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.
Cookie calls for 1 stick of butter but then states 4 ounces. Can you confirm which is right, please?
Hi Susie! 1 stick of butter = 4 ounces, or 113 grams. We included the measurements for this recipe in weight as well as volume. I hope that helps!
Wow! Must have been a long day but I was thinking Tablespoons not Ounces! Thanks for the great recipes!
haha no problem 🙂 Can’t wait for you to enjoy these cookies!
I’m also from Phoenix! I made these for the person I work for, he likes German Chocolate Cake so I thought why not make him cookies and they were a hit.
So happy to hear that, Elaine!
Do you have the ingredients list with grams?
We don’t just yet, but we’re actively working to update all the older recipes on the site with gram measurements! Our Ingredient Measuring Guide might come in handy here to get the accurate weights: https://handletheheat.com/measuring-cheatsheet
I took a chance on these for my daughters wedding and they were fantastic! They froze and thawed really well for transport. The only thing I did different was added flour because I’m at altitude and the first batch wasn’t as thick as I’d like. Thanks for the great recipe!
Perfect, I’m glad you were able to tweak the recipe to work where you live! I’m honored you chose to use my recipe for your daughter’s wedding! 🙂
Hi! What does 2 sticks of butter equals to in cups? Also what does 8 tablespoons of butter equal to in cups
On the butter wrapper, it shows how much 🙂 2 sticks = 1 cup. If you’re looking to switch out the butter in this recipe, I wouldn’t recommend it!
I’ve made these and brought them to work everyone was raving about them , I don’t eat cookies I just enjoy baking and sharing and now that I’ve made these that are a fantastic and a favorite forsure. Thanks for the perfect recipe.
So glad these cookies were a hit!
I was my hardest cookie I have ever made, and frankly, I think it was the fact that I was not patient enough with it. I wanted to get it done ASAP as part of my Bakemas series. It was delicious but next time I will definitely take my time and I’m sure it will come out more delicious!
Hi,
I was wondering how many cups of butter do I need to make to cookie batter?
Everyone said it tasted like German Chocolate Cake and was easy to make .. Thanks for the recipe ! S. Ochoa
So very good, and I forgot the chocolate chips. Stored in the fridge and they were even better a couple of days later! I’m a cookie snob but this recipe made my filecrick!
This is an outstanding recipe! I always double the recipe.
i’ve actually decided to make these cookies and so i could travel with them, decided to make them a sandwich cookie with the pecan coconut topping as a filling instead. i’ll let you know how they turn out
Fun idea!