German Chocolate Cookies Recipe (2024)

Ratings

5

out of 5

2,438

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

ACF

Delicious - all the decadence of German chocolate cake in cookie form. I don’t care for the cloying quality of sweetened shredded coconut so I used unsweetened coconut instead and then used a 50/50 mix of chopped bittersweet and semisweet chocolate to make up for some of the lost sweetness. The first batch of cookies did not flatten as much as I would have liked so I flattened the dough before baking the next batch and they came out perfectly. This is going to become a staple in my house!

josee

I just finished baking this exactly as instructed except I toasted the pecans as well as the coconut. This might make it to my top 3 favorite cookie recipes along with the ricotta cookies and Mexican wedding cookies. Heaven in every bite. The flavors and the texture are perfect.

Lisa

Very easy and very good. Should never again make them with just two of us in the house.

apyati

Delicious, but I would say that they need to be flattened before baking to resemble the cookies in the photo. I thought they would spread in the oven, but they didn’t. Regardless, tasty flavor combo. And I, also, used unsweetened coconut, and they came out delicious.

Terry

This is one of the best cookies we've ever made (and we've made a lot of cookies). Followed the instructions exactly except toasted the pecans as well as the coconut. Will make again with no modifications.In case anyone is interested, if you weigh your cookie dough to about 38 grams each, you'll have exactly the right number of cookies.

Michelle

HOLY SMOKES! These cookies are so good! Some notes:1. I roll them into a ball and then press down on them with the back of a wooden spoon and I like that shape much better.2. When adding the vanilla extract, I also add 1 t. of coffee extract. Coffee brings out the flavors in chocolate so well.3. A great variation: skip the nuts, don't toast the coconut, and when adding the vanilla, add 2 t.s of orange extract and the zest of one orange. Chocolate orange cookies! (Skip coffee in this one)

Scratchy

Scrumptious, but don't over-bake!! I am not a trusting person; this transfers to my baking. With these cookies, trust that they are still ok even if they come out of the oven gooey-ish. Otherwise you won't achieve that marvelous cake-like texture after cooling. Yes to ACF's comment about using unsweetened coconut (or 50/50). I'd also add less chocolate chips. I like sweet, but 170g of bittersweet chips was overkill in this already chocolatey cookie, IMO.

Doug

Used unsweetened coconut. Try to find larger shreds for better texture. Used 6 oz Ghiradelli 60% chocolate chopped 1/3 to 1/4”. #40 scoop gave 32 cookies. Very dark chocolate and oh so delicious soft cookies. Tops on my list of favorites. Baking on silicone silpat sheets saves wasting parchment. I use them for all my cookies and I bake a lot.

Nini VIcchio

I am a German Chocolate Cake lover and found these delicious. I am allergic to gluten so I used Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 flour with an extra egg yolk for moisture. I did NOT toast the coconut for extra chew but DID toast the pecans for enhanced flavor. I also melted 14 caramels with 1 1/2 TBS. of water to drizzle over the top of the cookies once they were cooled.Thanks to everyone before me for wonderful tips!

Melissa

I would recommend the following things: 1. Doubling the recipe, you could easily make a full batch with minimal effort. 2. Put the nuts and the coconut in the toaster oven immediately, then they'll be ready when you get the rest of the ingredients in the recipe going and it's not as much of an extra step. 3. Decrease the amount of coconut and pecans slightly, my cookies could hardly hold together. Overall they were delicious and as easy as making chocolate chips cookies!!

Izzie

Josee, May I have your ricotta cookie recipe? Thanks!

Lisa

My first batch of these came out rather dry, more like biscotti than the chewy cookies I was expecting. For the next batch -- "You make it first, then you make it right," says a chef I know -- I doubled the eggs and chopped the chocolate and pecans a little more finely which made the cookies moist and delicious. Like some others, I also used unsweetened coconut which was still plenty sweet.

The Gourmet Foodie

Ridiculously easy and oh, so delicious!Run, don't walk to make these! Yummo!

RosebudTX

Do not squish the dough before you put it in the oven! Put it in in balls as indicated, don’t overcook (I did 9-1/2 min) and then, as instructed, take them out of the oven and hit the cookie sheet on a work surface a couple/few times. They will immediately flatten, get a nice fissured top and look just like the photo. It was pretty cool how it worked! The inside will still be slightly gooey, but once cooled completely they will be soft inside, not melty. Even better the next day!

Jacob

OMG these are GOOD. As others have noted, if you want the cookies to look like the ones in the picture, you need to flatten the balls a bit before putting them in the oven. I pressed them to look like burger patties and they came out with a bakery quality look. I’ve made once with cashews in place of the pecans and once without nuts altogether; both batches were equally delicious.

dee

OMG… amazingUsed 50/50 unsweetened to sweetened coconut Used slightly less chocolate chips (and cut them up)Roasted the pecans with the coconuts (see notes).

Naz

Amazing cookies and you can't just eat one so watch out! Made as instructed, toasted the coconut (used half unsweetened).Make sure to bang the cookie sheet when you take them out of the oven as the cookies come out perfectly as shown in photo. Also makes a perfect 2 dozen.

meg

I’m in the minority here but I thought these were just an okay cookie. The cookie is fine, not great. The bigger problem to me is they’re nothing like you’d expect when calling them a German Chocolate Cookie. Yes there is chocolate, pecans, and coconut but the outcome is nothing like a German chocolate cake inspired flavor. The chocolate is very strong, the coconut is almost imperceptible, and you don’t get much nuttiness from the pecans.

Mish

Try baking powder next time. Really good but they didn’t puff or spread well

GolfTan

I weighed all ingredients and used a 2T scoop and it made 24 perfectly shaped cookies. Even with soft butter it is a stiff batter but fine with my mixer. This recipe is definitely a keeper for friends and family!

FM

Very chocolatey. I made some with nuts and some without. The chocolate/coconut only ones were also delicious.

Nancy Matt

Wow, yummy! I used unsweetened coconut, and didn’t bother toasting because i was in a hurry. Still delicious!

Erina C.

I've made these twice. They were good the first time when I followed the recipe, but great the second time! Improvements: I didn't toast the coconut ahead of time, and used only 85g of coconut because that's all I had. They spread better and were much softer and chewier. I used Trader Joe's sipping chocolate mix both times because that's what I had instead of cocoa powder and it worked great! I did pre-flatten them a bit with a spatula per other comments' recommendations.

Used Puff Pastry

Made it exactly as per instructions - perfect cookie!

bunnie

These cookies are delicious but they don’t make 24. I used a 2 tbsp cookie scoop and weighed each scoop as well and it made 14 cookies. I used unsweetened coconut and I can’t imagine how sweet they would be otherwise. Definitely a fun interpretation of a delicious cake.

Bruno B.

Awful. All these wonderful ingredients did not come together well. Throwing the whole batch away.

Lori

I used dark and light brown sugar and here in the UK, 80% dark chocolate finely chopped. I then decorated them with edible gold powder, for Christmas gifts.Very tasty

Kathy

I just made these as written -- and did not find them too sweet (and I've been educated a bit in that department by my European partner!) I'm wondering if all realize that it's bittersweet --not semi-sweet-- chocolate that's called for. Really nice cookie!

CanuckCook

I was worried about the dryness others had noted, so I reduced the cocoa to 35 grams. It was still dry and difficult to work with, so I added 2 tbsp milk as per a King Arthur Flour chocolate cookies recipe with mix-ins. The results were fantastic!

CanuckCook

I also used unsweetened toasted coconut, so these were sweet but not cloying.

Private notes are only visible to you.

German Chocolate Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular cookie in Germany? ›

Lebkuchen. This traditional German cookie is one of the most popular around Christmastime because it has those classic gingerbread flavors. The soft, chewy, and lightly glazed treats are a must-have for your cookie plate. Get the Lebkuchen recipe at A Beautiful Plate.

What is different about German chocolate? ›

German chocolate cake uses a particular kind of baking chocolate as its base, one which has a milder, sweeter profile thanks in part to lecithin, a fatty substance derived from egg yolks. In contrast, classic chocolate cake recipes often use cocoa powder or darker chocolate for a richer, more intense flavor.

What is special about German Chocolate Cake? ›

The name German chocolate cake is a little deceiving as it is not actually a German dessert and traditionally the cake is a lighter colored cake with a mild chocolate taste and the entire cake is usually covered in coconut pecan frosting.

What is German chocolate filling made of? ›

German chocolate cake frosting is well-known for its distinctive flavor and texture combination, which gives cakes a delightfully rich coating. Made with sugar, butter, egg yolks, evaporated milk, chopped nuts, and shredded coconut, it's a sweet treat.

What is the number one dessert in Germany? ›

The Apfelstrudel is the most popular pastry in Germany. Germans often top Apfelstrudel with vanilla cream and whipped cream. What is Germany's most famous dessert? Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is Germany's most famous dessert.

What is the 1 cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What is the most famous chocolate in Germany? ›

Milka is one of the most renowned chocolate brands in Germany and internationally. The eye-catching lilac packaging is easy to spot on any supermarket shelf. Milka was originally founded in Switzerland, but the company is now US-owned, and the chocolate bars have been manufactured in Germany since 1901.

Which brand of German chocolate is famous? ›

Reber Chocolate

Opened by Peter Reber in 1865, this Munich-based confectionery company is best known for its tantalizingly sweet and flavorful Reber Mozart-Kugeln. As a traditional German treat, it's already well-loved by those who have lived in or traveled to this European country.

What do Germans call chocolate? ›

1. Schokolade f. (hot or drinking) chocolate Schokolade f, Kakao m.

Is German chocolate cake a Southern thing? ›

German chocolate cake is Southern baking at its best. Despite the name, German chocolate cake was born in Dallas in the 1950s. This dessert remains just as popular today, thanks to its ridiculously rich coconut-pecan frosting.

Why is German chocolate so good? ›

That said however, the general quality of mass-market chocolates in Germany tend to be a lot better than those in the US. This is due to a combination of factors, including a longer history and cultural attachment to quality chocolate, as well as stricter rules about quality and ingredients.

Is red velvet cake the same as German chocolate? ›

In a classic red velvet cake, cream cheese frosting is paired but the cake can be really be frosted with anything. Although red velvet does contain a bit of cocoa powder in it, it is not considered to be a chocolate cake in the same way a German or Belgian cake would be.

What is the frosting on German Chocolate Cake made of? ›

It's usually just called "coconut pecan frosting" or "German chocolate cake frosting." It's made with sugar, evaporated milk, egg yolks, butter, sometimes vanilla, and it's cooked in a pan on the stove.

Why is my German Chocolate Cake crumbly? ›

One possibility is that the ingredients weren't properly combined. When making a cake, it's important to cream the butter and sugar together until they're light and fluffy. If you don't do this, the cake will be dense and heavy, and more likely to fall apart. Another possibility is that the cake was overcooked.

Does German Chocolate Cake have anything to do with Germany? ›

A common misconception is that German Chocolate Cake comes from Germany. In fact, the name comes from American baker, Samuel German, who developed a type of dark baking chocolate in 1852. The baking chocolate was then named Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate in honor of German.

What kind of cookies do they eat in Germany? ›

Cookies
  • Berlin Bread * Berliner Brot. By Barbara / December 4, 2023. ...
  • Linzer Cookies. By Barbara / February 28, 2023. ...
  • Domino Stones – Dominosteine – Chocolate Dominos. ...
  • Slab Cookies – German Style. ...
  • Peppernuts – Pfeffernüsse. ...
  • German Candy “Nippon” ...
  • Russian Bread (cookies) – German Alphabet Cookies. ...
  • Mutzenmandeln – Carnival Donuts.

Which word is a common German cookie? ›

Lebkuchen is a traditional German cookie that is usually baked for Christmas.

What do Germans call cookies? ›

Kekse are biscuits/cookies in general while Plätzchen are a Christmas speciality, although the terms are somewhat interchangeable.

What is Europe's favorite cookie? ›

Europe's Favorite Cookie with CoffeeSince 1932, Biscoff® cookies have been Europe's coffee break favorite. Delectably crunchy, with a simple, yet refined flavor, Biscoff cookies are perfect for taking the timeout that you deserve.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 5675

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.