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    You are here: Home / Courses / Desserts / Chocolate Coconut Clusters

    Chocolate Coconut Clusters

    30 January 2023 - By Michelle Minnaar
    This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Jump to Recipe

    If you’re on the lookout for an exciting new snack to satisfy your sweet tooth, look no further than this chocolate coconut clusters recipe!

    Chocolate Coconut Clusters in a bowl.

    You’ve got to love that chocolate and coconut taste – such a delicious combination, and what’s not to like about homemade candy? 

    Simply put, this chocolate coconut clusters recipe is so easy, yet so effective. You’re going to love it! 

    When I was about four years old my mother made finger foods for the church on every odd Sunday. This chocolate coconut clusters recipe was one of the recipes she made. 

    Like any typical kid I especially wanted to help her make these blobs of chocolate heaven. Constantly I was told to keep my fingers out of the sweet, thick mixture but how could I resist? At least I got to lick the pot out afterwards. 

    During sermons all I could think about was my “sjokolade jungle oat koekies” (chocolate jungle oat cookies), wishing the dominie (reverend) would hurry up and come to a conclusion. Any conclusion, I simply didn’t care, as long as I could eat my “koekies!”

    When the sermon finished at last I would race downstairs to the eating hall and wait impatiently as the women dawdled getting all the food ready. When the cling film was removed, I pounced. Bliss!

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

    Here’s why this delicious recipe will rock your world…

    • The mix of melted chocolate, coconut and vanilla flavors are just divine.
    • It’s such an easy recipe to make, with only 7 simple ingredients and a total recipe time of just over 5 minutes.
    • It’s far healthier than shop bought alternatives.
    ingredients for Chocolate Coconut Clusters.

    Equipment Needed To Make This Recipe

    There are a few essential items you’ll need to make this chocolate coconut clusters recipe:

    • Small cooking pot – it’s best to use a pot with a small surface area for this recipe, because the mixture can dry very quickly.
    • Baking sheet – a medium baking sheet is the best way to cool your clusters. Be sure to line it with non-stick or greased parchment paper.
    • Wooden spoon – the best tool to mix up your chocolate coconut clusters mixture
    • Weighing scales – don’t leave measurements to chance. When it comes to making this chocolate coconut clusters recipe, precision is key, and a quality set of kitchen weighing scales makes all the difference.

    How To Make Chocolate Coconut Clusters

    ingredients in pot.

    Place the butter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla paste and milk in a pot.

    bubbling chocolate sauce.

    Slowly heat the ingredients while stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Then simmer for 5 minutes.

    add oats and coconut to chocolate.

    Add the oats and coconut.

    chocolate mixture.

    Stir until everything well incorporated. Let the mixture cool slightly then form into balls. Enjoy!

    Top Tip

    Stir the mixture properly, before leaving it to set.

    Variations To This Recipe

    Use molds

    Instead of spooning your chocolate coconut flakes onto a baking sheet in order to cool, you could instead spoon them into moulds. There are so many shapes you can play with, including heart shapes and moon shapes – this is especially a great idea if you’re making these chocolate coconut clusters with kids. 

    Use dark chocolate

    Want to change these chocolate coconut clusters into dark chocolate coconut clusters? Simply use dark chocolate cocoa powder! 

    Use white chocolate

    Maybe you prefer white chocolate. In which case, melt white chocolate chips in the saucepan, along with the milk, sugar and butter.

    Replace sugar with natural sweetener

    I’ve gone for white sugar in this recipe, to bring that essential sweetness to the chocolate coconut clusters. However, if you prefer, you can instead swap in a natural sweetener and make these clusters sugar free.

    Some of the best natural sweeteners are Stevia, Erythritol, Yacon syrup and Monk fruit sweetener.

    Add a touch of spice

    If you like to spice things up, there are a few options. Firstly, add a teaspoon of cinnamon into the mix – cinnamon goes really well with chocolate as well as flaked coconut.

    You could also add some chili flakes to the chocolate mixture for that little kick – plus, chili and chocolate is a winning combination.

    Make this recipe vegan

    Believe it or not, this chocolate coconut clusters recipe can easily be adapted for a vegan lifestyle. You’ll need to replace the butter and milk – go for a nut butter, such as almond nut or hazelnut butter, and a non-dairy milk, such as coconut milk, almond milk or oat milk.

    You could also add a touch of coconut oil, which will bring even more coconut flavor to your chocolate coconut flakes.

    Popular substitutions

    • Toasted coconut flakes in place of desiccated coconut
    • Use coconut oil instead of melted butter and almond milk in place of milk to make these chocolate coconut clusters vegan.

    Top Tip

    Don’t leave the pan on the heat for an extended period of time. If you’re not quick on your feet and leave it on the stove too long after it has been mixed, you will end up with a granola effect.

    Chocolate Coconut Clusters on cooling tray.

    What type of oats should I use?

    Rolled oats are the best kind of oats to use for baking and cooking. This is because they keep their structure and texture better than other types of oats such as quick oats.

    Quick oats are finer and are processed to enable you to cook them quickly. Rolled oats, on the other hand, are larger. You should be able to find rolled oats at most quality supermarkets and stores. They are sometimes referred to as ‘jumbo’ or ‘old fashioned’ oats, and are much better for this recipe than the plain porridge oat type.

    Jumbo oats are made by being steamed and then flattened with a large heavy roller. This way of processing them means that they are a lot larger textured and hold together a lot better, which will stop each of your chocolate coconut clusters from falling apart. They’re also a good source of protein, with 12 grams of protein per 100g (about 4g per serving).

    What is desiccated coconut?

    It’s basically finely shredded coconut. You can also go for larger shredded coconut flakes, but I’ve chosen desiccated coconut for this recipe.

    If possible, go for unsweetened coconut flakes. There’s plenty of sugar in this recipe, so the sweetened kind of coconut flakes isn’t necessary.

    Are these chocolate coconut flakes keto?

    These chocolate coconut flakes are low in carbs and, therefore, are suitable for a low-carb keto diet.

    Why are my chocolate clusters falling apart?

    If your chocolate coconut clusters are failing to hold together properly, the problem could be down to one of or several of the following.

    Firstly, consider the type of oats you are using to make this recipe. Regular quick oats, the kind that you would use to make your porridge in the morning for breakfast, are not suitable for this recipe.

    That’s because they are too fine and don’t hold together properly. Instead, opt for large rolled oats, which are far better and produce a better texture.

    Another reason that your clusters aren’t holding together could be due to the incorrect ratio of ingredients. Be sure to follow the measurements below precisely. 

    I recommend using a quality set of weighing scales. This will ensure all the ratios are exact, which will produce the right balance of ingredients necessary for a batch of chocolate coconut clusters with the right consistency, that hold together perfectly.

    How do I store leftovers?

    The best way to store these chocolate coconut clusters is to keep them in an airtight container at room temperature. The clusters should be good for about four days.

    Can I freeze chocolate coconut clusters?

    Absolutely! Wait until they’ve cooled completely, then place the baking tray directly in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours.

    This will allow the coconut clusters to flash freeze, which prevents them sticking together. Then, remove them from the tray and transfer them into a freezer-safe airtight container. They should last up to 5 months in the freezer.

    Can this recipe be scaled?

    Yes. If you wish to make a big batch of this chocolate coconut clusters recipe, you can simply double up or triple up on the amounts in the recipe below.

    Conversely, if you want to scale back and make a smaller recipe, you can easily halve the amounts below.

    Chocolate Coconut Clusters piled in a bowl.

    More chocolate based recipes

    Chocoholics rejoice! This recipe is not the only delicious chocolate recipe. There’s a whole host of irresistible recipes waiting for you to discover. Here are just a few of my personal favorites:

    • Chocolate and pistachio brownies – gooey on the inside, crispy on the outside, these are melt in your mouth heaven
    • Chocolate concrete – an old school throwback that still tastes amazing
    • Chocolate flapjacks – a classic chocolate recipe
    • Chocolate courgette cakes – you won’t believe how delicious this recipe tastes
    • Chocolate delice – wow… just wow! This is the perfect chocolate dessert for a special occasion
    • Mini chocolate trifles – these little trifles are a trifle nice! Plus, there are incredibly easy to make

    What’s your favourite type of baked sweet treat? Let me know in the comments below.

    Print
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    Chocolate Coconut Clusters Recipe


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Michelle Minnaar
    • Total Time: 22 minutes
    • Yield: 13 balls 1x
    • Diet: Vegetarian
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    An easy recipe that both kids and adults can follow to make a tasty treat. Simply melt the chocolate and add in your ingredients. 


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 57g (¼ cup) butter
    • 200g (1 cup) sugar
    • 5ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla paste
    • 30g (¼ cup) cocoa
    • 60ml (¼ cup) milk
    • 120g (1½ cup) oats
    • 48g (½ cup) dessicated coconut

    Instructions

    1. Melt the butter, and then add the sugar, vanilla paste, cocoa and milk in a pot.
    2. Boil the mixture for 5 minutes.
    3. Add the oats and coconut to the mixture.
    4. Make sure to stir the concoction thoroughly.
    5. Drop spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. 
    6. Leave to cool. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Use a pot with a small surface area because the mixture can dry very quickly. If you’re not quick on your feet and leave it on the stove too long after it has been mixed, you will end up with a granola effect.
    • Store in an airtight container at room temperature. The clusters should be good for about 4 days.
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 7 minutes
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Boil
    • Cuisine: South African

    Keywords: chocolate coconut clusters, coconut clusters, dark chocolate coconut clusters, coconut clusters recipe south africa

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @greedygourmet on Instagram and hashtag it #greedygourmet

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jeanne

      September 26, 2007 at 1:30 pm

      Oooh, I remember these! Yum – thanks for reminding me. Must bookmark them to bake soon…

      Reply
    2. Michelle

      September 27, 2007 at 3:45 pm

      Jeanne, I forgot about these clusters until I paged through a Cook and Enjoy It/Kook en Geniet. I rewrote the original recipe and included more oats as well. Any feedback would be highly appreciated.

      Reply
      • Hermine

        August 13, 2013 at 8:18 am

        Michelle, you’re my hero! I’m 36 weeks pregnant, and woke up this morning with a craving for these! My folks gave me the “Klein Kook en Geniet” when I was 6, and that has been my favourite recipe. Immediately going to introduce my toddler to this – he’ll love helping out!

        Reply
    3. Wendy

      December 16, 2007 at 5:22 pm

      My daughter asked for these cookies to be made just for Christmas. Couldn’t find my recipe anywhere. I have been searching the net for over an hour for this exact recipe. Thank you for posting the picture
      I new I had the right one but my children call them Chocolate Cow Plops because my husband require them to be made “Man size” This has been the joke for years. Have a Merry Christmas, I know I will

      Reply
    4. Michelle

      December 22, 2007 at 11:56 am

      Wendy: What a fun name! It’s amazing how something so simple can satisfy children on many levels. 🙂

      Reply
      • Matt

        December 14, 2022 at 6:14 am

        Thanks very much for the delicious recipe for these coconut, chocolate delights.
        I had remembered them from
        childhood.

        Reply
    5. Kevin

      January 12, 2008 at 3:22 am

      Chocolate, coconut and oats sounds like a great combo!

      Reply
    6. ALISSA

      January 18, 2008 at 6:28 am

      WAY WAY WAY too much oats!!! i followed the recipe exactly and i now have chocolate granola in a bowl. i guess it will be good for breakfast but there’s no way that this pot will be cookie material… not enough chocolate to hold the cookies together!

      Reply
    7. Michelle

      February 27, 2008 at 1:37 pm

      Kevin: It sure is!

      Alissa: I’m sorry you’ve had a bad experience with the recipe. After your comment I experimented again and found that less oats do make a moister and more manageable mix. The recipe has now been updated with some notes. Thanks for your feedback. It’s greatly appreciated.

      Reply
    8. Food and Recipes

      April 24, 2008 at 8:52 am

      Tried this one and loved it. Now I’m hooked. Great post and great photos too! Hope that you would feature more and more yummy, tasty and delicious chocolate recipes. I’ve added this on top of my list of chocolate recipes. Thanks for posting this..

      –Stephen

      Reply
    9. Chocolate Covered Gifts

      May 05, 2008 at 8:08 pm

      This reminds me of an energy bar with the oats. Great idea, Keep up the good work!

      Reply
    10. My Sweet & Saucy

      June 18, 2008 at 5:06 am

      What a fun little treat! They look delicious!

      Reply
    11. Dave

      June 27, 2008 at 12:09 am

      My family has been making this for many years. When asked what she was cooking my aunt told us kids it was “Dog Food”. The name stuck to this day.

      Sometimes coconut and sometimes not. But there is not too much oats in this recipie! The problem is the 5 minute boiling time. Once the mixture reaches a rolling boil I time it at ONE minute. Any less and they may not set. Any more and you get the “granola” problem or maybe just hard cookies.

      You are boiling sugar. Follow the recipie, but cut way back on the boiling time to ONE minute.

      Reply
    12. anisha

      October 16, 2009 at 11:38 pm

      wow, these have been my alltime fave, treat. Making them now for Diwali! Hope i can keep some to share!

      Reply
    13. TheWoman

      October 25, 2009 at 11:24 pm

      These bring back very fond memories, although the peanut ones were always my favourite.

      Reply
    14. Louella

      December 09, 2010 at 8:41 am

      Adding a little peanut butter during the boiling process makes a very nice variation on this classic.

      Reply
    15. Shama

      August 09, 2011 at 10:13 am

      We use to call them “slapjangorie” They are the best ever! Thanks, I’ve been looking for the recipe!

      Reply
    16. Vanessa

      October 28, 2011 at 3:45 pm

      Oh WOW! I have been looking for this recipe since my eldest was born almost 6 years ago! I absolutely love these! Thank you so much! I can’t imagine my or my childrens childhood without them 🙂

      Reply
      • Vanessa

        October 28, 2011 at 3:46 pm

        Ps. The recipe used to be on the Jungle Oats box.

        Reply
      • Michelle

        November 12, 2011 at 12:27 pm

        Glad you found the recipe at last. Did your kids like it? 🙂

        Reply
    17. Twila

      December 21, 2011 at 5:53 pm

      I made these and they are SUPER sticky…. do I just need to let them set longer? (it’s been 1.5 hrs) My 2 y.o. won’t touch them because they are so messy, lol. But 3.5 y.o. and I are licking the mess of spoons!

      Reply
    18. Lizelle Levengood

      February 10, 2012 at 9:22 am

      Yeay! Dankie vir die resep! Ek is nou vanoggend lus daarvoor en is seker my man het dit nognooit gehad nie. Ek en my sussie het dit altyd op laerskool ver R2 ‘n sakkie verkoop. 🙂 Hierdie is ‘n kleintyd resep wat alle kinders moet hê.
      Groete Lizelle

      Reply
    19. Adele Ferreira

      August 03, 2013 at 1:09 pm

      Baie dankie! Ander het dit ook reeds genoem, maar ek het met hierdie prentjie (herinnering) in my kop begin google, en is so bly om die resep te kon vind. Was dit nie vir die onweerstaanbare foto nie, sou ek dit dalk kon mis. Dis beslis iets wat ook deel van my seuns se kinderjare moet wees. Baie, baie dankie!

      Reply
    20. Renil M. George

      September 09, 2017 at 10:55 pm

      Chocolate! Yummy yummy!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    21. Sue

      September 27, 2021 at 7:13 am

      Are they baked after putting on trays?

      Reply
      • Michelle Minnaar

        September 27, 2021 at 9:17 am

        Whoa, this is an old post that needs updating! 🙂

        No baking is required. The clusters harden as they cool down. Enjoy!

        Reply

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