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.
Have you ever substituted gluten free flour in the recipe? I’ve used one to one gluten free flour in several recipes and it’s turned out great. If you’ve made gluten free cookies, which brand have you used?
Hi Joyce! We don’t bake with gluten-free substitutions, so we can’t say how that will work or give advice on brands. Let us know how it goes if you experiment with this! 🙂
I made them as written and they were fabulous! I may try a bar version in the future.
Re: gluten-free, I made them with King Arthur Measure for Measure – no other changes to the recipe – and they came out great. Terrific recipe!
Wonderful to hear! Thanks for sharing, Barb!
To make a double batch is it an exact doubling of all ingredients? I know with some recipes there are some changes. Thank You.
Hi Jean! Yes, just double all ingredients – no further adjustments needed 🙂 Happy baking!
I made these for a large group yesterday. Next time I double the batch!!! I bake for.these people very often and they always have wonderful things to say…This time people wanted me to box them and sell them! I felt like a gourmet baker! will definitely be making again and again!
This is got to be one of the best chocolate cookies I have ever had! I just made these for my granddaughter who is turning 20 and shipped them to her with a two day delivery date. I froze them before I shipped them and I am hoping that they are safe to eat in two days. Can you confirm that?
Hi Diane! As Tessa mentions in the pink tip box above the recipe, these cookies can be stored at room temperature for 2 days. This short window is purely for quality purposes, as cookies may dry out or become stale by this point. The extra precautions you took to prevent this should mean the cookies are still delicious for your granddaughter! I’m sure she’ll love them 🙂
sooooo yummy. My daughter said they were the best cookies she had ever tasted. I did follow a suggestion to toast the pecans and coconut and I also used hersheys dark cocoa powder.
This is the first time I made this and it was delicious. I made especially for my son-in-law since he really like German chocolate cake. I wanted something different. The family enjoyed the cookies.
The best cookie EVER!
Hello, I don’t know English, I love seeing you online and seeing your recipes, I really like your page, I cook as a hobby and I love baking, I would love to buy your book but I don’t think it will reach Mexico, right, I live in Hermosillo, Sonora and I think that in July we will go to Phoenix, in which part or in which store is your book.- Thank you very much, I am using Google translate.- Greetings, thank you and much success.- Martha
Hi Martha! So glad you enjoy Tessa’s recipes and posts! The Ultimate Cookie Handbook is not available in stores, but you can grab it on Amazon US here, or as a digital download here! Also, FYI, it’s only available in English currently. Thanks again and happy baking 🙂
Reguarding the topping soaking into the cookie. I would most likely make these the day before ( Yes, I will be making them !) My thought was brushing a thin layer of melted chocolate onto the cooled cookie.When iet dries, put the eopping on.
That should work well, Cheryl! Let us know how it goes 🙂
Do you need a whole egg and an additional egg yoke for the batter and then another egg yoke for the topping on the cookie?
Hi Sue! Yes, that’s correct! So you’ll need a total of two whole eggs + two egg yolks. Let us know what you think of these cookies once you’ve given them a try 🙂
These cookies are fantastic everyone loved them, one note this is a 3-step recipe obviously. you have to flatten the cookies down when they come out of the oven otherwise the topping won’t stay on the cookie. The same thing goes for the topping, I put the cookies in the frig so the topping would set quicker and then flatten the topping down. Then to drizzle the chocolate (my first-time drizzling chocolate). I poured the melted chocolate in a Ziploc bag and cut the corner out worked like a champ.
Awesome recipe. Contrary to what many believe, this cake/cookie did not originate in Germany. It is actually an American recipe.
In 1852 Samuel German, an English American Baker who worked for Baker’s Chocolate Company, created a new type of dark-baking chocolate. German made sweet baking chocolate with more sugar than the average semi-sweet baking chocolate. This chocolate was named Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate after its creator.