The gluten free coconut cookies are super simple thin and crispy drop cookies, and as addictive as potato chips. You can't stop at just one!
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Why you'll love this crispy coconut cookie recipe
Quite possibly my favorite cookies ever, these thin and crispy gluten free coconut cookies are as addictive as a bag of potato chips, and so, so easy to make. In other words: dangerous!
Sometimes a cookie this thin and crispy can be rather delicate (like oatmeal lace cookies), but these coconut cookies are somehow super crispy—but also durable enough to pack into cookie gift boxes and tins.
They're drop cookies, which translates to “super easy.” And when you make them with virgin coconut oil (that's the kind of coconut oil that's solid at room temperature), they're naturally dairy-free too.
Impossibly crispy, with tons of coconut flavor, and delicate lace edges, these cookies really are something special.
Tips for nailing this coconut cookies recipe
These easy, coconut crisp cookies are made in just one bowl with some basic gluten free baking ingredients. Here are some extra tips to make sure yours turn out perfect the first time:
Use the right type of coconut flakes
You might be most familiar with shredded coconut, which tastes quite flavorless to me, and is often presweetened. When I'm baking with coconut, like these cookies and our gluten free coconut macaroons, I prefer to bake with the unsweetened wide, thin, strips of coconut that you can toast really easily and taste and smell like fresh coconut.
I buy my coconut chips from lots of different sources: nuts.com, Trader Joe's, Bob's Red Mill (an affiliate link; shop around!). I toast them in big batches, store them in glass containers at room temperature, and then sprinkle them on everything!
Portion your cookie dough with a spring-loaded ice cream scoop.
Using a spring-loaded ice cream scoop provides uniform size cookies. The ideal size scoop here is a #40 scoop (affiliate link; shop around!), named for the number of scoops there are in a quart of ice cream, using that particular scoop. A #40 scoop holds about 1.5 teaspoons in volume.
Melt the coconut oil, and then allow it to cool
If your coconut oil is still hot to the touch when you add it to the cookie dough ingredients, your cookie dough will very oily and difficult to shape. If you've made this mistake, just chill the cookie dough until it appears less shiny, and more clumpy.
How to tell when these cookies are ready
Before we put these raw cookies in the oven, we press them into flat disks, so they spread just enough to form crispy, lacy edges. When they're done, they'll be light brown in the center, and darker brown and lacy at the edges. Perfect!
How to store your crispy coconut cookies
These cookies stay perfectly crispy in a sealed glass container at room temperature for at least a week. For longer storage, you can freeze them in a sealed freezer-safe container.
When you store them in the refrigerator or freezer, they may lose some crispiness, but not a ton. If you've baked your cookies for about 10 minutes or until they're more pale in color, they'll be a little fragile on the edges.
Gluten free coconut cookies: ingredients and substitutions
Dairy free, gluten free crispy coconut cookies
When you make these crispy coconut cookies with virgin coconut oil (that’s the kind of coconut oil that’s solid at room temperature), they’re naturally dairy-free, so you don't have to tweak the recipe at all.
Egg free, gluten free crispy coconut cookies
You absolutely do need the one egg for this coconut cookie recipe or they just won’t hold together. But since it is just the one egg, I bet a chia egg (1 tablespoon ground white chia seeds + 1 tablespoon lukewarm water, mixed and allowed to gel).
Vegan, gluten free crispy coconut cookies
If you follow the instructions for making this recipe without the egg, that's all you need to change to make this recipe vegan. Just watch to ensure your sugars are vegan, too.
Crispy coconut cookie variations
Try topping these crispy cookies with a bit of melted chocolate mixed with a touch of coconut oil for shine. Or instead of topping the raw disks of dough with more coconut flakes, sprinkle with a few miniature chocolate chips.
FAQs
Can I use sweetened coconut in this flourless coconut cookies recipe?
No, this recipe must be made with the wide, flat coconut flakes that I've only seen sold unsweetened. If those sorts of coconut pieces are sweetened, they've probably been baked with additional ingredients into a separate snack, and they're not right for this recipe.
Can I use coconut flour in this crunchy coconut cookie recipe?
No, this recipe isn't designed to be made with coconut flour, and coconut flour is not a substitute for an all purpose gluten free flour.
What kind of coconut oil do I use in this recipe?
This recipe is made with the kind of coconut oil that's solid at cool room temperature. In the jar on the shelf, the oil is white. It's often called “virgin” coconut oil, but can sometimes carry a different name.
How should I melt the coconut oil for this coconut crisp cookie recipe?
I usually melt the coconut oil in the microwave, in short bursts at reduced power, until it's all liquified. You can also melt it in a double boiler, and in a pinch in a saucepan, but it will liquify very quickly so pay close attention!
Then be sure to allow it to cool until it's no longer hot to the touch before adding it the rest of the ingredients. It won't solidify that quickly.
Can I make these crispy coconut cookies without coconut oil?
Yes! You can replace the virgin coconut oil, gram for gram by weight, with Spectrum brand nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening, or even unsalted butter.
The butter will make somewhat less crispy cookies, but they're still delicious because butter is delicious. Be mindful that using butter means your cookies are no longer dairy free, in case that's important to anyone who will be eating them!
Why aren't my coconut cookies crispy?
Did you use too much gf flour? Not enough coconut oil? Did you flatten the mounds of cookie dough before baking? Did you bake them long enough? All of these issues can prevent your cookies from crisping.
How do I shape cookie dough that's too sticky?
Cookie dough that's too sticky to handle can be chilled in the refrigerator a bit to help it firm up a bit first.
How to make deliciously crispy coconut cookies
Thin & Crispy Gluten Free Coconut Cookies [Dairy Free Too]
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ cups (90 g) unsweetened coconut flakes (chips)
- 1 ¼ cups (175 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend (I used Better Batter)
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (109 g) packed light brown sugar
- 10 tablespoons (140 g) virgin coconut oil melted and cooled
- 1 (50 g (weighed out of shell)) egg at room temperature, beaten
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Toast the coconut.
- Preheat your oven to 300°F.
- On one baking sheet, place the coconut flakes in a single layer and place in the center of the preheated oven. Bake for 5 minutes, or until beginning to brown on the edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool until no longer hot to the touch. Crush the toasted coconut chips into smaller pieces in your hands.
- The coconut can be toasted weeks ahead of time and stored at room temperature in sealed glass containers.
Make the cookie dough.
- Raise the oven temperature to 350°F. Line rimmed baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper and set them aside.
- In a large bowl, place the flour blend, xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and granulated sugar, and whisk to combine well. Add the brown sugar, break up any lumps and mix to combine.
- Remove about 10 grams of the crushed toasted coconut chips and set them aside. Add the remaining coconut chips to the large bowl, and mix to combine.
- Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the melted coconut oil, beaten egg, and vanilla, and mix to combine completely.
- The cookie dough will be sort of greasy, but should be clumpy. If it's super soft, your coconut oil was too warm. No worries, just refrigerate it for a few minutes until it begins to firm up.
- Using a spring-loaded ice cream scoop or two small spoons, and scoop out cookie dough in pieces that are about 1.5 teaspoonsful each. Pack the cookie dough into the disher, if you're using one, to create a packed round of dough.
- Drop the mounds of cookie dough on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart from one another.
- With moistened fingers, press each piece of dough into a disk about 1/2-inch thick. Sprinkle the tops lightly in the center with a few of the remaining crushed toasted coconut chips.
- Place the baking sheets, one at a time, in the center of the 350°F oven. Bake until the cookies are lightly golden brown in the center and slightly darker brown around the edges (about 10 minutes for more pale cookies; 12 for darker cookies)
- Remove the cookies from the oven and allow to cool until set on the baking sheet. Don't attempt to move them until they've set or they'll fall apart.
- They will firm up within about 5 minutes. Store cooled cookies in a sealed glass container at room temperature for up to a week.
Notes
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Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that aren’t good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” just isn’t good enough! Come visit my bio!
Lorrie says
These are scrumptious! Once they were completely cooled, the flavor kicked in even more. Can’t eat just one certainly describes this tasty treat! Thank you, Nicole!!
Becky Mowe says
Can I freeze the dough in preformed cookies, and bake at my convenience?
Nicole Hunn says
I don’t recommend that with this recipe, no, Becky, since coconut oil doesn’t do well being frozen and baked from frozen or even defrosted and then baked. They’ll spread too much.
Cindy Tanfield says
Can I use stevia sweetener instead of granulated sugar and brown sugar?
Nicole Hunn says
I haven’t tried this recipe with alternative sweeteners, Cindy, but you might try Lankato brand monkfruit granulated and brown sugar sweeteners.
Anna says
Fantastic, I and gonna gain five pounds! Very crunchy, I love crunchy and easy to make. The only thing I changed is I used all coconut sugar. Came out great!
Meri Schroeder says
I love just about anything coconut and crunchy, and these cookies didn’t disappoint. Mine were more spreadable than yours, but that was OK. I took them to an after cycling party and everyone loved them. There was only one left. The taste is just soooo good!
Nicole Hunn says
So glad you enjoyed them, Meri. If you’re a fan of crunchy coconut, then this is definitely the cookie for you!
Kathy says
These cookies are excellent! Delicious, slightly chewy, coconut Ty, and easy to make. I will make these again.
Nicole Hunn says
So glad you’re enjoying them, Kathy! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Debra says
I made this recipe for the first time this evening after admiring it for several days. These are buttery and delicious while warm. I’m sure they’ll be crispier when cool, but I didn’t wait that long.
Huge thanks, Nicole, for making it possible to have fabulous treats, now that I can’t have gluten in my diet. Your recipes are a gift. So excited to share these with family and friends!
Nicole Hunn says
That’s so wonderful to hear, Debra! I’m so happy you’re finding success, and seem to be feeling a sense of confidence and possibility. I promise there’s nothing out of reach. ❤️
Marilyn says
Is there a way to get your recipes and recommendations without so many advertisements? Thanks.
Nicole Hunn says
Marilyn, the recipes, recommendations, and hard work are free to you with advertisements. They’re how I get paid. I do have a completely ad-free member’s area where you’ll find many of my recipes (working on adding all of them) in shorter form, deep dive courses on how to bake gluten free, and more access to me, but there’s a monthly fee. It was presented to you in emails when you signed up for my free newsletter, but you didn’t choose to participate, which is absolutely fine! But we all should get paid for our hard work, and I’m no exception.
janie says
Do you ever use coconut or almond flour? I can’t have rice or potato flour
Nicole Hunn says
No, you can’t ever use coconut flour or almond flour in place of an all purpose gluten free flour, Janie. You need recipes that are developed specifically to be made with those flours. Try my Paleo recipes! Just use the search function or see the “All Recipes” menu and click on the “Paleo” category.
Terry K says
Wonderful cookies. I wanted a sweet for so long. These 🍪are the best. I used golden monk fruit instead of the sugars you have recommended. Ty
Nicole Hunn says
So glad your sugar substitute worked well, Terry! Monkfruit is a good one.
Linda Bunker says
Would this recipe work equally as well with regular flour minus the xantham gum?
Nicole Hunn says
I honestly don’t know, Linda! I would suggest you refer to the original recipe, the one from which I adapted this as it was a conventional recipe made with conventional flour, but I changed the recipe quite a bit. I guess it’s worth experimenting!
Joyce Borgelt says
I only have sweetened coconut in my pantry right now. Can I use that.? One cup seems to weigh more than 90 gr.
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Joyce, 1 cup of coconut chips actually weighs 80 grams. The recipe calls for a total of 1 cup + 2 tablespoons, which weighs 90 grams. The weight measurement is indeed accurate. I haven’t tested the recipe with sweetened coconut, and it sounds like you have shredded coconut, not chips. I don’t recommend using your sweetened shredded coconut, I’m afraid.
Joyce Borgelt says
Thank you! Hubby is picking up right coconut now!
Karen says
What does the note about the butter mean (1:1)?
Anneke says
1:1 means equal, so in this case, you could replace coconut oil with an equal amount of butter.
Therese says
Do these freeze well?
Nicole Hunn says
They sure do, Therese!
Ginger says
What brand of coconut flakes did you use?
Nicole Hunn says
I use coconut flakes from nuts.com most often, but also buy Let’s Do Organic brand, Ginger.
Ginger says
Thanks! I got some organic unsweetened coconut chips by Simple Truth and it worked beautifully. These cookies are amazing. I might cut back the coconut oil by 2 tablespoons next time, though as mine were a bit on the greasy side. I coated the bottoms in dark chocolate for a festive touch and everyone loved them.
Michelle says
These sound great- I love coconut! Thanks!