Christmas Coconut Balls (VIDEO)
These chocolate coconut balls are an easy, no-bake treat. We love to dress them up as Christmas coconut candies which are the perfect addition to your holiday cookie platter.
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So many of our Christmas memories are made in the kitchen. If you love homemade holiday treats like cut-out Sugar Cookies, our Chocolate Crinkle Cookies or soft Snickerdoodle Cookies, then these Coconut Balls are sure to become a new favorite.
Coconut Balls Video Tutorial:
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Christmas Coconut Balls Recipe:
The ingredients here are simple and they come together fast. This is our festive holiday version, but you can make them for just about any holiday, changing the colors of the M&M’s (try pink and red for Valentine’s Day!).
The Best Coconut for Coconut Balls:
I highly recommend using desiccated, unsweetened coconut. Desiccated means it is finely ground so the coconut balls will hold together better. They are also dryer than flaked coconut which will work better in this recipe. Do not use coconut flour.
The Best Coconut Oil: Be sure your coconut oil is in solid form (not melted). It will make the coconut balls much easier to form. Using melted coconut oil would also require longer refrigeration.
Get this Scoop: Using a mini ice cream scoop is the easiest way to form and make these coconut balls. We use this scoop for everything from candy to cookies and even meatballs for soup.
These Christmas Coconut Balls are original and darling which makes them the perfect gift idea. It’s the best kind of homemade chocolate candy and they are melt-in-your-mouth good.
More Christmas Desserts:
Festive desserts make the holidays more merry and bright. These are our most popular Christmas desserts. Let me know if any of these grace your holiday table this year.
- Baklava – authentic, irresistible, and freezes well
- Cranberry Bundt Cake – topped with Sugared Cranberries
- Pomegranate Christmas Cake – a show-stopping cake
- Tiramisu Yule Log – this is a feast for the eyes
- Meringue Shell Cookies – laced with meringue
- Acorn Cookies – meringue cookie dipped in chocolate
Christmas Coconut Balls Recipe
Ingredients
For the Coconut Balls:
- 2 cups unsweetened coconut , (4 oz) desiccated coconut
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 5 Tbsp coconut oil (solid form, not melted), (1/3 cup)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Red and Green M&Ms, plus more to decorate
For the Coating & Topping:
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, melted
Instructions
How To Make Chocolate Coconut Balls:
- Pulse coconut in a food processor or blender until it is the consistency of bread crumbs then transfer to a bowl.
- Add 1/2 cup condensed milk, 5 Tbsp coconut oil, and 1 tsp vanilla. Stir until well combined then fold in 1/2 cup M&M's just until incorporated.
- Use a small cookie scoop to evenly portion balls and place onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roll balls between your hands to smooth the surface of the balls then refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips and 1 Tbsp coconut oil, heating in 15-second increments and stirring each time until chocolate melts (usually 45-60 seconds total in the microwave)
- Dip each ball in melted chocolate, allowing excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl. Transfer coconut balls to the parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm.
To Decorate as Christmas Coconut Balls:
- Melt 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (30-45 seconds total in the microwave), transfer to a ziploc bag, snip off a corner and drizzle each coconut ball with melted white chocolate and top with M&M's right away before white chocolate sets.
Nutrition Per Serving
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Quick question… You highly recommend using unsweetened, desiccated coconut. The recipe states 2 cups unsweetened coconut, (4 oz.) desiccated coconut. It’s a little confusing.
Hi Lori, its 4 ounces by weight or 2 cups measured out.
I had a really hard time with the white chocolate. It didn’t flow as easily as in your video, and dried up within seconds in the plastic bag. On the third try, I added coconut oil and that helped a bit. Otherwise, great recipe.
WOW – these taste EXACTLY like a Mounds or Almond Joy. I tried a blind taste test on a friend, and he chose your recipe over the brand name candy!! What a great, simple recipe. Made it without the M and M’s – sweet enough without them. These are definitely going on the “treats platter” we deliver on Christmas Day to first responders in our area who have to work that day.
That is great and it must be such a blessing to them. Thank you for using my recipe. I appreciate the feedback.
Hi Natasha, first time review for me. These were easy to make and delicious. I have tried many of your recipes and they are always great. By any chance do you have a recipe for chrustiki?
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Anna!
What would you suggest replacing the M & M’s with? Or could I just leave them out? I am thinking perhaps use a well dried maraschino cherry in the center of the snow ball and maybe making some with just the coconut centers then dipping in melted chocolate. Do you think it turn out Natasha?
Thank you for sharing your many tasty recipes.
Yvonne
Hi Yvonne, there is definitely room too experiment. You could leave them out or replace with something else.
Great for Christmas I going to make these coconut balls for Christmas
Thank you for sharing the recipe
You’re very welcome, Theresa. I hope everyone will love these coconut balls!
I love all your recipes and this one is a hit! May I ask where did you purchase the red sweater? Perfect!
Hi Lockye, that is a Tommy Hilfiger sweater that I found at Macy’s years ago.
Hey Natasha! Love your recipes! I was wondering if you think it would work to make these into cAke pops?
Hi Alya, you know I haven’t tried or thought of that, to be honest. I’m not sure they will hold together the same, but I would love to know how you like that if you happen to experiment.
Hi Natasha,
I am 11 years old and absolutely love cooking , it’s my passion , hobby. I would actually love some tips to make me a good future cook. I have really found your recipes inspiring. I would love , love, love it if you could help me along my cooking journey. I enjoy baking sweet treats more as it is a strong spot.
Thanks
Elissa
Aww! That’s so great, Elissa! I’m so glad you discovered my blog and have a passion for cooking! We post new recipes weekly and have informational newsletters that come out weekly also. You can subscribe by clicking About > Subscribe on the blog!
These were amazing, but one question, how do we store them and how long would they last in the fridge?
Hi Luna, you can store these coconut balls in an airtight container at either room temperature or in a refrigerator for a week.
Hey Natasha! I made these a couple days ado, they were gone in a blink of an eye. I subscribed to your channel too! I was rust wondering how many calories are in one coconut ball, because i am on a diet…. kinda.
Hi Sania, the nutrition label is per coconut ball (see the nutrition label at the bottom of the yellow highlighted print-friendly recipe section). I”m so happy you loved them!
Hi Natasha,
Do you think these would freeze well?
Thanks in advance,
Ala
Hi Ala, I haven’t tested freezing these. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Hello Natasha…my daughter and I made these for her girls scout project on zoom and it was a hit!…Thanks for a delicious recipe…
So great to hear that! Thank you for choosing to try this recipe.
Please post more kid friendly recipes.Thanks!
Thanks for your suggestion, Ambreen. Most of my recipes are kid-friendly and you can substitute also some recipes that has wine in it.
I have made this every Christmas for years and I love them so much. My favourite Christmas tradition and the very best recipe.
That is awesome!! Thank you for your great comments and feedback, Pamela.
Great recipe Natasha! It’s good to make with toddlers. I made half with m&ms and half with almonds inside. Tastes kind of like almond joy candy, but less sweeter. Thanks Natasha
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Lana!
These turned out amazing! It was also a fun and easy recipe to make with family. I will definitely make these again. Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
Hi Natasha
I have tried many of your recipes and they are always a hit !!! I just finished making these coconut balls and can’t wait to try them tomorrow. So easy to make and they look so festive! 😊
Happy holidays to you and your family !
I hope you love this recipe! Happy Holidays!
This Recipe is amazing. My whole family loved it, and now my sister is going to do it as well. Thank you Natasha! Merry Christmas to you!
You’re so welcome! I’m happy to hear that, Yana. Thanks for your great feedback.
I have a milk allergy and a diabetic loved one, looking for a substitute for condensed milk.
Hi Cyndee, I haven’t tested anything to substitute condensed milk. Possibly canned thick coconut milk and sugar – you might google that to see if there is a good dairy-free condensed milk substitute.
Love all your recipes. I make them all and they are tasty and come out perfect.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Diane! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
My youngest son doesn’t like coconut, what do you substitute for coconut?
Hi Blanca, I can’t say this will be the same without coconut since that is the main ingredient here. Suppose you find a substitution you like, I would love to know how you like it.
I am planning on making these for Christmas, if I have leftovers how would you store them, would they need to be refrigerated?
Hi Claudia, you can store these coconut balls in an airtight container at either room temperature or in a refrigerator for a week.
Hello Natasha
I would love to make the coconut balls for Christmas.
Please can you suggest a substitute for coconut oil.
Thank you
Hi Priya, I have not tried using any other oil to advise.
I would try it with butter, either salted or unsalted, for the dough portion, but keep the coconut oil for the dipping chocolate. I think they would also be good rolled in toasted coconut. You could tint the coconut pastel colors for a retro look.
Hi natahsa, how would you keep these, and for how long, thanks in advance?
I’ve made so many of your recipes and have never had a fail. Thank you!!!
That is so good to know, Linda. You can store these coconut balls in an airtight container in either room temperature or in a refrigerator for a week.
Can I use sweetened coconut instead ?
Hi Asiya, that may work, but it will be sweeter.
I wonder if anyone else has had trouble finding desiccated coconut? I can only find flakes.
Hi TG, we purchased it at our local grocery store. I would recommend asking an associate or trying another store.
Wondering if you can substitute almonds for the m&m candies
Hi Kris, I bet that could work! If you experiment, I would love to know how you like this recipe!
Now, this is my kind of candy! It looks absolutely heavenly!
Perfect, these are so good for Christmas. I hope you can try these coconut balls!
Made this for the family and it was a hit!
So geat to hear that, Katie! Thanks for sharing that with us.
Oh, wow. I’m drooling here. Definitely trying this, but I expect it’s going to be hard to share!
I hope this becomes a hit! Please let us know how it goes.
I tried making this and it tastes so good!! Would like to make more in one go, can you let me know how long these stay good? Thanks a lot for all your wonderful recipes!
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Alice! You can store these coconut balls in an airtight container in either room temperature or in a refrigerator for a week.
They are a wonderful dessert. I made them all through the year.
Hi natasha I am going to use unsweetened coconut and I don’t want to use condensed milk because it is so sweet so what we can replace it
Hello Judy, I haven’t tried any other substitute for condensed milk but I think it’s worth experimenting with. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
Wow! Super delicious! I love the crisp chocolate against the smooth coconut candy inside. I need to make a whole bunch of these for my Christmas Cookie and Candy Trays!!
These are the perfect treat during Christmas! I hope you love this recipe!