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.
What Makes Cookies Chewy, Crisp, or Cakey?
My free guide reveals the ingredients and tweaks that matter.
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)
More Cookie Recipes You’ll Love:
German Chocolate Cookies
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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.
The Ultimate Cookie Handbook
Learn the sweet SCIENCE of cookie baking in a fun, visual way to customize your own recipes frustration-free. Plus, my best 50+ homemade cookies!
Made the cookies, they are wonderful!! I used walnuts, wish I had pecan, but I have 10 lbs of walnuts, and hubby said no more buying nuts until there is room in the freezer. The texture is similar, light crunch, but pecans would have been better. To Angelica, who asked if you can use regular milk, well, I did, no condensed milk available. When you use condensed milk, you get the nice flavour. Use reg milk, and you get a different taste, so, as, Tessa’s recipes call for, condensed milk is best. I used .5 cup reg milk, with 2.5 tablespoons of whole milk powder. With this substitution, you are looking for similar texture, but you get diff taste. I cooked milk and sugar to a runny syrup, then let it sit overnight. More liquid gets lost by leaving it overnight, which, texture wise is what you are looking for. Or, you can just sit at the stove, and cook it straight to the texture Tessa states in the recipe. Been jonesing for a portable solution to German Chocolate cake, and Tessa has made the PERFECT version! Thanks Tessa!
GERMAN Chocolate cake, the name comes from the brand of chocolate “German”, that used to be sold in America. The German chocolate company devised the cake recipe to sell more chocolate product. Very useful advertising. I am old, I remember the product. Love the fact Tessa, that you take the time to cook from scratch. Cake mixes are for sissies. Yes, I have used cake mixes before, but for those who love baking, scratch is magic!!
OMG!!! Best cookies EVER, I brought them to work and had to give out recipe. I had people sending their family in to get one of these delicious cookies
1. Can I use Hershey’s cocoa?
2. Confused…. last ingredient says semisweet chocolate so does that mean more of the chips melted or
is there a bar I need to look for at the store?
These sounds amazing! I am thinking of making them for cookie exchange party 🙂
Can they be made using Gluten Free flour substitute?
Thanks!
Yum yum yum! Made this for Father’s Day and beyond good! I used sliced almonds instead of pecans bc that’s what I had….the cookies are so soft and delicious and man oh man that icing! Shared the link with my followers so good!! Thanks!
It is not usual to find German cookies recipies, and even that I am not going to make them by the moment, I am compiling a series of recipes that I’ve downloaded from the internet, of those that I consider that will be a good selection for a small cookie business that I am about to start.
I’ve worked in the pasta and icecram industry in my country Ecuador, and I am extremely demanding with the quality and the production processes, I am sure that your recipe will definitely be an excellent addition to my cookies list. I’ll let you now how this cookies came out of my oven.
Can you use hershey’so cocoa instead of Dutch process cocoa
Hello Tessa,
this Cookie Recipe sounds great but this is not a German Cookie.Pecan nuts are hard to find and very expensive and not typical German.What was the Name from the Chocolate Cake from Germany do you make these Cookies?
Typical Cookies are vanilla Kipferl(vanilla crescents) or with Jam filled Butter Cookies.
No offense and many Greetings from Bavaria,Germany 🙂
These were very easy to make.. Simple ingredients.. Easy to prepare… The taste was oh so rich… wow… The topping I wanted to eat by itself.. Delicious.. I’m not much of a baker so these came out wonderful from a so so baker..
To start off let me tell you I am what you call a beginner baker. However, I was going to a cookie exchange and I wanted to find a cookie recipe that would rock the socks off people and this recipe did. Thank you so much for sharing! What an amazing cookie!
Yay! I’m so thrilled to hear that, Katie 🙂
My husband loves German Chocolate cake! I love the option to make yummy cookies instead of the whole big cake:) Thank you for the recipe…and right before the holidays too 🙂