Coconut Cookies Recipe

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Think of a cookie, think of long, tiring procedures to prepare it which may eventually demoralize you to actually make it at home. Well, not any more, as I’ve got an easy and flavorful Coconut Cookies recipe for you. These tasty Coconut Cookies are healthier too as they are made with whole wheat flour, jaggery, desiccated coconut and a few more ingredients.

coconut cookies served on a plate with text layovers.

About Coconut Cookies

This Coconut Cookies recipe is that fool proof way of preparing a batch of yummy vegan cookies that you can enjoy with your friends and family, just about any day of the year.

These literally get done within minutes, and the only time taking part is when the cookies are getting baked. So, a perfect sweet-snack for your festive occasions too.

Besides the main ingredients, whole wheat flour, desiccated coconut and jaggery, these Coconut Cookies are also aromatic and earthy because of the hints of cardamom and ginger in them. The cookies are slightly chewy from the outside, soft from within and sweet, but not overly.

A Coconut Cookies recipe that’s just about being oh-so-good! With these measurements, you can make about 12 Coconut Cookies. Double it to make more.

Also, given my love for this very versatile fruit called coconut, I’d like you to try more of my coconut recipes by following this collection of Coconut Recipes. It’s surely not going to disappoint you!

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Coconut Cookies

1. First, take 1 cup (120 grams) whole wheat flour and ¼ teaspoon baking soda in a mixing bowl.

whole wheat flour and basking soda added in a bowl.

2. With a spoon or spatula, mix very well. Also, preheat your oven to 180 degrees C/356 degrees F. The oven should be preheated 15 minutes before baking.

mixing the ingredients in the bowl.

3. Add 4 tablespoons coconut oil. You can also add 3 tablespoons coconut oil.

coconut oil added to the mixed ingredients in the bowl.

4. Lightly mix the oil with the flour. Instead of coconut oil, you can also use 4 tablespoons butter or ghee.

mixing the oil with the flour in the bowl.

5. Then, add ¼ cup desiccated coconut, 1 tablespoon fine sooji/semolina (optional), ½ teaspoon cardamom powder and ¼ teaspoon dried ginger powder (optional).

desiccated coconut, semolina, cardamom powder and dried ginger powder added to the flour mixture in the bowl.

6. Add ½ cup (85 grams) powdered or grated jaggery.

powdered jaggery added to the flour mixture in the bowl.

7. Mix everything well with your fingertips.

mixing the ingredients well with the fingertips.

8. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons water. Add the water in parts and start mixing with the dough. Depending on the quality of the flour and the jaggery, you may add less or more water.

The mixture should be able to come together and hold easily. I added 3 tablespoons water. You can also use coconut milk instead of water.

adding water to the flour mixture and mixing well.

9. Just mix together with your hands and gather to a dough.

mixing the ingredients to form a dough.

10. Don’t knead, lightly mix and form into a dough ball.

prepared cookie dough.

11. Grease a tray or pan well with 1 teaspoon coconut oil.

greased tray for baking coconut cookies.

Shape and Bake Coconut Cookies

12. Pinch small to medium sized balls from the dough and place on the greased tray.

small size dough balls on the greased tray.

13. Press one cashew or almond on each cookie and slightly flatten them while pressing the cashews.

cashews placed on each dough ball on the tray.

14. Don’t flatten too much. You can even skip the dry fruits and just flatten directly.

cashews placed on each dough ball on the tray.

15. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven at 180 degrees C/356 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes or till the tops become light golden. The cashews on the top will also become faintly golden.

Since oven temperatures vary, it may take less or more time. So, keep a check. For convection ovens, use the preheating and baking temperature of 170 degrees C/338 degrees F.

baked coconut cookies on the tray.

16. Once baked, after 2 to 3 minutes, remove them from the tray and keep on a wire rack for cooling. Use a flat spatula for removing the cookies from the tray.

You may see some jaggery melted and browned at the base of some cookies. Don’t worry. Just lift the cookies with a flat spatula.

baked coconut cookies kept on a wire rack for cooling.

17. When cooled to room temperature, store them in an air tight jar. Serve eggless Coconut Cookies during tea time.

coconut cookies served on a plate.

Expert Tips

  1. Desiccated coconut in this Coconut Cookies recipe can be replaced by fresh grated coconut. Roast/toast (don’t brown) to reduce moisture before using it in the recipe.
  2. For the fats, you can use any other odorless and flavorless oil, butter or ghee (clarified butter) instead of coconut oil.
  3. Instead of water, you can use coconut milk or any plant based milk in the cookie dough.
  4. You can skip topping the cookies with cashews or even top with almonds or your choice of nuts.
  5. To bake the cookies in a convection oven, preheat the oven at 170 degrees C/338 degrees F.
  6. After baking, cool the cookies to room temperature and then store in an airtight container or jar.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe with fresh coconut?

Yes, you can make these cookies with ⅓ cup fresh coconut. Just toast or roast it till the moisture is reduced and then use it. You don’t have to brown it.

How should I bake these cookies in an OTG?

If you have an OTG, use the ‘toast mode’ in which both the top and bottom heating elements are on.

Can jaggery be replaced with brown sugar?

Yes, you can. Use about ⅓ to ½ cup of it. You can even use palm sugar or coconut sugar. Also please do not use white granulated sugar. Instead you can use confectioner’s sugar or powdered sugar adding as required with the sweetness you prefer in the cookies.

Why did my cookies turn hard?

The hardness in the cookies might be due to overbaking. Try again by baking for a lesser time on a slightly lower temperature.

Can I skip adding baking soda in this recipe?

No, you cannot.

What can I use in place of desiccated coconut in this recipe?

You can use fresh coconut, dry fruit powders like cashew powder, pistachio powder, almond powder or also finely chopped nuts.

Can I make these cookies with any other vegetable oil?

Yes, you can. But it is always better to use coconut oil as it gives a unique aroma to the cookies.

More Cookie Recipe To Try!

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coconut cookies served on a plate.

Coconut Cookies Recipe

Easy and flavorful Coconut Cookies that are healthier too as these are made with whole wheat flour, jaggery, desiccated coconut and a few more ingredients.
4.87 from 22 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine World
Course Snacks
Diet Vegan
Difficulty Level Easy
Servings 12 Coconut Cookies
Units

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour – 120 grams
  • ¼ cup desiccated coconut
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda or baking powder
  • 4 tablespoons coconut oil – you can also use 3 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon sooji – fine variety (rava or cream of wheat), optional
  • ½ teaspoon cardamom powder or 4 to 5 green cardamoms – crushed in mortar-pestle
  • ¼ teaspoon dry ginger powder – optional
  • ½ cup jaggery powder (organic) or grated/chopped jaggery – 85 grams or add as needed. Swap jaggery with brown sugar, confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar) or coconut sugar or palm sugar adding as needed.
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons water or coconut milk, add as required

Instructions
 

Making cookie dough

  • First take the whole wheat flour and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Stir to mix evenly.
  • With a spoon or spatula mix very well. Also preheat your oven to 180 degrees C/356 degrees F.
  • Add coconut oil to the flour and baking soda mixture in the bowl.
  • Lightly mix the oil with the flour. Instead of coconut oil, you can also use 4 tablespoons of butter or ghee.
  • Next add fine-textured sooji (optional), cardamom powder and dry ginger powder (optional).
  • Add the powdered or grated jaggery. Instead of jaggery you can also use brown sugar or confectioner's sugar or palm sugar or coconut sugar.
  • Mix everything well with your fingertips.
  • Add 2 to 3 tablespoons water. Add the water in parts and start mixing with the dough.
    Depending on the type of flour, you may add less or even more water. I added 3 tablespoons of water. You can also use coconut milk instead of water.
  • Just mix the cookie ingredients together with your hands and gather to a dough. Don't knead. Lightly mix and form into a dough ball.

Making coconut cookies

  • Pinch small to medium sized balls from the dough and place on a greased tray.
  • Press one cashew-halve or almond on each cookie and slightly flatten them while pressing the cashews.
    Don't flatten too much. You can even skip the nuts and simply flatten directly.
  • Bake the cookies in the preheated oven at 180 degrees C/356 degrees F for 20 to 25 mins till the tops become light golden. The cashews on the top will also become faintly golden. 
  • Since oven temperatures vary, it may takes less or more time. So do keep a check. For convection ovens use the pre heating and baking temperature of 170 degrees C/338 degrees F.
  • Once baked, after 2 to 3 minutes, remove them from the tray and keep on a wire rack for cooling. Use a flat spatula for removing the cookies from the tray.
  • When cooled at room temperature, store them in an air-tight jar. Serve eggless coconut cookies as a tea time cookie.

Notes

  • Instead of water you can use light coconut milk (thin coconut milk) or any plant based milk. 
  • Opt to use grated fresh coconut if you prefer. But roast/toast for a few minutes on a skillet or pan, until the moisture is reduced. Remember not to brown the coconut.
  • You can also double the recipe to make a big batch of these coconut cookies.
  • For a non plant based recipe, use unsalted butter or ghee for the fat. You can also use milk instead of coconut milk.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Coconut Cookies Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 116 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 24mg1%
Potassium 50mg1%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 1IU0%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg5%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Vitamin K 1µg1%
Calcium 7mg1%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 7µg2%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 16mg4%
Phosphorus 41mg4%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Coconut Cookies recipe post from the blog archives first published in November 2015 has been republished and updated on 30 Jun 2022.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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83 Comments

    1. add around 1 cup of salt or sand in the cooker. keep on sim. place a heat proof rack inside the cooker. grease a baking pan/tray well with oil or butter. place the cookies on the pan. keep the pan on top of the rack inside the cooker. remove the gasket/rubber ring from the cooker’s lid. also remove the whistle from the lid. close the cooker tightly with the lid. cook on sim or low till the cookies are done. the same salt or sand can be used again while baking something else in the cooker.

      i cannot tell the time as you will have to keep a check. but i think it should be done in 20 minutes. please use a 5 to 6 litre thick bottomed steel or aluminium cooker. please don’t use a nonstick one. and once you use the cooker for baking, only use it for baking. avoid using it for steaming or pressure cooking any thing else like rice, dal or veggies. you can even bake cakes and breads in cooker this way. i have also made pav in the cooker. will share the method in some time.

      1. O thank u very muchhh a big explanation for a new baking person like me. I ll try. Again thank u once…

        1. Mam I m interested in baking because of u great guru. Can u pls let me know which oven can buy and can u say model which is gd fr health . bcos sum people say tat microwave is nt gd fr health so pls guide me mam

        2. thanks a lot loge. for baking a regular oven, which we call as OTG in india is good. the baking is more even in an OTG. i was using a philips oven and it was good. but this model is no longer available. i have not used any other brand, so cannot say how they are. you can check online reviews on OTG and then consider what suits your budget and then buy.

  1. It came out super….Thanks very much for this recipe. ..I don’t have a oven at home..I tried it in cooker. It came out very well…5 stars

  2. Hi Dasanna,

    Can I use Palm jaggery/ Palm sugar instead of regular jaggery.

  3. Hi dassana,
    I am a big fan of your blog. You have a very inspiring method of cooking. I am planning to add an oven to my kitchen. Could you please suggest the best oven for baking.5 stars

    1. the best oven for baking is an OTG. don’t buy convection ovens. convection ovens have fans inside, which makes the baking speed up. OTG is best for even baking. i use philips oven. the model which i have is no longer in stock. i have not used any other oven, so cannot say which oven is good. you can read online reviews and buy the oven.

  4. Can you substitute brown sugar for jaggery? If so, how much brown sugar to the 1/2 cup of jaggery?

    1. yes brown sugar can be used. you will need to add a bit more of water or coconut milk to bind, since jaggery has more moisture content than brown sugar. 1/3 cup of brown sugar will make them just about sweet and 1/2 cup can make slightly more sweet. so you can add between 1/3 to 1/2 cup of brown sugar.