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German Chocolate Cookies

Delight in these chewy, chocolatey German Chocolate Cookies, infused with sweetened coconut and crunchy pecans, reminiscent of the classic German Chocolate Cake.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, German
Calories: 200

Ingredients
  

For the Cookie Base
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature Always use higher-quality butter for the best flavor.
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil Can be substituted with melted coconut oil for a tropical twist.
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Use pure vanilla for an authentic flavor.
  • 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour Spoon and level for precise measuring.
  • 1 cup Dutch-process cocoa This gives your cookies that deep, dark color and flavor.
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/2 cup sweetened coconut Look for flaked coconut for better texture.
For the Frosting
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped Toasting them lightly enhances the flavor.
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut For topping.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the room temperature butter, granulated sugar, and confectioners' sugar. Mix until just combined—no need for it to be airy!
  3. Drizzle in the vegetable oil, and add the eggs, water, and vanilla extract. Mix until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
  4. In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, Dutch-process cocoa, kosher salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar. This will help evenly distribute the dry ingredients.
  5. Gradually add the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough begins pulling away from the sides of the bowl.
  6. Gently fold in the sweetened coconut until well incorporated.
Baking
  1. Use a 2-tablespoon scoop to drop dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Flatten each ball slightly with a glass dusted with sugar.
  2. Bake in the preheated oven for 7-8 minutes. The edges should be set, and they may look slightly underbaked in the center—the cookies will continue to cook as they cool.
Frosting
  1. While the cookies cool, combine sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until thickened (about 10 minutes).
  2. Once thickened, remove it from heat. Stir in vanilla, pecans, and sweetened shredded coconut.
  3. Once the cookies are cool, generously spoon about a tablespoon of the coconut-pecan frosting on each cookie.

Notes

Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days at room temperature. For longer storage, freeze for up to two months.