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German Chocolate Cookies Recipe

4.6 from 583 reviews

These German Chocolate Cookies blend rich cocoa with shredded coconut, chopped pecans, and chunks of semisweet German chocolate for a decadent treat. Soft and chewy with a slightly crisp edge, they offer all the classic flavors of German chocolate cake in a convenient cookie form.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter (melted)
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt

Add-Ins

  • ¾ cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
  • 2 ounces semisweet or German chocolate (chopped)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
  2. Combine Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, stir the brown sugar thoroughly into the melted butter until well combined.
  3. Rest Mixture: Let the butter and sugar mixture stand for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the temperature to settle.
  4. Add Eggs: Add the whole egg and egg yolk to the mixture, stirring until everything is combined smoothly.
  5. Add Vanilla: Stir in the vanilla extract to incorporate its rich flavor into the batter.
  6. Mix Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and kosher salt to the wet ingredients. Stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing.
  7. Fold in Add-Ins: Carefully stir in the sweetened shredded coconut, chopped pecans, and chopped semisweet or German chocolate pieces, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
  8. Portion Dough: Using a medium cookie scoop (about 1.5 tablespoons), drop scoops of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
  9. Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set and start to turn slightly firm while the centers remain soft.
  10. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Use a medium cookie scoop to ensure uniform cookie sizes for even baking.
  • Do not overmix the dough after adding the dry ingredients to maintain a tender texture.
  • Ensure cookies have enough space on the baking sheet to spread without merging.
  • Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can improve texture and control spreading if desired.
  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.

Keywords: German chocolate cookies, coconut cookies, pecan cookies, chocolate chunk cookies, easy cookies, holiday cookies, cocoa cookies