Ultimate Bakery-Style Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies: A Beloved Family Recipe

Every bite of these Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies is a journey back in time, inspired by my dear grandfather who had an undeniable passion for anything with coconut. If he were still here today, you’d be hard-pressed to get your hands on even one of these before he’d mysteriously squirrel them all away for himself! This recipe isn’t just about baking; it’s about recreating a treasured memory, a sweet echo of family warmth, and the irresistible charm of a truly exceptional cookie.

Freshly baked Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, generously topped and perfectly golden, stacked high on a ceramic plate ready to be enjoyed.

What truly sets this cookie apart, elevating it from a simple homemade treat to a sensational bakery-style delight, is a clever, yet easy, extra step: creating a lavish topping. Before baking, each cookie dough ball is gently dipped into a glorious mix of extra chocolate chips, crunchy pecans, and wonderfully crisp toasted coconut chips. This generous coating not only adds a stunning visual appeal, making each cookie as beautiful as it is delicious, but also infuses every mouthful with an explosion of rich flavors and delightful textures that will have you reaching for another.

Unlocking the Secrets to Perfect Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Achieving that coveted “bakery-style” perfection in a cookie often comes down to a few critical ingredients and techniques. For these Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, two elements, in particular, play a starring role in delivering an unparalleled texture and flavor that rivals any professional bake shop.

The Indispensable Toasted Coconut Chips

While shredded or flaked coconut are common ingredients in many recipes, our specific choice of toasted coconut chips is a game-changer. These aren’t your average flimsy flakes; they are substantial, shaved pieces of coconut that have been expertly toasted to a beautiful golden brown. This toasting process doesn’t just add color; it deepens their inherent sweetness and imparts a complex, nutty aroma. More importantly, their larger size and crisp texture provide a remarkable contrast to the soft, chewy cookie dough, offering a satisfying crunch that elevates the entire eating experience. It’s this unique texture that truly makes these cookies special.

The Magic of a Chopped Chocolate Bar Topping

Another key secret to capturing that irresistible bakery aesthetic and taste is how we handle the chocolate on top. Instead of simply relying on regular chocolate chips for the surface, we opt for a rough-chopped chocolate bar. When these uneven chunks of chocolate melt in the oven, they spread out into magnificent, glossy puddles of rich, molten chocolate that beautifully crown each cookie. This technique yields a far more appealing and intensely chocolatey finish than traditional chocolate chips, which tend to hold their shape and don’t create the same luxurious pools. The result is a cookie that not only looks incredibly tempting but also delivers an extraordinary burst of melted chocolate in every bite.

A beautifully arranged selection of all the necessary ingredients, including butter, sugars, eggs, flour, chocolate, pecans, and coconut chips, ready to be transformed into delicious cookies.

To embark on this delightful baking adventure, here’s a detailed list of the high-quality ingredients you’ll need:

Unsalted Butter, room temperature: The foundation for a tender, flavorful cookie. Ensuring it’s at room temperature is crucial for proper creaming.
Light Brown Sugar, packed: Provides moisture, a delectable chewiness, and a subtle, rich caramel flavor that pairs perfectly with coconut and pecans.
Granulated Sugar: Contributes to the cookies’ golden-brown edges and overall balanced sweetness.
Eggs: Act as a binder, add richness, and aid in the cookie’s structure and lift. Use large eggs for consistency.
Vanilla Extract: An essential flavor enhancer, amplifying the notes of chocolate, coconut, and pecan. Don’t skimp on quality!
All-Purpose Flour: The primary structural component of our dough, providing the perfect base for all the delicious mix-ins.
Kosher Salt: A non-negotiable ingredient that balances the sweetness and highlights the complex flavors of the chocolate and nuts.
Baking Soda: A leavening agent that creates a tender crumb and helps the cookies spread beautifully.
Semisweet Chocolate Chips: These melt into gooey pockets of chocolate throughout the cookie, offering classic indulgence.
Pecans, chopped: Adds a buttery, earthy crunch and rich flavor, both inside the dough and as part of our signature topping.
Toasted Coconut Chips: Our star ingredient for a unique, satisfying crunch and intensified tropical flavor.
Chocolate Bar, rough chopped: (Optional, but highly recommended for that true bakery finish!) Used exclusively for the topping to create those irresistible molten chocolate puddles.

For precise quantities and detailed instructions, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card conveniently located at the bottom of this page.

Baking Method: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cookie Perfection

Crafting these Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies is a joyful process. By following these methodical steps, you’ll ensure every batch emerges from the oven perfectly baked, bursting with flavor, and showcasing that irresistible bakery-style appeal.

Preparing the Luxuriously Rich Cookie Dough

The journey to an extraordinary cookie begins with a meticulously prepared dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine your softened room temperature unsalted butter with both the packed light brown sugar and granulated sugar. Cream these ingredients together on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes, or until the mixture becomes visibly light, fluffy, and takes on a pale, airy texture. This crucial step incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ eventual tenderness. Next, with the mixer still running on low speed, add the large eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to fully incorporate into the butter and sugar mixture before adding the next. This prevents the mixture from curdling. Finish by beating in the vanilla extract until it’s evenly distributed.

Two large eggs being added to the light and fluffy creamed butter and sugar mixture in a stand mixer, essential for creating a rich cookie dough base.

The process of gently blending all-purpose flour into the creamy cookie dough base in a mixer, ensuring no overmixing to maintain a tender texture.

In a separate bowl, briefly whisk together your dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, kosher salt, and baking soda. With the mixer on its lowest speed, gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing only until just combined and a few streaks of flour are still visible. It’s crucial not to overmix at this stage, as it can develop the gluten too much, leading to tough cookies. Finally, remove the bowl from the mixer and, using a sturdy spatula, gently fold in the semisweet chocolate chips and chopped pecans by hand. This gentle folding ensures even distribution without pulverizing the inclusions. Finish by carefully folding in the toasted coconut chips by hand; their delicate crispness is best preserved this way.

Crafting the Signature Topping and Expert Baking

Now, let’s create the element that truly defines these cookies as bakery-style! In a shallow, wide bowl, prepare your topping mixture. This should include an additional generous quantity of chopped pecans, more toasted coconut chips, and for that extra special touch, plenty of rough-chopped chocolate bar pieces. Using a large 2-ounce cookie scoop, portion out your dough. Take each individual dough ball and gently press its top directly into the prepared topping mixture, ensuring a plentiful coating of the delicious extras adheres to the surface. Arrange these beautifully adorned cookie dough balls approximately 3 inches apart on your parchment paper-lined baking sheets to allow for proper spreading.

A close-up shot of a bowl brimming with an enticing mixture of extra semisweet chocolate chips, crunchy toasted coconut chips, and chopped pecan pieces, ready to be used as a cookie topping.

The artistic process of carefully dipping a perfectly scooped cookie dough ball into the rich topping mixture, ensuring a generous coating of chocolate, coconut, and pecans.

Bake the cookies in your preheated oven until their edges turn a beautiful golden brown and their centers are just set, maintaining a delightful softness. For those who, like me, appreciate a cookie with a slightly crispier edge and a chewier, more crinkled appearance, here’s a pro tip: immediately after pulling the baking sheet from the oven, gently “whack” it on the counter a few times. This simple action causes the cookies to deflate slightly, creating those wonderful crinkles and enhancing the texture. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for approximately 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This resting period allows them to firm up without breaking.

A fresh batch of golden-brown Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, just out of the oven, showcasing their melted chocolate topping, still on the baking sheet.

A tempting tray of freshly baked Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, cooling on their baking sheet, filling the kitchen with their sweet aroma.

Expert Tips for Success and Delicious Variations

The Advantage of Chilling Your Cookie Dough

While these cookies are undeniably delicious baked fresh, chilling the dough offers notable advantages. A minimum of 30 minutes in the refrigerator, or even an overnight chill, allows the flavors to meld and intensify. More importantly, it firms up the butter, which prevents the cookies from spreading too rapidly in the oven, resulting in thicker, chewier cookies with a superior texture. For ultimate convenience, you can even scoop and top the dough balls, then freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding just a minute or two to the baking time, for fresh cookies anytime inspiration strikes.

Optimal Storage for Freshness

These Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies are at their absolute best when enjoyed shortly after baking, but they also store remarkably well. To maintain their deliciousness, place completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Honestly, if they last that long in your household, you’re doing better than most! For longer-term storage, freeze the baked cookies in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature or warm them briefly in the microwave for that delightful fresh-from-the-oven sensation.

Customizing Your Cookie Experience

Nutty Alternatives: If pecans aren’t your preference, feel free to substitute them with an equal amount of chopped walnuts, macadamia nuts, or even roasted almonds for a different nutty nuance.
Chocolate Adventures: Explore other chocolate varieties! Milk chocolate chips will add extra sweetness, dark chocolate chunks will provide a richer, more intense flavor, and even white chocolate chips could offer a creamy contrast.
Spice it Up: A hint of ground cinnamon or a touch of nutmeg added to the dry ingredients can introduce a wonderfully warm, cozy dimension to these cookies.
Citrus Zest Brightness: For a refreshing twist, fold in a teaspoon of finely grated orange or lemon zest with the vanilla extract. The citrus notes beautifully complement the coconut.

Once cooled, gather your loved ones and revel in these magnificent homemade cookies. There’s truly nothing quite like pairing their rich, sweet, and nutty flavors with a tall, frosty glass of your favorite milk, just as my grandfather always enjoyed them. It’s a simple pleasure that elevates these cookies into a comforting ritual.

A large, inviting Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookie being gently dipped into a tall glass of cold, fresh milk, showcasing its perfect dunking readiness.

The delicious aftermath: a giant Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookie, slightly softened by a dip in cold milk, ready for the next delightful bite.

The next time you find yourself yearning for a premium, artisanal cookie from a fancy bakery, save your money and head straight to your kitchen instead! With this recipe, you can effortlessly whip up an entire batch of these extraordinary Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies for a mere fraction of what you’d pay for a couple at a shop. Enjoy them throughout the week, share them with friends, or keep them all to yourself – these homemade delights are more than just a treat; they’re a comforting hug, a delightful indulgence, and a testament to the unparalleled joy of baking from scratch.

An inviting stack of freshly baked Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, artfully arranged on stacked plates, adorned with melted chocolate and nuts, ready to be served and cherished.

Discover More Delectable Cookie Recipes

If you’ve fallen head over heels for these Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies and are eager to expand your baking horizons, I have an abundance of other delightful cookie recipes waiting for you! For fellow peanut butter aficionados, you absolutely must try my Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies and my playfully delicious Fluffernutter Cookies. Perfect for celebrating spring or adding a festive touch to any occasion, my moist Carrot Cake Cookies and charming Haystack Cookies are particularly popular around Easter. And for those who appreciate the rich, nuanced flavors of nuts, I highly recommend exploring my exquisite Pistachio Cookies with Nutella and the delicate, flavorful Pistachio Amaretti Cookies. Each recipe promises a unique and satisfying homemade baking experience, ensuring there’s a perfect cookie for every palate.

Have you whipped up a batch of these irresistible Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies? I would absolutely love to hear about your experience! Please share your thoughts by leaving a review or comment below. And for a continuous stream of delicious recipes and baking inspiration, be sure to sign up for my newsletter, and follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

📖 Recipe

Yield: about 16 cookies

Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time:
15 minutes

Cook Time:
18 minutes

Total Time:
33 minutes

Inspired by a family favorite, these bakery-style Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies feature special toasted coconut chips and a generous, irresistible topping of chocolate and nuts. They’re a delightful treat that will bring warmth and joy to any occasion!

Ingredients

16 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1 cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
¾ cup Granulated Sugar
2 large Eggs
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt, Morton’s
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 ½ cups Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup Pecans, chopped + more for topping before baking
1 cup Toasted Coconut Chips + more for topping before baking
Chocolate Bar, rough chopped, for topping (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line three baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.

Cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.

Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs one at a time, beating until blended after each addition.

Add the vanilla extract and beat until well incorporated.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low until only a few streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix.

Reduce the speed to low and add 1½ cups of semisweet chocolate chips and 1 cup of chopped pecans. Mix just until no flour streaks remain. Gently fold in 1 cup of the toasted coconut chips by hand to prevent them from getting overly smashed or broken.

Using a large 2-ounce cookie scoop, scoop the dough onto one of the prepared baking sheets, to evenly portion all of the dough.

Prepare the topping: In a small, shallow bowl, combine the extra chopped pecans, extra coconut chips, and rough-chopped chocolate bar (if using). Dip the top of each cookie dough ball into this topping, pressing lightly to ensure a generous amount sticks. Place the cookies 3 inches apart on the prepared trays.

At this stage, you can bake the cookies immediately or place them in the fridge for 30 minutes, up to overnight, to allow flavors to develop and prevent spreading. Alternatively, freeze scooped and topped dough balls for later baking.

To bake, place two trays at a time into the preheated oven. Bake for 13-14 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are just set but still soft. For even baking, turn the cookie trays around and rotate the pans from the top and bottom racks halfway through cooking. For crispier cookies, gently “whack” the baking sheet on the counter immediately after removing from the oven.

Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Bake the remaining cookies in batches.

Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If they last that long, lol!

Notes

The secret to these bakery-style cookies is the topping! In a separate bowl, mix extra chocolate chips, pecans, and toasted coconut chips. Before baking, gently dip the top of each cookie in this mixture for a stunning finish and enhanced flavor.

For crispier edges and a chewier center, gently “whack” the hot baking tray on the counter a few times immediately after removing it from the oven. This helps the cookies flatten slightly and creates a delightful crinkly texture.

Using toasted coconut chips (shaved pieces) rather than shredded or flaked coconut provides superior texture and flavor. They toast up beautifully and add a wonderful crunch.

Don’t skip the chopped chocolate bar for the topping! As it melts, it creates beautiful pools of chocolate on top of your cookies, unlike regular chips which tend to hold their shape.

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Toasted Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies