These coconut balls are a delicious treat made with shredded coconut and sweetened condensed milk, and covered in melted chocolate.
These bite-sized treats are often rolled in more coconut or dipped in chocolate for added indulgence.
Coconut balls offer a delightful combination of sweetness and tropical flavor, making them a favorite choice for dessert or snacking occasions.
If you like ball desserts, check out our peanut butter balls with rice krispies, cheesecake balls, 3 ingredient oreo balls, and our homemade chocolate truffles.
Jump to:
Why this recipe works
- Flavor- if you are a fan of coconut and chocolate, this recipe is for you! They burst with coconut flavor and covered with the chocolate of your choice. This is an ultimate flavor combination.
- Perfect for any occasion- these balls are perfect for any occasion from birthdays to holidays to parties, and they are customizable as well!
- No bake dessert- this recipe is a completely no-bake dessert that tastes amazing and doesn't require turning on the oven!
- Customizable- you can roll these in many flavors and toppings like different themed sprinkles, cocoa powder, crushed Oreos, mini chocolate chips, and much more!
- Ease- these balls are extremely easy to make, made with only 3 ingredients, and take minutes to prep.
Ingredients
Before you start to make this recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the cooking process will go smoothly and easily.
Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
Sweetened condensed milk- is the key ingredient to make these balls decadent and extra creamy! Use your favorite brand of sweetened condensed milk for this.
Shredded coconut- I used shredded coconut for these cookies, I recommend toasting them slightly before using them for extra delish flavor.
Make sure you are using unsweetened shredded coconut.
Dark chocolate- you can use your favorite kind of chocolate for these. I used dark chocolate, but you can use semisweet chocolate, white chocolate, or milk chocolate!
Make sure that you are using the highest quality chocolate for the best flavor and texture.
Instructions
Into a mixing bowl, add the shredded coconut and sweetened condensed milk. Mix it with a spoon or a spatula until well combined and the coconut is covered evenly with the condensed milk.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This way it will be easier to roll the balls. (optional)
Use a small cookie scoop to scoop out the balls (or about 1 tbsp). Roll them into balls using your clean hands and place them onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
How to melt chocolate
To melt chocolate, start by chopping it into small, even pieces to ensure even melting.
Then, choose a method such as using a double boiler or microwave to slowly heat the chocolate until it reaches a smooth and liquid consistency.
Stir frequently to prevent overheating or burning. Remember to be patient and avoid any contact with water, as even a small amount can cause the chocolate to seize and become unusable.
Once your chocolate has melted, place each ball on a fork or a spoon and gently dip it into the melted chocolate. Use a spoon to drizzle more chocolate on top.
Carefully place each ball onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. I like to use a small skewer to help place the balls on the baking sheet.
Place the balls in the fridge to firm up for about 30 minutes, serve, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- To get the chocolate topping sleek and shiny, I like adding 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or your favorite oil to the melted chocolate mixture.
- Make sure you line your baking pan with parchment paper to prevent the truffles to stick to the pan.
- To get the chocolate topping sleek and shiny, I like adding 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or your favorite oil to the melted chocolate mixture.
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop out the balls, that way you will have even-sized balls, plus it ensures that your balls cool evenly.
- Keep them chilled in the fridge before serving. if you place the balls at room temperature, the chocolate may melt.
- Add some of your favorite add-ins! Make this recipe your own and add your favorite add-ins: mini chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, chopped pecans, kinder, toffee, and more! Be creative!
Faq's
These coconut balls are made with 3 ingredients: shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and chocolate which is optional.
You can make these even more delicious by adding flavors like vanilla extract, coconut extract, chopped nuts, sprinkles, finely chopped chocolate, etc.
Yes! You can double or triple this recipe. Use the recipe card to make as many coconut balls as you'd like.
My top two tips for a sticky mixture is refrigerating the mixture for at least 30 minutes, this will make them easier to roll. My second tip is adding more shredded coconut (only if the mixture is way too sticky) until you get the right constituency.
If you are covering these coconut balls with melted chocolate, you will need to refrigerate them to keep the chocolate from melting. If you live in a cold environment, you can store them at room temperature, but keep them from warm places.
Storing
Store these in the fridge covered tightly with plastic wrap for up to 5 days. If you live in a cold environment, you will be able to keep these at room temperature, make sure you keep them away from warm places and stop the chocolate from melting.
Freezing
To freeze these, you will need to wrap the balls in plastic wrap or foil and seal them in an airtight container or in an airtight resealable bag. You can freeze these for up to 2 months.
Thaw in the fridge for a few hours or at room temperature for an hour or until it's thawed.
Substitutions
Dairy free- to make these dairy free, use dairy free sweetened condensed milk and make sure that you are using dairy free chocolate.
Variations
Flavors- add your favorite flavors to the mixture like vanilla extract, almond extract, lemon juice, cinnamon, cocoa powder, etc.
Toppings- top these balls with chopped nuts, your favorite sprinkles, cocoa powder, oreo crumbs, cinnamon sugar, coconut flakes, mini chocolate chips, and much more!
Spread- you can substitute the sweetened condensed milk with your favorite spread as well like Nutella, dulce de leche, peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, chocolate ganache, etc.
Coconut pops- stick these balls in a lollipop stick like you would do with cake pops, and serve it for any occasion like parties, holidays, birthdays, after-school snacks, etc.
Equipment
- Baking sheet and cooling rack set (our fave)
- Cookies scoop set of 3 (the best cookie scoop we used)
- Whisk Set (pack of 3) to whisk the ingredients together
- Rubber spatula
More candy recipes
Cornflake Candy- This peanut butter cornflake candy is a delicious old-fashioned treat that combines peanut butter, sugar, and corn syrup with crunchy cornflakes.
Chocolate Fudge With Condensed Milk- This chocolate fudge recipe is made with only 3 ingredients, all you will need is semisweet chocolate, condensed milk, and vanilla extract.
If you tried this recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and a comment below. We love hearing from you.
If you liked this recipe
📖 Recipe
Easy Coconut Balls (Chocolate Covered | 3 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 3 cups Shredded coconut
- 14 oz Sweetened condensed milk
- 7 oz Dark chocolate
Instructions
- Into a mixing bowl, add the shredded coconut and sweetened condensed milk. Mix it with a spoon or a spatula until well combined and the coconut is covered evenly with the condensed milk.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This way it will be easier to roll the balls. (optional)
- Use a small cookie scoop to scoop out the balls (or about 1 tbsp). Roll them into balls using your clean hands and place them onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
How to melt chocolate
- To melt chocolate, start by chopping it into small, even pieces to ensure even melting.
- Then, choose a method such as using a double boiler or microwave to slowly heat the chocolate until it reaches a smooth and liquid consistency.
- Stir frequently to prevent overheating or burning. Remember to be patient and avoid any contact with water, as even a small amount can cause the chocolate to seize and become unusable.
- Once your chocolate has melted, place each ball on a fork or a spoon and gently dip it into the melted chocolate. Use a spoon to drizzle more chocolate on top.
- Carefully place each ball onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. I like to use a small skewer to help place the balls on the baking sheet.
- Place the balls in the fridge to firm up for about 30 minutes, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- To get the chocolate topping sleek and shiny, I like adding 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or your favorite oil to the melted chocolate mixture.
- Make sure you line your baking pan with parchment paper to prevent the truffles to stick to the pan.
- To get the chocolate topping sleek and shiny, I like adding 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or your favorite oil to the melted chocolate mixture.
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop out the balls, that way you will have even-sized balls, plus it ensures that your balls cool evenly.
- Keep them chilled in the fridge before serving. if you place the balls at room temperature, the chocolate may melt.
- Add some of your favorite add-ins! Make this recipe your own and add your favorite add-ins: mini chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, chopped pecans, kinder, toffee, and more! Be creative!
Eilidh says
Good