Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes 25 Spectacular Shredded Coconut Recipes By Kelly Vaughan Kelly Vaughan Kelly is a former associate digital food editor for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Published on February 23, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Johnny Miller Sweetened or unsweetened, there's no denying that shredded coconut is a fabulous ingredient that can instantly elevate both sweet and savory recipes. Here, we're sharing recipes that showcase its sweeter side. For starters, see how it transforms the delicate Meyer-Lemon and Coconut Layer Cake that's pictured here. There's coconut oil in the batter, which adds moistness and flavor, but the real magic happens in the frosting and decoration. The buttercream is made from sugar, whipped egg whites, coconut oil, and lots of butter. The frosting is spread over the top and sides of the cake, then it's coated with toasted shredded coconut and candied lemon for a delightful spring dessert. Shredded coconut is also a stellar ingredient in cake batter, such as a Hummingbird Cake, a southern twist on carrot cake that also includes canned pineapple and a rich cream cheese frosting. Or mix it into chocolate chip cookies for a bite that's full of texture and a boost of sweetness. It's not just for sweet treats, though. Shredded coconut is also a staple in some of our favorite savory recipes, most notably, coconut-crusted shrimp. Coat everyone's favorite shellfish in a combination of panko breadcrumbs and shredded coconut, then pan-fry them until they're golden brown and crispy. It will instantly transport you to a warm, tropical location no matter where you're dining. Or sprinkle toasted shredded coconut over grilled vegetables before serving, which adds extra crunch to a delicious seasonal appetizer or side dish. Fruit-based trifles, donuts, ice cream, and chocolate pies galore—ahead, we're sharing 25 of our favorite sweet recipes that feature shredded coconut. 01 of 24 Chocolate-Chip Oat-Coconut Skillet Cookie The Ingalls Who wouldn't want to dig into this family-friendly skillet cookie? When served warm, the chocolate is ooey-gooey, the center is soft and chewy, but the edges are crisp to perfection. View Recipe 02 of 24 Crisp Coconut and Chocolate Pie Johnny Miller No one would ever guess that this gluten-free stunning dessert is made with just four ingredients—unsalted butter, sweetened shredded coconut, semisweet chocolate, and heavy cream. View Recipe 03 of 24 Coconut-Chocolate Macaroons Johnny Miller It wouldn't be a proper coconut recipe roundup without including coconut macaroon cookies dipped in melted chocolate. They're a staple! View Recipe 04 of 24 German Chocolate Bundt Cake Marcus Nilsson Pecans and shredded coconut distinguish German chocolate cake from any other rich, fudgy chocolate cake. They bring texture and unique nuttiness that no one will be able to pass up. View Recipe 05 of 24 Hummingbird Carrot Cake Chris Simpson Everyone knows and loves regular carrot cake, but this version takes it to the next level by adding canned pineapple and shredded coconut to the batter. View Recipe 06 of 24 Tropical-Fruit Salad with Coconut Crunch Petrina Tinslay This is no ordinary fruit salad—upgrade juicy fruit like mangoes, papaya, strawberries, and pineapple with a crunchy, crumbly topping made from unsweetened shredded coconut, poppy seeds, Meyer lemon zest, and honey. View Recipe 07 of 24 Almond-Coconut Chewy Chocolate Cookies Chris Simpson Gluten-free and jam-packed with delicious, decadent ingredients like bittersweet chocolate, roasted almonds, and shredded coconut, these cookies are a guaranteed hit. View Recipe 08 of 24 Granola Bark Lennart Weibull This sweet snack is loaded with nuts and seeds, oats, shredded coconut, and just a touch of maple syrup. View Recipe 09 of 24 Giant Cowboy Cookies Mike Krautter These chewy, nutty cookies feature a spectacularly sweet combination of bittersweet chocolate, chopped pecan halves, and unsweetened shredded coconut. View Recipe 10 of 24 Pomegranate-Coconut Trifle Ryan Liebe Here's a stunning dessert that is perfect for your holiday table. Ladyfingers are layered with homemade pomegranate gelatin, vanilla pudding, and coconut gelatin. The whole thing is topped with whipped cream and shredded toasted coconut. View Recipe 11 of 24 Double-Coconut Cream Pie Johnny Miller There's shredded coconut in the crust, the filling, and topping for this sweet-as-can-be pie. It gets even more flavor from the coconut milk in the custard filling. View Recipe 12 of 24 Coconut Eclairs Mike Krautter Just the thing for a coconut lover, this take on the eclair has a custard filling made with shredded coconut and coconut milk as well as the usual eggs, dairy, and sugar. Coconut cream is used for the glaze on top, along with a garnish of toasted shredded coconut. View Recipe 13 of 24 Gluten-Free Baked Coconut Donuts Will Anderson These baked donuts have a triple dose of coconut: sweetened shredded coconut, coconut oil, and coconut milk are all mixed into the batter. View Recipe 14 of 24 Snowball Truffles Louise Hagger You don't need much to make these simple but elegant treats for the holiday season—just roasted cashews, unsweetened shredded coconut, white chocolate, and heavy cream. View Recipe 15 of 24 Cherry-and-Cream-Cheese Hand Pies Kate Mathis When sour cherries are at their peak in summer, make these adorable puff pastry hand pies that are filled with cream cheese, the cherries, and sweetened shredded coconut. View Recipe 16 of 24 German Chocolate Pie Joanna Garcia A twist on the traditional German Chocolate Cake, this shredded coconut recipe is served in the form of a super sweet pie. View Recipe 17 of 24 Powdered-Sugar Coconut Layer Cake Will Anderson The perfect pairing of unsweetened coconut milk and sweetened shredded coconut amps up the coconut flavor in this dessert recipe. Although we decorated this cake with buttercream-piped Christmas trees, you can easily serve it any time of year. View Recipe 18 of 24 Heart-Shaped Coconut Cake Bryan Gardner Show off your love with this coconut-studded dessert that features sweetened, shredded coconut in the cake batter. View Recipe 19 of 24 Coconut-Chocolate Sundaes Marcus Nilsson Make these toppings for the ultimate ice cream sundae party—our Vanilla-Bourbon Butterscotch Sauce and Chocolate, Almond, and Coconut Clusters—then follow this recipe to build one epic frozen treat. View Recipe 20 of 24 Coconut Meringue Cakes Johnny Miller Take dessert to the next level by sprinkling meringue discs with finely shredded coconut before baking. Then create individual layered treats by topping a meringue disc with coconut sorbet, then another meringue, more sorbet, and finishing with a coconut-coated meringue. View Recipe 21 of 24 Coconut Ice Cream Mike Krautter The duo of shredded sweetened coconut and toasted unsweetened coconut flakes star in this homemade ice cream. View Recipe 22 of 24 Coconut Cake with Meringue Frosting Bryan Gardner This super-coconutty recipe for an angelic cake is made with unsweetened coconut milk and sweetened shredded coconut in the cake batter, plus fresh coconut curls on top for a garnish. View Recipe 23 of 24 Chocolate-Coconut Sheet Cake Chris Court Crowd-friendly and easy to make, this sheet cake is a surefire win. Bonus points for the chocolate-coconut topping that is spread over the top of the rich, fudgy cake. View Recipe 24 of 24 Lane Cake Yossy Arefi In between the many layers of the lightest, airiest yellow cake you've ever tasted is a fantastic combination of bourbon, shredded coconut, raisins, pecans, and candied kumquats. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit