The first time I made these no bake cookies – coconut pecan praline cookies – I did a jig for a solid fifteen. They set up! And they are easy! And they disappeared like crazy everywhere I served them. Made with coconut rather than the typical peanut butter and oatmeal, these cookies have a different flavor but follow a similar process to traditional no bake cookies.
This post was updated in July, 2024.
To understand my excitement, we must have a little confession time. I have never been able to make no bake cookies with any kind of success whatsoever. Things always go horribly south, and I think it has much to do with the step involving the boiling/simmering of the batter.
My no bake chocolate peanut butter cookies always either turn into hard rocks that could break your teeth or into ooey gooey flops of yuck.
Not to mention, one of my students a few years ago referred to them as doo-doo cookies. He brought me two no bake cookies his grandmother made. The poor kid was so excited to give them to me, and I had such bad nausea from first-trimester morning sickness that day. He found me outside in the hallway and dug deep into his pocket to fish out the unwrapped brown blobs with his bare hands.
Yes, go ahead and read that last sentence again. The mere sight of them nearly did me in. I haven’t attempted to make or even eat no bake cookies since then.
How Are Coconut Pecan Praline Cookies Different from Typical Pecan Pralines (New Orleans Style)
It is believed that, originally, the French brought pecan pralines recipes to New Orleans back in the 1700s. These thin melt-in-your-mouth candies are a huge part of New Orleans culture still today.
In general, many pecan praline candies feature both brown sugar and white sugar and no corn syrup. This no bake pecan praline cookie recipe features corn syrup and no brown sugar. The process of ingredient combining is a bit different, as well.
In the end, the textures are different between the two treats.
Making No Bake Cookies – Coconut Pecan Praline Cookies
First, I combine pecans, coconut, and vanilla in a medium bowl and set aside. In a medium saucepan, I mix sugar, corn syrup, evaporated milk and the stick of butter. Both salted and unsalted butter have worked with no issues.
Next, I bring the mix to a rolling boil and stir a few times during this time. I let it boil for 3 minutes and stir several times during that three minutes.
At this point, I take the saucepan off the hot burner and added the pecans, coconut and the vanilla. I stir, stir, stir for four minutes. And let me tell you – it’s a long four minutes! My arms get so tired! The Hubs usually gets called in for assistance at this point.
By spoonfuls, I drop the batter onto wax or parchment paper.
At this point, I wait for an hour or so until the coconut pecan praline cookies cool before removing or eating. It might be best to give them several hours until they are firm enough to handle and not overly sticky. My batches usually make anywhere from 30 to 36 cookies, depending on how high I pack the cookie scoop.
Trying to keep a 1.5 year old out of the cookies during a photo shoot is a comedy of errors.
Wowsers, these no bake coconut pecan praline cookies are sooo good! They are super rich so these are the kind of treats I designate for special occasions.
No-Bake Coconut Pecan Praline Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups Pecans chopped
- 2 cups Grated coconut
- ½ cup Butter
- 2½ cups White Sugar
- ½ cup Evaporated milk
- ½ cup Karo corn syrup dark or light
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine pecans and coconut, and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter with the sugar, the evaporated milk, and the corn syrup on medium-high heat. Stir occasionally.
- Bring the butter mixture to a boil. Once at a boil, allow it to boil for exactly three minutes. Stir several times during this three minutes.
- Remove the mixture from heat.
- Add the vanilla and the coconut-pecan mixture to the melted butter.
- Stir fast and consistently for exactly four minutes.
- After four minutes drop by spoonfuls – using a medium cookie scoop – onto wax paper or parchment paper.
- Allow the cookies to set for at least 30 minutes to an hour to set. If the cookies are still glistening, they are not ready to pick up. They should look dry.
Notes
Nutrition
Typical Issues with No Bake Cookies – Coconut Pecan Praline Cookies
I have made many batches of these no bake coconut pecan praline cookies since my original post. The majority of the time, my no bake cookies turn out just as you see here in the pictures – thick and puffy. However, a few times, the batches have turned out very flat with all of the textured ingredients (coconut and pecans) clustered in the center.
I have come to realize that the weather was yucky each time I had a batch that did not turn out properly. A friend told me that weather and humidity have much to do with the end-result of no bake cookies. It took those batches six or seven hours to firm up. Even then, they still weren’t quite “right,” but the taste was still delicious.
As long as they firm up enough to handle without breaking, I serve them anyway. They still taste divine. Many true pralines are flat and thin. Chances are only you will know how they are “supposed” to look anyway.
More Favorite Recipes
Try out some of my other favorite cookies – white chocolate chip and almond oatmeal cookies, Snickers peanut butter cookies, roll-out butter cookies, and white chocolate cranberry pecan cookies.
Eve
I agree that rainy & humid days will
affect them setting up. Anyone who
has made divinity can attest to the same
Since this is really like a candy it just
makes sense. Everyone should take
note and not try to make on a rainy or
Humid day..
Eliza
Followed this recipe to a “T”. Set a timer according to the recipe. I ended up with soup.. So disappointed.
What a waste of money☹️
Amy
Hi Eliza! I’m so sorry this recipe did not work out for you. After I saw your comment yesterday, I asked my husband and daughter to make this recipe using my recipe card. They also followed the recipe exactly, and we had perfect cookies. In fact, we just returned from delivering them to neighbors. Nothing turned soupy for their batch. I am not sure what could have gone wrong – other than maybe your stove could have used a little longer boiling time. Again, I hate this didn’t work out for you. I know that was a bummer.
kim
I love coconut and being from the south pecans. We have an annual tree decorating day for Christmas with the grandkids instead of a big dinner so the little ones can stay home for Christmas. This year I am making several differnt candies/cookies & desserts. Happened on your receipe and plan on making them tomorrow for the party or just me. :0.
Thx Kim
Amy
Kim, I hope you and your grandkids and kids all love this recipe! Merry Christmas!
Melanie
Are these considered gluten free ?
The Gifted Gabber
Hi Melanie! It is my understanding that every ingredient on the ingredient list is a gluten free ingredient. For the vanilla, you might choose to use pure vanilla to be safe or make sure you find an imitation vanilla that is specifically labeled as gluten free.
Glema
Madethe praline cookies today, THANK YOU, love them, will definitely make again. Turned out perfectly..I didn’t want to wait 1 hour, soooooo I made sure to leave a large spoonful in bowl. …yummmy!
The Gifted Gabber
Glema, I’m so glad you enjoyed them! It is definitely hard to wait for that hour! 🙂
tina
In New Orleans these are technically candy
We simply call them pralines. You can make them in the microwave with perfect results every time!.
LisaBeth
Same in Texas. It’s a candy, not a cookie.
Would you share the microwave directions, please?
Al
Absolutely love these cookies! Also one of the favorites of my coworkers.
The Gifted Gabber
Al, so glad to hear that!!
Angela Philemon
Love it 🙂 I want this 😛
The Gifted Gabber
Oh, my gosh, Angela! These are the best cookies! Everyone raves and begs for the recipe when I take them somewhere!
Leslie
I absolutely love pralines! These look yummy, I’ll have to give them a try. I’ll have to leave out the coconut though, i’m allergic. Thanks for sharing!
The Gifted Gabber
Bummer! I hate that you are allergic to coconut, Leslie! I LOVE coconut!
Anna @ Anna Can Do It!
Oh my! So mouth-watering and no-bake who wants more! Great recipe! – Love, Anna
The Gifted Gabber
Right?! Thanks for commenting, Anna!
Diane
I made these and cooked to soft ball stage which was 7 minutes boiling time then after adding the pecans, coconut and vanilla only stirred 2 minutes then dropped onto wax paper quickly as it will setup fast. Turned out perfectly.
The Gifted Gabber
Thanks for the comment, Diana! Happy they turned out for you! Yes, they definitely set up fast!
Amy
I made these lovely bites of goodness again last night and they turned out perfectly. I made them for a work party and might have taste-tested one or five.
Amy
I'm glad they worked out for you!
Anonymous
I made them last night and was concerned after I let them set for an hour or so that they were still gooey. Put them in tupperware still attached to the wax paper and this morning they were perfect!
Amy
Mary! I'm so sorry you had trouble, too! I really wish I was more skilled on no-bake cookies so I could help pinpoint the problem. 🙁
Mary M
Well, I too had problems with gettig it to set up. Not sure what went wrong, but I was so looking forward to eating this. Mary M.
Amy
Stacy, as I mentioned in the post, I have never had success of any kind with no-bake cookies until I made these, and I think my problem often revolves around the step with the boiling. I think sometimes I may over-boil or under-boil. Do you think that could be what happened with yours? I was also told by a reader that I should never try to make no-bake cookies on a rainy or humid day. She said they would not set up with those conditions. I am not sure how accurate that idea is but I guess it is possible. I'm so sorry they didn't work out for you!
stacy roles
Tried to make them but couldn't get them to set up. What could I have done wrong?
stacy roles
Tried to make them but couldn't get them to set up. What could I have done wrong?
Amy
They were delicious! Lots of requests for the recipe. If you like rich and sweet, you won't regret making them. Thanks for stopping by!
MJ Shellabarger
Oh, I love those! Going to try your recipe!