Besitos de coco (Vegan coconut macaroons)

Besitos de coco – These quick and easy Puerto Rican style coconut macaroons are made with 5 ingredients and vegan friendly

If you’re a huge fan of all things coconut like I am then this sweet tooth treat is for you. They are known as besito de coco, a Latin American style coconut macaroons made with only a handful of ingredients. They are great to satisfy a sweet tooth or simply make to impress any household guests. Whatever the case you will be totally in love with this recipe.

What are besitos de coco?

Besitos de coco actually translates to “coconut kisses” I don’t know the exact origins of the name nor why it’s called that either.

Anyway, it’s a sort of coconut macaroon that is made from shredded coconut, sugar and eggs.

Although some people add vanilla, flour and butter to their recipe. This makes it into a more cookie style of recipe instead.

Besitos de coco vegan style

In true Charla style I decided to flip the entire recipe on its head by making it vegan. The butter and eggs have been omitted and instead I opted for some vegan condensed milk.

The vegan condensed milk acts as a binder in place of the aforementioned ingredients.

After making this recipe a few times – vegan vs non vegan, I liked the results slightly better with the vegan version. Plus it caters to ALL dietary needs.

There’s no need to look for a substitute ingredients or asking if this or that ingredients will work instead.

How to make besitos de coco

You will need the following;

• Shredded coconut
• Vegan condensed milk
• Coconut sugar
• Gluten free flour
• vanilla

Dry ingredients – Once you have measured the ingredients you need, place the coconut in the bowl with the gluten free flour and coconut milk. Just use a wooden spoon to stir everything together.

Wet ingredients – Add the vanilla and then the vegan condensed milk. I found that a heaping cup worth is suffice to combine everything together.

The mixture – it might not come together in a ball but it shouldn’t be dry and crumbly in your hands. You should be able to squeeze the mixture together using finger tips, that’s when you know you have enough dry to wet ratio

Shaping the macaroons – you can use either an ice scoop, a spoon with depth like a measuring one or even your hands to shape the coconut mixture into macaroons. I used my measuring spoon to form little half circles.

This coconut kisses recipe is 

• Vegan friendly
• Contains coconut sugar so suitable for diabetics
• Gluten free

How to make besitos de coco (with pictures)

Place the coconut and flour in a bowl and stir.

Add the coconut sugar and vanilla to the coconut mixture

Finally add the vegan condensed milk and shape the coconut mixture into macaroons then bake.

Besitos de coco

Learn how to make these delicious vegan Puerto Rican style coconut macaroons (besitos de coco)

• Author: Charla
• Prep Time: 10
• Cook Time: 15
• Total Time: 25
• Yield: 4
• Category: Appetiser
• Cuisine: Caribbean

Ingredients

3 cups of shredded coconut

1 cup of gluten free flour

1 heaping cup of vegan condensed milk

1/4 cup of coconut sugar

1 tsp of vanilla

Instructions

Line a tray with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 160 (325f)

In a medium bowl, place the coconut along with the gluten free flour and stir.

Add the vanilla and then pour in the vegan condensed coconut milk

Use a spoon to mix everything together so it congeals

Use a spoon (or hands) to form the coconut mixture into macaroons

Bake in the oven until slightly golden (should take 10-15 minutes). Keep an eye on the oven while they bake because they have the potential to burn quite quickly