18 Best Coconut Desserts

Coconut desserts taste like the tropics and the versatile fruit lends a lovely and unique texture to cookies, cakes, bars, and candy. Whether you're a Mounds person or an Almond Joy fan, you'll love these homemade treats that also use flaked coconut as a starring ingredient.

When purchasing coconut flakes, make sure you get the variety that the recipes call for. It comes both sweetened and unsweetened and the difference can make or break your recipe.

All About Coconut

01 of 18

Coconut Cheesecake

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

With a shredded coconut-speckled graham cracker crust and a luscious cream cheese filling with cream of coconut, this cheesecake sings with flavor. Canned cream of coconut gives the cake a wonderfully rich flavor that works just perfectly in cheesecake.
02 of 18

Sour Cream Coconut Cake

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

With both a fluffy whipped topping and coconut frosting—plus a creamy coconut filling—this tasty Southern cake comes chock full of the tropical flavor with a tender texture from the addition of sour cream. It also starts with a cake mix for quick and easy preparation.
03 of 18

Chocolate Coconut Cake

The Spruce / Marian Blazes

This delicious Brazilian chocolate cake tastes just like a prestigio, a popular candy bar in Brazil. It's very similar to a Mounds bar. In the cake version, a silky marshmallow and coconut filling nestles between rich chocolate cake layers, all covered in a creamy chocolate ganache and dusted with chocolate sprinkles.
04 of 18

Magic Cookie Bars

Claire Cohen

Chocolate, flaked coconut, graham cracker crumbs, and pecans, all come together with sweetened condensed milk for some of the best bar cookies out there. You can also make these with different types of chips, assorted nuts, or omit the nuts altogether if you prefer. Add candy pieces or sprinkles for a more colorful, festive preparation.

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05 of 18

Coconut Cookies

The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

For a light, crispy treat, these coconut cookies will hit the spot. They use a similar technique to meringue in order to keep the cookies light. Plus, they get their signature texture from quick-cooking rolled oats and of course, plenty of flaky coconut.
06 of 18

Pineapple Coconut Chess Pie

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Try pineapple coconut chess pie for a tropical twist on the classic creamy pie. A frozen pie crust works just fine for this recipe, and par-baking it first ensures it doesn't get soggy on the bottom. You may have some extra filling if you use a nine-inch pie crust, which can bake up in a buttered ramekin as a side custard.
07 of 18

Pineapple Delight Bars

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Let your taste buds escape to the islands with these shortbread bars that have a cream cheese filling studded with shredded coconut, pecans, and crushed pineapple. The coconut will get toasty and brown as they bake for a lightly caramelized flavor.
08 of 18

Italian Wedding Cake

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Italian cream cake is really a classic Southern dessert suitable for any special occasion. Rich, moist buttermilk layers stay light thanks to added egg whites and shredded coconut makes an appearance in both the cake and the buttercream frosting. It tastes even better the next day, so it is an excellent make-ahead dessert.

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09 of 18

Date Skillet Cookies

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

These unique rolled cookies get their name because the mixture starts in a skillet on the stove. Chop the dates in a food processor before using instead of buying pre-chopped dates; those won't have quite enough moisture for this recipe. Crisped rice, flaked coconut, and dates give them their signature texture. Feel free to omit the nuts if you or your recipients have nut allergies.
10 of 18

Dairy-Free Coconut Macaroon Cookies

The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

Just because you're avoiding dairy doesn't mean you have to skip dessert. These rich coconut macaroon cookies use no-dairy products and take less than 20 minutes to prepare, for a quick and easy recipe. Refrigerating them after baking helps the flavors meld and keeps the texture firm for serving.
11 of 18

Vegan Chocolate Coconut Truffles

Elizabeth LaBau

Blend mellow vegan chocolate and sweet coconut for a delicately delicious truffle that tastes great dipped in melted white, dark, or milk chocolate. Dust a little flaked coconut over the top before the covering fully solidifies for a prettier presentation.
12 of 18

Lime Coconut Bars

The Spruce / Elizabeth LaBau

For a different twist on lemon bars, try these assertively zippy lime coconut bars. A coconut-studded shortbread crust combined with a creamy lime filling has a lovely contrast and a delicious tropical taste. Use fresh lime juice for the best results.

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13 of 18

Almond Joy Cookies

Kristina Vanni

With all the flavors of the classic candy bar, Almond Joy cookies are quick and easy to make. Coconut, chocolate, and almond are a delicious combo, and other than melting the chocolate, these cookies require no cooking at all.
14 of 18

Million Dollar Cream Pie

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

This awesome pie has that name for a reason: The blend of shredded coconut, crushed pineapple, chopped nuts, and sweetened condensed milk has earned a cult following. It also lends itself to variation and experimentation, so start with the basic recipe and mix it up to your stomach's content. This recipe makes two pies with one can of condensed milk, but you can cut it in half for one.
15 of 18

Nanaimo Bars

Lauri Patterson / Getty Images

Popular in Canada, Nanaimo bars make a lovely no-bake recipe for any bake sale or special event. They use flaked coconut, vanilla pudding, graham cracker crumbs, pecans, and chocolate to form pretty and delicious layers that work together perfectly. This recipe also includes baking instructions for a firmer texture, if you prefer.
16 of 18

German Chocolate Pie

Kristina Vanni

Coconut and chocolate and are a delicious combination, and they come together beautifully in this German chocolate pie. It's an easy dessert that has all of the flavors of the decadent cake in a buttery pie crust.

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17 of 18

Coconut Pudding

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

For a jiggly, wiggly coconut pudding, try trembleque de coco. It uses only four ingredients and a simple preparation for a special dessert that tastes much more complex than it is. It needs just an hour in the fridge to set up, so give yourself a little time for it to solidify.
18 of 18

Two-Ingredient Haystacks

Westend61 / Getty Images

You read that right: These tasty candies use just two ingredients. Coconut and chocolate come together for delicious bites that work great as gifts or a quick snack. Try mixing it up by using white or dark chocolate or drizzling caramel over the top for a fun adaptation.