from the cashew and coconut are what bind the macaroons together.

Cashews and shredded coconut blended into a crumbly dough in a food processor.

Step 4. Add the sea salt, vanilla (if using) and drained dates and blend for a bit until the mixture is completely combined. It should be oily but somewhat sticky.

Crumbly dough made of dates, coconut and cashews in a food processor.

Step 5. Line a baking tray with parchment paper then use a small, approximately 1.5 inch cookie scoop to create 15 macaroons. If you don’t have a scoop, you can use your hands to shape 1.5-2 inch domes.

Bake the macaroons for 12 minutes then let cool on the pan for at least 30 minutes.

They will be soft and fragile when they come out of the oven, so resist handling them until they’ve firmed up for at least a half hour.

Ice cream scoop with macaroon dough in it on a baking tray of macaroons.
Baked coconut macaroons on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Step 7. When you’re ready, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave in 15-second increments until smooth and creamy, taking care not to burn it.

Quick Tip: If using the microwave, melt in two or three 15-second increments, giving it a quick stir in between, then just stir to melt in any remaining chunks. This will prevent burning the chocolate.

Melted chocolate in a glass mixing bowl with a spatula.

Step 8. Press each macaroons into the melted chocolate so the chocolate reaches up the sides a bit. Place them back on the baking tray once dipped in chocolate.

Hand dipping a coconut macaroon into a bowl of melted chocolate.
Chocolate dipped macaroons on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Place them in the fridge for 20-30 minutes until the chocolate has hardened. Enjoy!

Close up of a coconut macaroon with a bite taken out of it sitting on a cooling rack.

Notes and Tips

  • Low-Sugar/Sugar-Free Options: For low-sugar macaroons, use 70-90% dark chocolate instead of chocolate chips. For sugar-free macaroons, use sugar-free chocolate of choice, such as Lily’s.
  • Cashews: This recipe works best with cashews and I do not recommend substituting them.
  • Decoration: Drizzle any extra melted chocolate over the macaroons then sprinkle with shredded coconut.
Stack of a few chocolate-dipped macaroons on a small plate, one on top has bite out of it.

Storing

  • Fridge (Recommended): Store in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.
  • Freezer: Store in a sealed container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
  • Room Temperature: They’re ok for sometime at room temperature but if it’s warm out, the chocolate will start to melt. I recommend storing in the fridge until shortly before serving.

Did you try this recipe?
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Stack of 3 coconut macaroons sitting on a cooling rack.

Vegan Coconut Macaroons

  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 12 mins
  • Total Time: 42 minutes
  • Yield: 15
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

Beautiful and incredibly delicious, vegan coconut macaroons that are easy to make with just 4 simple ingredients! These lovely sweet treats are perfect for the holidays or anytime of year.


Ingredients


Instructions

  1. Place the pitted dates in a bowl and cover with hot water. Soak for at least 15 minutes then drain well, shaking off any excess water.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  3. Place the cashews in a food processor and process for 30-45 seconds until broken down into a coarse, grainy flour. If there are a few larger peices left behind, that’s ok.
  4. Add the coconut and process until it starts to become a bit oil and almost paste-like. You should start to see bits of paste sticking to the side of the food processor. This might take a few minutes.
  5. Add the soaked dates, sea salt and vanilla (if using) and process until completely combined. The mixture should be oily but somewhat sticky.
  6. Line a baking tray with parchment paper then use an approximately 1 to 1.5-inch cookie scoop to create each macaroon. If you don’t have a scoop, you can use your hands to shape the dough into little domes. You should get 15-16 macaroons.
  7. Bake for 12 minutes then remove from the oven and let cool on the pan for at least 30 minutes. They will be soft and fragile when you take them out of the oven so don’t handle them until they’ve firmed up for at least 30 minutes.
  8. When you’re ready, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave in 15-second increments (stir between each increment) until completely smooth and creamy. 
  9. Press the bottom of each macaroon into the melted chocolate so the chocolate coats the bottom and about 1/8th of an inch up the sides. Once you’ve coated them all, place the entire tray in the fridge for about 30 minutes to firm.
  10. Enjoy right away.

Notes

Storing: Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freezer for up to 3 months. I recommended keeping them in the fridge until just before serving as the chocolate may melt if gets warm. They can be stored at room temperature for up to 4 days if kept cool.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 180
  • Sugar: 6.2 g
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Carbohydrates: 11 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 3 g

Keywords: easy coconut macaroons, healthy coconut macaroons