Make these delicious chocolate coconut balls for a homemade Christmas gift, hostess gift, Mother's Day gift idea, cookie exchange, or “just because”. They’re delicious, very low in sugar and filled with healthy fats.
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Quick Look at This Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Low Sugar (Or Sugar Free!) Chocolate Coconut Balls
- ✅ Ready In: ~30 Minutes
- ✅ Yield: 40 Balls
- ✅ Calories: 78
- ✅ Tools: High-powered blender or food-processor, lined baking sheet, spoon, double-boiler, forks, and an airtight storage container.
- ✅ Freezer Friendly: Yes, first flash-freeze on a baking sheet, and transfer the chocolate coconut balls to an airtight container to freeze for up to three months.
- ✅ Why You'll Love It: A delicious low-sugar treat that can even be converted to completely sugar-free. This simple recipe is also easy enough for little helpers.
- ✅ Tip: You can make your own coconut butter from scratch by blending together flaked coconut, some coconut oil and a splash of coconut milk.
What Makes This Recipe Unique?
- Healthy - While projects like freeze dried candy can be a fun novelty, these chocolate coconut balls are made with wholesome real-food ingredients you can feel good about.
- Sugar Free Option - DIY cookie mix, this homemade brownie mix, and fruitcake cookies are always on the Christmas wish list in our home. With so many sugar-filled treats, it’s nice to have a recipe that has zero refined sugar and can even be completely sugar-free if desired.
- Easy - This is the perfect recipe if you enjoy getting the kids involved in the kitchen. It requires about 10 minutes of hands-on time, so it works great for short attention spans. Your kids will love creating and decorating these simple chocolate-covered treats that look like they came from a professional confectioner.
⭐ Featured Reader Review
@roberthicks4794 says, "I made them today!!! Yummy!!"
Key Ingredients
A full ingredients list, including measurements, can be found in the recipe card below.
- Coconut Butter – You can purchase coconut butter, or just make your own by blending together flaked coconut, some coconut oil and a splash of coconut milk.
- Flaked Coconut – Also known as dehydrated or dried coconut flakes or chips.
- Maple Syrup (optional) – Just ¼ cup is all for this recipe, but feel free to taste and adjust as needed (see below for sugar-free options).
- Vanilla Extract – Learn how to make homemade vanilla extract here.
- Chocolate - Dark chocolate is a favorite for this recipe, but if you prefer milk chocolate, you can use that instead.
Recipe Variations
- Sugar Free - The maple syrup can be completely omitted for a sugar-free option. If you think you’ll miss the sweetness of the maple syrup, you can add a bit of liquid or powdered stevia (or monk fruit) to the coconut mixture. Additionally, Lily’s brand of chocolate is a good sugar-free chocolate option.
- Optional Toppings - Sprinkling the top of your chocolate coconut balls can make them a little extra. Flaked coconut, sea salt, chopped nuts or crushed peppermint candy are all good options.
Recipe Instructions
Step 1: Mix together coconut butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract and sea salt in a high-powered blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.
Step 2: Add the remaining 1 ¼ cups of coconut flakes and pulse a few times to distribute throughout the mixture.
Step 3: Place the coconut mixture into a bowl and scoop out by the tablespoonful. Roll into a ball and place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Freeze for 15 minutes or until firm.
Step 2: Add the remaining 1 ¼ cups of coconut flakes and pulse a few times to distribute throughout the mixture.
Step 5: Remove the coconut balls from the freezer and dip them into melted chocolate to cover. Transfer them back to the parchment-lined cookie sheet and immediately sprinkle with more flaked coconut, sea salt, crushed peppermint candy or any other topping you’d like. Allow the chocolate to harden completely before serving.
Storage Instructions
Allow the chocolate coconut balls to harden completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. We like to use glass canning jars for storage, and it’s so easy to just add a bow, and it’s gift-wrap ready to give away.
For long-term storage, first flash-freeze the coconut balls on a baking sheet. Then transfer them to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to three months.
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Chocolate Coconut Balls
Equipment
- High-Powered Blender or food processor
- Lined Baking Sheet
- Spoon
- Double Boiler or use a glass bowl over a saucepan of simmering water
- Fork
- Storage Container
Ingredients
Coconut Butter
- 1 ¼ cup coconut flakes
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 Tablespoons coconut milk
Coconut Balls
- ¼ cup maple syrup optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 ¼ cup coconut flakes
Chocolate Coating
- 2 cups chocolate chips melted over a double boiler
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil for melted chocolate
Instructions
Make Coconut Butter
- Make coconut butter by blending together 1 ¼ cups coconut flakes, coconut oil, and coconut milk until smooth and thick (almost a runny peanut butter consistency).
Coconut Balls
- Add to the coconut butter maple syrup, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Pulse a few times to blend together until smooth.
- Add in the remaining 1 ¼ cup flaked coconut and blend just until distributed.
- Place mixture into a bowl and scoop by the Tablespoonful and roll into balls. Place balls onto a cookie sheet lined with a Silpat mat.
- Freeze coconut balls for 15 minutes until firm.
Chocolate Coating
- While coconut balls set up in the freezer, melt chocolate and coconut oil over a double-boiler (or in the microwave in 30-second increments until melted through).
- Using two forks, dip coconut balls into chocolate and place on wax paper to harden.
- Before the chocolate has set up, sprinkle a little bit of flaked coconut, coarse sea salt, or even crushed up peppermint candies over the top of the chocolate coconut balls.
Notes
- Sugar Free - The maple syrup can be completely omitted for a sugar-free option. If you think you’ll miss the sweetness of the maple syrup, you can add a bit of liquid or powdered stevia (or monk fruit) to the coconut mixture. Additionally, Lily’s brand of chocolate is a good sugar-free chocolate option.
- Optional Toppings - Sprinkling the top of your chocolate coconut balls can make them a little extra. Flaked coconut, sea salt, chopped nuts or crushed peppermint candy are all good options.
