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.

Christmas Coconut Balls decorated with m&m

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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!).

Center of a chocolate coconut ball

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.

Ingredients for coconut balls

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.

Decorated Christmas coconut bites in gift box

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.

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Christmas Coconut Balls Recipe

5 from 48 votes
Author: Natasha Kravchuk
chocolate coconut balls with m&m candy
Festive Chocolate Coconut Balls are the best kind of homemade Christmas candy. This is a no-bake dessert that can be addapted and decorated for any holiday.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chilling Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 28 coconut balls

For the Coconut Balls:

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

157kcal Calories12g Carbs2g Protein12g Fat9g Saturated Fat3mg Cholesterol15mg Sodium99mg Potassium2g Fiber10g Sugar26IU Vitamin A1mg Vitamin C32mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Christmas Coconut Balls Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
157
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
12
g
18
%
Saturated Fat
 
9
g
56
%
Cholesterol
 
3
mg
1
%
Sodium
 
15
mg
1
%
Potassium
 
99
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
12
g
4
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
10
g
11
%
Protein
 
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
 
26
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
32
mg
3
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Candy, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate coconut balls, christmas candy, coconut balls
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 157

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Michelle
    December 23, 2023

    Made these for the first time last night, they are so delicious. We used white chocolate instead of dark – my son can’’t have dark chocolate. I make a lot of your recipes, they come out great and I have been cooking for 50 years. Keep up the great work.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      December 23, 2023

      HI Michelle, thank you for the great review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Merry Christmas!

      Reply

  • Lori
    June 23, 2023

    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.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 24, 2023

      Hi Lori, its 4 ounces by weight or 2 cups measured out.

      Reply

  • Joan
    December 24, 2022

    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.

    Reply

  • Marc Lemmerman
    December 17, 2022

    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.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 19, 2022

      That is great and it must be such a blessing to them. Thank you for using my recipe. I appreciate the feedback.

      Reply

  • Anna
    December 10, 2022

    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?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 10, 2022

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Anna!

      Reply

  • Yvonne Holmes
    December 11, 2021

    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

    Reply

    • Natasha
      December 11, 2021

      Hi Yvonne, there is definitely room too experiment. You could leave them out or replace with something else.

      Reply

  • Theresa Schultz
    December 1, 2021

    Great for Christmas I going to make these coconut balls for Christmas
    Thank you for sharing the recipe

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 1, 2021

      You’re very welcome, Theresa. I hope everyone will love these coconut balls!

      Reply

  • Lockye
    November 21, 2021

    I love all your recipes and this one is a hit! May I ask where did you purchase the red sweater? Perfect!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      November 22, 2021

      Hi Lockye, that is a Tommy Hilfiger sweater that I found at Macy’s years ago.

      Reply

  • Alya
    July 13, 2021

    Hey Natasha! Love your recipes! I was wondering if you think it would work to make these into cAke pops?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 13, 2021

      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.

      Reply

  • Minibaker
    May 19, 2021

    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

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 19, 2021

      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!

      Reply

  • Luna
    February 12, 2021

    These were amazing, but one question, how do we store them and how long would they last in the fridge?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 12, 2021

      Hi Luna, you can store these coconut balls in an airtight container at either room temperature or in a refrigerator for a week.

      Reply

  • Sania
    January 13, 2021

    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.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 13, 2021

      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!

      Reply

      • Ala
        December 11, 2021

        Hi Natasha,

        Do you think these would freeze well?

        Thanks in advance,
        Ala

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          December 11, 2021

          Hi Ala, I haven’t tested freezing these. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.

          Reply

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