Soft, chewy, and flavorful Coconut-Oatmeal Cookies are a fun twist on traditional oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. We use flaked sweetened coconut and dark brown sugar for an ultra-rich flavor.
Some other favorite cookie recipes: chewy chocolate chip cookies, snickerdoodles, and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies.
The Best Coconut Oatmeal Cookies
Coconut is one of my favorite ingredients to add into recipes — sweet (coconut thumbprint cookies) OR savory (coconut curry chicken) so it’s about time I add it into my favorite cookie recipe. I love plain oatmeal cookies a ridiculous amount, but the coconut in these cookies takes them over the top!
While the coconut addition is subtle, it adds a great texture and mild sweetness. With melty chocolate, a rich brown sugar flavor, crisp edges, and chewy centers — these cookies might be my new favorite!
Ingredients
- Butter: Adds richness and moisture, contributing to a tender texture.
- Brown Sugar: Provides sweetness, moisture, and a caramel flavor.
- Egg: Binds the ingredients and enhances chewiness.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor of coconut oatmeal cookies.
- Baking Soda: Leavens the cookies, aiding in rise and spread.
- Old Fashioned Oats: Adds chewiness and a nutty flavor.
- Flour: Provides structure to the cookies.
- Shredded Coconut: Adds sweetness and texture.
- Chocolate Chips: The main flavor component, adding sweetness and richness.
Quick Tip
Can I use quick oats in these cookies? I don’t recommend quick oats for these cookies. They’re finer, making the cookies drier and cake-like instead of adding texture. Old-fashioned oats are better for the desired texture in Coconut-Oatmeal Cookies.
How To Make Coconut Oatmeal Cookies
- Cream Together: Unsalted butter and dark brown sugar.
- Mix In: Egg and vanilla extract.
- Combine: Baking soda, sea salt, oats, flour, and shredded coconut, and add to the wet mixture.
- Fold In: Chocolate chips.
- Shape and Chill: Dough into balls and chill for 30 minutes.
- Bake: At 350°F for 9-13 minutes until edges are lightly browned.
- Cool: On a baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack.
Storage
Storing Coconut Oatmeal Cookies
Freeze Baked Cookies: Cool, freeze on a sheet until solid, then store in freezer bags or containers with parchment layers for up to 3 months. Freezing may alter texture.
Freeze Dough Balls: Freeze on a sheet, then transfer to freezer bags. Bake from frozen, adding 2-3 extra minutes.
Store Baked Cookies: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature, best if eaten within 4 days.
More Cookie Recipes
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup dark brown sugar (light works, but dark is best!)
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons white all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 cup chocolate chips (we like milk, but semi-sweet or dark work well too)
Instructions
- BUTTER AND SUGARS: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or use a large bowl and a hand mixer), add the room temperature butter (not melted, not softened) and dark brown sugar. Beat at medium speed until light in color, about 1-2 minutes. Add in the egg and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 more minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- BAKING AGENTS: Add in the baking soda and fine sea salt. Mix until just combined, about 20 seconds.
- FLOUR, OATS, AND COCONUT: Add in the oats, flour, and coconut. Mix until just combined, about 30 seconds.
- CHOCOLATE CHIPS: Add in the chocolate chips and mix until ingredients are JUST combined. Do not overmix or overbeat. Overworking the dough will result in dense cookies.
- SHAPE TALL COOKIE BALLS: Shape the cookie dough into balls about 2 and 1/2 tablespoons of dough (if you have a food scale: 49 grams; 1.7 ounces). Roll the balls higher instead of wider (see photo in post). Place them on a plate lined with parchment paper and cover gently with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes and preferably 45 minutes to an hour. If you're in a rush, freeze the dough balls for about 25-30 minutes.
- BAKE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with Silpat liners (very important that the trays are lined, so the cookies don't burn on the bottom). Place 6 cookie dough balls per sheet pan (they spread a lot!), spacing them with plenty of room to spread. Bake for 9 to 13 minutes (mine always take around 11 minutes), remembering they're best slightly under-baked. They should look ever-so-slightly gooey in the center (they harden a bit as they cool) and should be lightly browned around the edges. Remove from the oven and let stand on the cookie sheet for 5-10 more minutes to firm up enough to remove to a wire cooling rack. Right out of the oven you can press a few more chocolate chips in the tops of the cookies if desired (makes them look better and ensures chocolate in every bite!).
- COOL AND ENJOY: Let cookies fully cool and set up before eating; they firm up a lot as they cool! Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Cookies are best when eaten within 2-3 days.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These are my go to cookie recipe. I love these so much. They are soft, chewy, so yummy. Just cook a little longer if you like crispy. Delicious!!
Yay! I am thrilled to hear this! Thanks Laurie! 🙂
Genuinely the best cookies I have ever made!!!
So thrilled to hear that! 🙂
These cookies are the most incredible I have ever had. They look like store bought cookies.
So thrilled to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂
These cookies were unbearably sweet and too thin for my liking
I’m sorry these weren’t what you were hoping for.
Since this pandemic hit, I’ve been making cookies for our 3 children, 6 grandchildren. We deliver them to each family, leave the cookies at the door and see our grandchildren! This was one of the winning, make again cookies! Thank you
What a sweet new tradition! I’m so happy to hear you guys loved these cookies! Thanks! 🙂
I’m still waiting for the dough to set up in the fridge…I’m lucky there was enough left to actually bake 😉 Can’t to try them when they are done!
Haha! Isn’t the dough delicious?! Hope you love these cookies baked too 🙂
These are now my favorite cookies. I will emerge from my home a cookie monster, and these are the cookies that I will take with me into the world. They’re everything I love in a cookie. (I replaced some of the chocolate chips with crushed pecans.)
Haha, I’m so happy to hear this! Thanks so much for taking the time to write this awesome comment! 🙂
I made this recipe today. I did not have a stand mixer or hand mixer, so I just mixed with a spoon. I used light brown sugar, cut the chocolate chips in half and added chopped walnuts. Everything still came out pretty good. I managed to get the crispy outer texture and the dense, chewy inner texture, so I think it’s a win!
Yay! I’m so happy you were able to make these work and loved them! Thanks so much for your comment Dana! 🙂
These cookies are fantastic. Having to pull out the stand mixer and food processor are soooo worth it. Fantastic cookies!! You won’t be disappointed making these!!
Thanks so much for your comment! So glad you loved these! 🙂
We LOVED these cookies!!!
I made these today, and used dark
chocolate chunks, unsweetened
coconut and added some walnuts.
Also substituted 1/2 cup of whole
wheat flour. They are fabulous!!!
Delish! I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks Liz! 🙂
New family favorite!!! Loved these!