Tessa's Recipe Rundown
Taste: Ultra chocolaty with that perfect combination of tropical coconut and nutty, earthy pecans.
Texture: The cookies are ridiculously soft yet chewy and loaded with melty chocolate chips. Top that with the super gooey yet crunchy coconut topping and each bite is pure bliss.
Ease: A few more steps involved than your typical cookie recipe but so worth it! The topping may seem weird at first but just follow the directions and you’ll be good.
Pros: Super fun and flavorful twist on a cookie.
Cons: None.
Would I make this again? Definitely!
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These German Chocolate Cookies combine fudgy chocolate cookies with gooey coconut and pecan filling, for a wonderfully decadent sweet treat.
Inspired by the iconic German Chocolate Cake, these cookies deliver a fun, unique twist on the beloved dessert.
This recipe has a few steps, but it’s totally doable – and sure to be a total crowd-pleaser at any potluck or holiday party.
They’re rich and pack a huge flavor punch so they’re incredibly satisfying. And if you’re a huge chocoholic like me, you’ll adore them!
Sprinkle of Science
How to Make German Chocolate Cookies
What Type of Cocoa Powder is Best For German Chocolate Cookies?
I recommend using Dutch-process cocoa for these cookies. It can be difficult to source in grocery stores, but it can be purchased easily online. My favorite brands of Dutch-process cocoa powder are E. Guittard, Penzey’s, or Valrhona.
Why Use Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder?
I recommend using Dutch-process cocoa because it provides a deep color, more moisture, and a flavor that I think complements the sweet coconut topping perfectly. Dutch-process cocoa has more fat than most grocery store natural/unsweetened cocoa powder products, which is what we want for flavor and moisture in this specific recipe. You can learn more about the differences between Dutch-processed and natural cocoa powders here.
Can I Use Natural Cocoa Powder Instead?
If you must use natural (aka unsweetened) cocoa powder, you can use the same amount here, no adjustments needed. Just note your German Chocolate Cookies may be lighter in color and slightly drier in texture.
What Baking Sheet is Best for German Chocolate Cookies?
A light-colored aluminum half-sheet pan is my favorite for baking cookies. Avoid dark nonstick pans as they brown too quickly and may burn the bottoms of your cookies. This is particularly important for dark-colored cookies like these German Chocolate Cookies, as it can be harder to tell visually when these are done baking.
The below photo features cookies from the same exact batch of dough, baked for the same amount of time at the same temperature. The only difference was the baking pan! Check out my Baking Pans 101 post for all the surprising details.
Why Use a Cookie Scoop?
- Saves you so much time in forming the balls of dough.
- Ensures each ball is evenly sized so the cookies bake evenly.
- No small overbaked cookies or large underbaked cookies.
- I love using a 1.5-Tablepsoon size cookie scoop for this cookie recipe.
- Learn more about Cookie Scoops and how to use them here!
How to Store German Chocolate Cookies
These German Chocolate Cookies taste best the day they’re made, but they can be stored inside an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Avoid stacking to maintain the prettiest appearance. Store cookies with a tortilla to keep them soft a little longer.
Recommended Products:
- My Favorite Baking Sheets
- Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder
- Medium Cookie Scoop (1.5 Tablespoons)
- Parchment Paper (I love these pre-cut sheets)
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Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 1 1/4 cups (159 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup (28 grams) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 8 tablespoons (113 grams) unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) lightly packed dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (170 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
For the topping:
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 (45 grams) heaping cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup (57 grams) chopped pecans
- 2 ounces (57 grams) semisweet chocolate, melted
Instructions
For the cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until well combined and smooth. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat until combined. On low speed gradually add the flour mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.
- Using a medium (1.5-Tablespoon) size spring-loaded cookie scoop, drop the dough by 1 1/2 tablespoon rounds onto the prepared baking sheets
- Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cookies are set. Let cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes before removing the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
For the topping:
- In a small saucepan set over medium heat, combine the milk, sugar, egg yolk, and butter. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, coconut, and pecans. Let cool until thick enough to spread on top of the cooled cookies.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate all over the cookies. Let everything set for at least 15 minutes before serving. Cookies are best served the day they’re made.
I made these last night and they were absolutely wonderful. Put in fridge overnight and took to work and wow they were a great big hit and tasted just as good today as they did last night. Added to my cookbook already will make again for sure.
I made these and they are incredibly tasty cookies! Even just the cookie by itself is a great chocolate cookie…thanks!
I’d like to make these, but want all of the German chocolate ingredients inside the cookies, without the addition of icing. I found some coconut-flavor-filled chocolate chips that I think would work perfectly in this recipe. I’m thinking of adding some coconut extract, sweetened shredded coconut and chopped pecans to the dough, in addition to the coconut morsels.
Hi Tessa, I will be trying this recipe out, I have two questions, can you omit the chocolate chips in the cookie recipe without ruining the recipe and referring to the packing question, couldn’t you pack them using parchment paper for the stickiness from the icing?
Feel free to omit the chocolate chips (though they’re so much better with them!!) and as for packing with parchment, even then the weight of the cookies stacked kind of smashes everything. If you try let us know how it goes!
Just made these- followed the recipe to a T and they turned out phenomenal! Great way to start off the New Year, thank you for this delicous recipe!!! Only disappointment was the meager yield of 24. I’ll double the recipe next time.
Could these possibly be frozen? Just wondering with the topping and all.
Can you substitute regular milk with evaporated milk??
Tessa, I made these cookies and they are SO good, they will be a Christmas cookie for ever! I would like to know the nutritional information if possible.
I prepared this recipe and received rave review! Although they are very rich, they are also extremely high on the “yummy” scale, and no one who tried it didn’t want another one. Also, the instructions were extremely well done, and leave no worries about making an error. I will be baking these often from now on. Although I rarely make a recipe by simply following the directions, with this recipe, the only change/addition I incorporated was the use of vanilla bean paste, instead of just straight vanilla. Very good recipe! Thank you.
Thanks so much for your comment! So glad you enjoyed the recipe. The vanilla bean paste sounds lovely!
I think I just drooled 🙂 I invite you to share your cookie recipes at my annual cookie swap linky party Hugs!
Hi Tessa,
Do you think these cookies would pack ok? I was thinking of making it a “foodie” Christmas for the cooks in my family back home. Ya know, homemade caramel corn and cheese corn, cookies, some homemade spice mixes, gift cards to the King Arthur Flour store. These cookies look amazing and my mum loves coconut, so I’m hoping a clean, Christmased-up Pringles can of these would make it ok! 😀
I don’t think so sadly 🙁 Not only are they best eaten the day they’re made but the topping is pretty sticky and would make packing and transporting a bit of a mess.
Ok, no problem! It’ll just be a treat that goes to work with my taller half, then. 😀
Thanks for responding so quickly! Everything I’ve tried from your blog has turned out so great! My brother in law says your caramel sauce is like liquid Werther’s. 😀
Love to hear that!! Thanks Laurel 🙂
Our family does not usually eat cake, especially because a cake is just too much for the three of us. I think these cookies would be the absolute best for my daughter’s 20th birthday, because she loves soft chocolate cookies and the one icing she likes is the coconut pecan. I can’t wait to make these for her next week. Additionally, these seem so much easier than cake to share. Thanks for making a recipe available that I can trust to have been tested.
Hi Amy! I’m so happy to hear that! Sounds like this recipe was good timing 🙂 Happy birthday to your daughter!