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.
Appearance: Taking the extra time to drizzle melted chocolate over these really does elevate them to a new level, especially because the topping looks kinda strange on its own.
Pros: Super fun and flavorful twist on a cookie.
Cons: None, except maybe that I preferred these cookies on the first day they were made.
Would I make this again? Definitely!
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I’ve seen German Chocolate Cookies a few times on Facebook. Each time I saw a recipe I made a mental note to add it to my “to bake” list.
Unfortunately most of the recipes I kept seeing involved cake mix. Now, I have nothing against cake mix on a moral level. Sometimes you just gotta take a shortcut.
BUT on a pure food level, I almost never use the stuff. If you couldn’t already tell, I’m all about homemade from scratch goodies whenever possible. They just taste better! And if you only eat special treats when you can make them from scratch, it’s pretty hard to overdo it. Unless you’re like me and you bake things for a living. Let’s not get into that right now…
This recipe takes cookies to a whole new level. I’ve had way too many sickeningly sweet yet bland cookies in my life. What a waste of calories. That’s why I love these German Chocolate Cookies. 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! Plus, as a total cookie queen, you know I got you covered with a solid recipe.
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, Bensdorp, 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.
If you must use natural cocoa powder, go ahead. Just note your German Chocolate Cookies may be lighter in color and slightly drier in texture. You can learn more about the differences between cocoa powders here.
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 altogether, they brown too much 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. Or, just click here to score my favorite baking pans for cookies (and everything else!)
Why Use a Cookie Scoop?
- One of the KEYS to beautiful, uniform, evenly-shaped cookies.
- 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
Store German Chocolate Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Store cookies with a tortilla, apple wedge, or piece of bread 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)
More Cookie Recipes You’ll Love:
- Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies
- S’mores Cookies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Coconut Cookies
- Black & White Chocolate Chipper Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Recipe
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German Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 1 1/4 cups (5.6 ounces) all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
- 3/4 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
For the topping:
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 heaping cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 2 ounces 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 love gifting out cookies. An one thing that I have found is that soft topped cookies like this make great sandwich cookies. And then you can still add your chocolate drizzle to the outside, let set and they pack so well this way. I like red velvet cookies with cream cheese frosting but they didn’t pack well . Put another cookie on top problem solved . An little ones think that they are getting extra cookies .
I made these tonight for a party. They were fantastic!
So happy to hear that!
I accidentally put one whole egg and 1 egg white in the cookie dough. I haven’t baked the cookies yet so do you think they will be fine as is or should I add the egg yoke?
Hi where can you find this coco powder? Or can you use hersey’s? Suggestions please 🙂
Hi Tessa, can you make these into one giant cookie? And if so do you need to change the baking time? Thank you!
I have no idea, Kathleen, I’ve never tried! Let us know how it turns out if you give it a go 🙂
I have a question. The way I understand the cookie receipt I need a total of 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk. Then I need 1 egg yolk for the frosting. Is the right way? Thank you Vernette
Yes.
Forgot to comment, that I also froze mine, and they tasted perfectly fine right out of the freezer. Also, I would recommend that you DOUBLE the recipe, because they are JUST THAT GOOD! Thanks Tessa! You definitely ARE the cookie queen…
These are absolutely THE BEST cookies I have ever made or eaten! I’ve baked cookies for all 9 of us as a child ALL MY LIFE, and there is no cookie I’ve made, that ever tops this one!!! The only thing I would say is not to bake them more than 10 minutes, or they will turn out like mine, and they were a little too hard. I also agree with Tessa, and would have to say they are best eaten the day they are made. The frosting is just too die for, and tastes like a homemade Christmas caramel made on the stove. Definitely make these!
We can’t get evaporated milk here in Israel. What can be substituted? Also sweetened shredded coconut isn’t sold. Can sweetened coconut strips be shredded in a food processor to make this?
Does anyone have any idea approximately how many calories per cookie?
Are these cookies soft or do they harden.
Could you make the cookie ahead of time and then put the frosting on at a later date?