20 Best Coconut Dessert Recipes for a Taste of the Tropics
Cakes, cookies, pies, and more! 🥥
Every item on this page was chosen by an editor from The Pioneer Woman. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
There aren't a ton of ways to transport yourself to the tropics without buying a flight, but adding a dash of coconut to your plate sure doesn't hurt! Whether it's served savory in dishes like crispy coconut shrimp or sweet in classic coconut cake, you can't go wrong with adding the distinct taste and chewy deliciousness of coconut to a plethora of recipes. Here, you'll find coconut used in a variety of sweet ways, like cookies, fruit desserts, and chocolate treats, too. So go ahead and check out this list of the best coconut desserts—they'll have you going crazy for coconut in no time!
If you think about it, coconut is a very versatile ingredient. You can use coconut milk, cream, and water to infuse flavor and create dairy-free recipes. You can toast coconut to maximize the nuttiness. Thanks to its chewiness, it can also serve as a supportive ingredient, bringing more texture than flavor to a dessert. (Even coconut haters enjoy these kinds of recipes, too!)
Of course, we included the classic coconut dessert recipes like coconut cream pie, so you can truly enjoy the full flavor. And since it pairs so well with so many other ingredients (see, we told you it was versatile!), you'll find plenty of lemon dessert recipes and pineapple recipes. So get ready to crack open a can, a bag, or a fresh one if you're daring, because you're about to go crazy for these coconut desserts!
Tropical Fruit Galette
For another tasty coconut-fruit combination, try this tropical galette that's full of sweet mango, pineapple, and kiwi atop a crispy pie crust! The coconut-lime glaze drizzle and secret layer of chopped coconut flakes and macadamia nuts make this treat a true slice of paradise!
Get the Tropical Fruit Galette recipe.
Sunrise Fruit Salad
Elevate your fruit plate with a toasted coconut topping! It adds a nutty crunch to this colorful fruit salad featuring juicy oranges, watermelon, mango, canteloupe, and pineapple.
Get Ree's Sunrise Fruit Salad recipe.
Bird's Nest Cookies
Made to resemble baby bird nests, these creative cookies are the ultimate springtime treat! A mixture of chow mein noodles, almonds, and coconut flakes make the nest-like base of these cookies, which pair perfectly with the mini candy-coated eggs on top.
Get Ree's Bird's Nest Cookies recipe.
Chocolate-Marshmallow Bars
If you love s'mores, you'll go crazy for these scrumptious cookie bars that are basically an elevated version of the summer treat! In addition to the classic flavors of chocolate and marshmallow, these bars are made even sweeter with a shortbread cookie base and sweetened shredded coconut.
Get Ree's Chocolate-Marshmallow Bars recipe.
Gingerbread-Spiced Cinnamon Rolls
Take warm, pillowy cinnamon rolls to the next level with a gingerbread spice filling and creamy coconut icing! Top them with shredded coconut for even more tropical goodness.
German Chocolate Cake
If you really have a sweet tooth, this one is for you! It takes a little time to assemble. But trust us, the sweet coconut pecan filling paired with the rich chocolate cake is worth the effort!
Get the German Chocolate Cake recipe.
Coconut Cream Pie
Lovers of the sweet stuff will tell you this classic dessert is one of the best pie recipes of all time. And we agree! With a flaky crust, sweet custard filling, and fresh whipped cream, it's a tasty bite no matter the time of year.
Get the Coconut Cream Pie recipe.
Ambrosia Salad
If you haven't tried this retro dish, you're missing out! Is it a side dish? Is it a brunch food? Is it a dessert? We think it's everything, with its mix of oranges, pineapples, cherries, marshmallows, and coconut. Plus, you can't feel bad about having seconds when it's called a "salad," right?
Get the Ambrosia Salad recipe.
Coconut Layer Cake
Ree's super popular cake recipe gets a double boost of coconut flavor thanks to extract in the cake and frosting, plus lots of shredded coconut on the outside. Bonus: Coconut makes the prettiest and easiest decoration, so you don't have to fuss!
Get Ree's Coconut Layer Cake recipe.
German Chocolate Pie
If you like the flavors of the classic cake―chocolate, coconut, pecans―why not try the pie version? The center is a dense and fudgy, which pairs really well with light and airy whipped cream.
Get Ree's German Chocolate Pie recipe.
Cowboy Cookies
The ultimate way to trick a coconut hater is to hide it in an amazing cookie like this! They'll taste the chocolate, pecans, oats, and cinnamon before they'll ever wonder where the chewiness comes in.
Get the Cowboy Cookies recipe.
Lemon Coconut Pudding Cups
Refreshing and creamy, these individual desserts are a great way to try your hand at making pudding from scratch. The filling only needs to boil for a minute! The real work is waiting patiently for it to set.
Get the Lemon Coconut Pudding Cups recipe.
Piña Colada Cake
Just as the song says, if you like piña coladas... then you'll definitely love this cake. Okay, we know those aren't the lyrics, but they should be! A pineapple cake gets even moister with a soak of rum, coconut, and lime and then gets finished off with a creamy coconut topping. Hello, taste of the tropics!
Get the Piña Colada Cake recipe.
No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Another vintage treat are these no-bake cookies! Flavors of chocolate, oats, peanut butter, and coconut come together for an addictively chewy cookie that only takes five minutes on the stove to make.
Coconut Whipped Cream
A great dairy-free alternative to regular whipped cream, coconut whipped cream is just as airy and delicious. All you need to make it is refrigerated full-fat coconut milk! For extra coconut flavor, you can add extract or keep it simple as is on any dessert.
Get the Coconut Whipped Cream recipe.
7-Layer Cookies
Here's another classic, nostalgic treat that just wouldn't be the same without coconut... or chocolate, graham crackers, nuts, butter, and sweetened condensed milk. Is your inner child drooling yet? Ours is, too!
Get the 7-Layer Cookies recipe.
Chocolate-Dipped Cherry Macaroons
The flavors of chocolate and cherry give these classic coconut cookies a fun and colorful twist. Maraschino cherries add even extra chew, so if that's the kind of texture you like, you'll absolutely adore these!
Italian Cream Cupcakes
Simple buttermilk cake gets the wow factor thanks to the frosting. Cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, coconut, pecans―these flavors really make an ordinary dessert extraordinary in just a few simple steps.
Get Ree's Italian Cream Cupcakes recipe.
Dairy-Free Almond Joy Ice Cream
A joyous recipe for dairy-free fans (and heck, all ice cream fans) is this frozen take on the classic candy bar. It has triple the coconut thanks to coconut milk, coconut cream, and shredded coconut. Add in cocoa and slivered almonds, and you've got yourself a winner!
Easter Chocolate Coconut Truffle Spoons
These fun little bite-sized treats are perfect for Easter, of course, but you can make them anytime. Made from easy pantry ingredients like marshmallow fluff, coconut, and chocolate, they come together in less than a half hour.
Cowboy Cookie Bars Are Ladd's Ideal Snack
Serve Golden Honey Cake With Tea or Coffee
How To Make Easy Cinnamon Roll Peach Cobbler
38 Easy Tailgate Desserts to Pack Up for Game Day
