Caramel Coconut No-Bake Cookies are made with brown sugar, honey, cream, toasted shredded coconut, and oats. A unique twist on traditional no-bake cookies!
Caramel Coconut No-Bake Cookies are a delightful treat that combines the rich flavors of caramel and coconut into a simple, no-bake dessert. We love traditional no-bake cookies, but sometimes it’s fun to try variations that have entirely different flavors.
Recipe Highlights
- So many flavors! The butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream create a caramel coating for the coconut, oats, and nuts. The textures and flavors are incredible!
- No baking required. You do need to cook the caramel mixture on the stove for a few minutes, but after that, you can just scoop the cookies onto a baking sheet and let them set up on the counter or in the refrigerator.
Ingredients in Caramel Coconut No-Bake Cookies
Butter – You will need one stick of butter. Unsalted or salted both work just fine, but make sure to use real butter!
Brown sugar – For best results, make sure that your brown sugar is soft and fresh.
Honey – Honey sweetens up the cookies and adds a lot of flavor. For a slightly different flavor, you can swap this out with maple syrup.
Salt – A little bit of salt will help bring out the other flavors in the cookies. If you use salted butter, you can reduce the amount by half.
Heavy cream – Heavy cream is necessary for making the caramel mixture in the cookies.
Vanilla extract – Just a little bit of vanilla extract adds a lot of flavor!
Toasted shredded coconut – Make sure to buy the toasted shredded coconut, not just plain shredded coconut. This improves the texture and flavor of the cookies. If you have regular shredded coconut, you can easily toast it yourself. Put in a dry skillet (no oil) over medium heat and stir constantly for about 3-5 minutes, just until golden. Be very careful not to overcook!
Oats – Quick oats work best in no-bake cookies. If you use regular oats, the cookies may not mix or set properly. Their smaller size allows them to soak up the caramel better, and they also soften up more quickly.
Chopped pecans or almonds – Adding nuts is optional, but they add a delightful crunch and another level of flavor to the no-bake cookies.
Flaky sea salt – I love garnishing cookies with a little sprinkling of flaky sea salt. It contrasts with the sweetness and helps intensify all of the other flavors!
Tips for making Caramel Coconut No-Bake Cookies
Full instructions for making Caramel Coconut No-Bake Cookies can be found on the recipe card below, but here are a few tips.
- Use parchment paper. Make sure to line the baking sheet with parchment paper so that the cookies don’t stick. It also makes clean up so easy!
- Don’t overcook the caramel mixture. Once the caramel mixture begins to bubble, stir constantly and make sure to remove from the heat once it has bubbled for 3 minutes.
- Don’t forget the sea salt! You only need a little bit of flaky sea salt to sprinkle on the top of the cookies, but even just that little bit of salt really makes all of the other flavors pop!
- Use a cookie scoop. You can use two spoons to form the cookies, but I prefer to use a cookie scoop. This ensures that all the cookies are the same size and shape.
- Refrigerate the cookies to set up faster. The cookies take about 30 minutes to set up at room temperature, but this time can be drastically reduced by placing the cookies in the refrigerator.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
Refrigeration:
- Store cookies in an airtight container.
- The cookies can last up to one week in the refrigerator.
Freezing:
- For longer storage, the cookies can be frozen.
- Place them in a single layer in a freezer-safe container or bag.
- They will keep well for up to three months.
Defrosting:
- To enjoy frozen cookies, transfer them to the refrigerator for a few hours to thaw.
- They can also be left at room temperature for a quicker thawing process.
Tips for Freshness:
- Adding parchment paper between layers may help prevent sticking.
- Avoid storing cookies in humid areas to prevent moisture absorption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use old-fashioned oats instead of quick oats?
Technically, yes—but the texture will be chewier and the cookies might not hold together as well. Quick oats soak up the caramel mixture better and give you that perfect soft-but-structured bite. If you only have old-fashioned oats, give them a quick blitz in a food processor to mimic quick oats.
Can I make these dairy-free?
You can try it! Use a vegan butter substitute and full-fat coconut milk or a thick non-dairy creamer in place of the heavy cream. Just know the caramel texture might be slightly different—but still delicious.
More delicious no-bake cookie recipes to try:
- Most no-bake cookie recipes are made with chocolate! No-Bake M&M Cookies are made with oats and coconut, and Nutella No-Bake Cookies are made with Nutella and cocoa powder.
- No-bake cookies are already very easy to make, but Microwave No-Bake Cookies are made in less than 10 minutes with only 6 ingredients!
- One of our most popular recipes is the one for Lemon Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies. The recipe is made with lemon pudding mix, so it’s very easy to change the flavor by using any flavor of pudding you’d like.
Caramel Coconut No-Bake Cookies are made with brown sugar, honey, cream, toasted shredded coconut, and oats. A unique twist on traditional no-bake cookies!
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