Chocolate Coconut Balls are easy, decadent and made in one bowl with only 6 ingredients. They will be your new favorite healthier dessert!
Reader’s Review
I’ve made these several times. They are absolutely delish. I don’t change a thing.
Susan Smith
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you are a dark chocolate lover, these chocolate coconut balls are for you! Many of you say they remind you of haystacks, mounds bars and chocolate crackles.
Whenever I don’t have a 70-90% dark chocolate bar on hand, you can find me making these healthy chocolate balls. They are super easy to make in one bowl, and no food processor or baking is required.
Dairy-free, vegan and can be gluten-free. The balls also keep well in the freezer for when the craving hits.
Ingredients for Chocolate Coconut Balls
- Coconut oil: For this recipe you cannot substitute with any other oil. It has to be coconut oil because it is the only oil that can solidify.
- Cacao or cocoa powder: I use cacao powder. It is less processed than cocoa powder. But you can use either. Some readers have had success using carob powder.
- Maple syrup: I prefer maple syrup to honey because it mixes and tastes better. You can also use brown rice syrup, agave or date syrup.
- Coconut flakes: Use unsweetened coconut flakes. You can’t skip the shredded coconut because it “makes” the balls. You can’t replace them with coconut flour either because the flour is too “thirsty” and the recipe will not work.
- Oats: Quick oats, rolled oats or quick cooking steel cut oats work. Use gluten free, if needed.
- Vanilla extract: Use pure one for best flavor.
How to Make Healthy Chocolate Coconut Balls
- Melt coconut oil: In a medium saucepan on low heat, melt the coconut oil. Once melted, remove from heat.
- Combine the ingredients: First, mix in the cacao powder and vanilla into the coconut oil. Next, whisk in the maple syrup. Finally, stir in the coconut flakes and oats until well combined.
- Freeze the mixture: Just 10 minutes in the freezer! If using refrigerated maple syrup, chocolate mixture will harden while mixing. You might not need to place it in a freezer before rolling. Also honey might require extra time whisking as it is quite solid.
- Make the balls: Use a small cookie scoop and form the balls. Place the balls on a parchment lined baking sheet. Then pop the baking sheet back into the freezer for another 30 minutes.
Tips for Best Results
- Use small trigger scoop to help shape your chocolate coconut balls.
- Do not worry about runny consistency because it is just melted coconut oil – that will solidify in the fridge/freezer. However, adding extra oats is OK too, your chocolate balls might just be thicker.
- Reduce cocoa powder if experiencing a bitter aftertaste.
- Remember to store these in the refrigerator or freezer – they are safe to place on a cookie platter for a few hours without worrying they will melt, though!
Optional Add-In’s
- Orange zest for an orange chocolate taste.
- Pinch of salt to enhance the chocolate profile.
- Dash of espresso powder for an even more intense chocolate taste.
- Pinch of cinnamon to add a warm spicy taste (like Mexican hot chocolate).
- Maca powder for an earthy taste.
- Dried sour cherry in the center for a “chocolate covered cherry”.
How to Store
Store: Best to keep these chocolate balls in an airtight container in the fridge. They will remain fresh for up to 7 days (if they last that long).
Freeze: Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Thaw on the counter for an hour or so or in the fridge overnight before enjoying.
FAQs
A reader has reported back that they added a small amount of unflavored protein powder and these became chocolate coconut protein balls. I have not tested with protein powder, so proceed with caution and if you use a flavored protein powder, the taste will turn out different.
Unfortunately, no. Balls have to be refrigerated in order to keep their shape otherwise they will melt (coconut oil problems).
More No Bake Chocolate Desserts to Try
- Chocolate rice krispie treats
- Homemade crunch bars
- No bake peanut butter oat cups
- Date snickers
- Healthy rum balls
- Homemade peanut butter cups
Healthy Chocolate Coconut Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup cacao or cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 cup coconut flakes, unsweetened
- 1/4 cup quick, rolled or quick cooking steel cut oats
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium pot, melt coconut oil on low heat.
- Remove from heat and whisk in cacao powder and vanilla extract. Whisk in maple syrup.
- Add coconut flakes and oats, stir until well combined.
- Place mixture in a freezer for about 10 minutes.
- Line flat sheet or platter with parchment paper. Using small trigger scoop, form and roll golf size chocolate coconut balls placing on a platter.
- Freeze for 30 minutes. Enjoy chilled straight from the freezer or fridge.
Notes
- Serve: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 7 days. Warm up on a counter for 5 minutes.
- Freeze: For up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for an hour or so or in the fridge overnight before enjoying.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wow, these are amazing!! They taste just like Almond Joys only much healthier. Just perfect for those middle of the days when you start craving something sweet. Thank you for sharing your recipe! We plan to make several batches of these and keep them on hand.
Awesome!
Could I replace the cacao powder with melted semisweet chocolate? If so, what would be the right amount of substitute? Or any appropriate changes to the recipe? (Don’t have cacao powder at hand but a lot of smisweet & dark chocolate..)
Hmm. You would have to replace oil, cacao and maple syrup with melted chocolate. Hmm I’m not sure semisweet wouldn’t be too sweet and balls taste wise but you can try.
The first time I made this recipe, I had trouble with the balls. The maple syrup was cold, so I had a problem working with the hard mixture. They still tasted good though. I saw your note about cold maple syrup, so next time I only freezed them for a few minutes and then they were easier to work with and turned out better for the 30 minute freeze. Everyone here loves them. They are so delicious and slowly melt in your mouth. Thank you Olena for the great recipe!
Hi Kathleen! Glad this recipe worked out for you 🙂
My grandkids love these!
Olena. I wanted to get back to you, When I made your “balls” the second time I cut back a little on the cocoa powder. And what a difference. No aftertaste. Just delicious
Hi Miriam! So glad to hear that reducing the cocoa powder made the difference!
Loved this recipe, the texture is amazing. Used honey and desiccated coconut. I used a little less coconut oil and cocoa powder and added orange zest and squeezed a little orange juice.
Delicious and very chocolaty. I added a few drops of stevia.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Linda! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Yum! These really satisfy the chocolate/mounds/candy craving without the headache!
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed the recipe, Katja!
Hi Olena,
I want to make these healthy chocolate for my family. I need to ship them. My concern is, will they get soft and melted on the way. As I know, coconut oil has tendency to get soft. Please advise.
Thank you.
Hi Paige. Yes, they could unfortunately. I wouldn’t ship them.
Is there any other ingredient I could replace with the coconut oil?
Unfortunately not.
I got a bitter aftertaste. Not sure if I needed to add more coconut or make pure maple syrup. Any suggestions
Otherwise the balls were good
Less cacao powder then.
Perfect chocolate sweet tooth satisfier. My local health food store charges 5 dollars for a bag of 6 balls just like these. Hooray for being able to make at home!
Yes their prices can be crazy although super healthy lol.
I add 1 cup of oats and swap some of the cacao powder with chocolate vegan shakeology. I also add 1/4 cup of flax seed.