Amazing 5-Ingredient almond joy cookies

Oh, you know that feeling when you are just *craving* a specific candy bar, but you want it to be warm and gooey, fresh from the oven? Me too! That glorious mix of chocolate, sweet coconut, and that perfect little crunch of almond is just unbeatable. That’s exactly why I developed these Easy 5-Ingredient Chewy Almond Joy Cookies. Trust me when I say these taste *exactly* like the real deal, only better because they are homemade and so incredibly simple. I’m Carla Davis, and here in my kitchen, we focus on turning everyday moments into joyful ones. I learned from my grandmother to bake with love, and these Almond Joy Cookies are pure love in five ingredients or less. If you need a quick treat that impresses everyone, you’re in the right spot! Check out all my favorite dessert recipes right here: you can find more easy sweet treats.

Why You Will Love These Easy 5-Ingredient Almond Joy Cookies

When I say these are foolproof, I really mean it! You don’t need a mixer, and you barely need any time at all. Forget complicated steps; we are going straight for that delicious candy bar flavor in cookie form. These are absolute go-to favorites for my family when we need something fast.

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• Quick Prep and Bake Time: Seriously, you can have these mixed up faster than you can find a matched lid for a storage container! We’re talking about only 10 minutes of prep time and about 12 minutes in the oven. Perfect for those unexpected cravings!
• Perfectly Chewy Texture: That soft, dense chew that makes an Almond Joy so addictive? That comes from using sweetened condensed milk instead of regular sugar and butter. It keeps everything wonderfully moist and gives you that authentic, satisfying bite every single time.

Gathering Ingredients for Your Almond Joy Cookies Recipe

The absolute best part about this whole recipe is what we *don’t* need. No eggs, no flour, no leavening agents fussing around! These are truly one of those Simple Ingredient Desserts you can throw together when you realize you need a treat right now. Because we’re not using any flour to structure these, the ingredients have to do all the heavy lifting, and they absolutely do the job! This recipe yields about 18 perfect cookies, which is usually just enough for my kiddos to share nicely—eyebrow raise optional on that last part, of course.

Precise Ingredient Measurements for Almond Joy Cookies

Make sure you have these five items shining brightly on your counter before you start mixing. Getting the measurements right here is key since there’s so little else going into the bowl!

• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sweetened coconut — make sure it’s the sweetened kind for the best texture!
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips — semi-sweet balances the sweetness of the coconut perfectly.
• 1 cup sliced or chopped almonds — I prefer sliced because they spread out a little nicely.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract — just a dash to round out all those flavors.

Expert Tips for Making the Best Almond Joy Cookies

When you’re working with only five ingredients, every single one has to pull its weight, right? I’ve made these Coconut Chocolate Almond Cookies so many times now, especially when I’m trying to get a quick platter ready for a holiday party, that I’ve picked up a few tricks to make sure they are utterly perfect—chewy, rich, and not too crumbly. If you follow my blog, you know I share all my hard-won kitchen wisdom!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Your Coconut Chocolate Almond Cookies

The recipe notes I added aren’t just filler, they are crucial! First off, if you want that extra wow factor, wait until the cookies cool down completely and then drizzle them with some melted chocolate. It makes them look fancy, even though they took five minutes to whip up. Second, if you pull them out and they seem a tiny bit too soft in the middle, don’t panic! Just slide them back into the oven for one more minute next time. And finally, that almond crunch. I used sliced almonds because they distribute nicely, but feel free to drop a whole almond right in the center of each mound if you want a bigger, more surprising crunch factor.

Why We Skip Flattening These Candy Bar Cookies

This is super important for the texture you are looking for in these Candy Bar Cookies. You notice I tell you to drop them in rounded tablespoonfuls and *not* to flatten them before baking. These cookies don’t rely on flour or leavening to spread out and flatten like a standard drop cookie. They are naturally dense because of all that coconut and condensed milk. If you press them down, you actually squeeze out precious moisture and ruin that wonderful, slightly mounded, chewy center we are aiming for. Let them sit high on the baking sheet; they’ll melt just enough on their own!

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Step-by-Step Instructions for Easy Almond Joy Cookies

Okay, now for the fun part! Since this recipe is so simple, the process moves fast, so have your baking sheet lined and your oven preheated before you even grab the mixing bowl. Seriously, these come together in a flash, making them perfect for those moments when a craving hits hard. We want to be ready to go because these don’t wait around!

Preparing the Dough and Baking

First off, you gotta get that oven warmed up to 350 degrees F. I always line my baking sheet with parchment paper. I can’t tell you how many times I thought I could skip that step only to have a chocolate chip stick fast! In a bowl, you’ll gently mix the sweetened condensed milk with the coconut, the chocolate chips, your almonds, and that little hit of vanilla. You’re just mixing until everything looks happy and evenly coated—don’t overdo it! Then, grab a rounded tablespoon of the mixture—don’t flatten it, remember!—and drop it onto the parchment. You want them spaced about two inches apart. Slide them into the hot oven and watch them for 10 to 12 minutes. You’re looking for the edges to just turn that glorious golden brown color, meaning they’ve set up nice and chewy.

Cooling Your Homemade Almond Joy Candy Cookies

This is where patience is required, even when they smell amazing! When you pull the tray out, the cookies are totally hot and wobbly. If you try to move them right away, you’ll end up with broken piles of coconut goo, and nobody wants that mess. Let them chill out on that hot baking sheet for a full five minutes. This five minutes lets the structure set up just enough. After that little rest, gently use a spatula to move your Homemade Almond Joy Candy Cookies over to a wire rack to cool completely. Once they are totally cool, they’ll be firm enough to stack and eat!

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Serving Suggestions for These Quick Chocolate Coconut Treats

Now that you have these amazing, slightly sticky, chewy treats, what do you do with them? Honestly, they are perfect just sitting on a pretty plate right out of the oven when they cool down a touch. But since these are so clearly made for sharing—especially around the holidays when everyone is craving Holiday Baking Cookies—I always put out a few extra spreads!

For my family, these cookies are almost always served as part of a bigger dessert spread. They look so beautiful nestled next to something fudgy or maybe some bright lemon bars. Try setting up a little dessert bar where people can pick and choose! If you’re looking for something to serve *with* them, forget plain water. These rich flavors beg for something cozy.

Pairing Almond Joy Cookies with Beverages

You need a great beverage to cut through that wonderful sweetness and texture. My number one pick is always a hot cup of coffee. The slight bitterness of a good dark roast is an absolute dream next to the sweet coconut and chocolate. It just wakes up all those candy bar flavors, you know?

If kids are around, or if I just need something simple, a tall, cold glass of milk is mandatory. There is no better combo for a cookie than milk—ever. If it’s a fancy occasion, though, I often make a big batch of homemade hot chocolate to go alongside them. You can find my favorite recipe for the richest, creamiest hot chocolate that tastes decadent year-round. Honestly, dipping these Coconut Chocolate Almond Cookies right into that warm chocolate? Absolute heaven.

Storage and Make-Ahead Options for Your Almond Joy Cookies

One of the great things about keeping things simple is that cleanup is usually fast, but the best part about these Almond Joy Cookies is that they actually keep really well! This is a huge bonus, especially if you’re trying to get a head start on your holiday baking tray. Who wants to bake every single treat the day before the party? Not me! Since these don’t have a lot of perishable liquid ingredients, they are quite sturdy, but you still need to treat them right so they stay that sweet, chewy dream we worked so hard to create.

Keeping Almond Joy Cookies Fresh

Because these cookies don’t have a creamy frosting or a perishable filling, they are fantastic keepers. The key to longevity is keeping the air out. You absolutely must store your leftover Chewy Cookies in an airtight container. If you just leave them on a plate on the counter, that chewy coconut center will start to dry out fast, and we just can’t have that!

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I store mine right on the counter at room temperature. Do not put them in the fridge, they get strangely hard and lose that soft texture we love. If you keep them sealed up tight, they stay really good for me for about 5 to 7 days. That covers a whole week of snacking, which is perfect for a busy household like mine. If you’re making them way ahead of time for a big event, you can even freeze them! Just make sure they are completely cool, stack them between layers of wax paper in a freezer-safe container, and they’ll be good for up to three months. Thaw them on the counter for a few hours and they taste just as amazing as fresh-baked!

Frequently Asked Questions About Copycat Candy Bar Cookies

I always get asked the same few things when I post about these amazing Copycat Candy Bar Cookies, usually from people who are just as excited about simplicity as I am! It’s great seeing so many of you trying out these Easy Cookie Recipes. Here are a few things that pop up most often! If you’re looking for other easy treats that deliver big flavor without a lot of fuss, you absolutely have to check out my recipe for Turtle Cheesecake—it’s my go-to for feeling fancy!

Can I use dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet in these almond joy cookies?

Oh, absolutely you can! That’s a fantastic question because choosing your chocolate totally changes the profile. If you use dark chocolate chips, your final cookie will have a much deeper, richer chocolate flavor that really balances out the sweetness of the condensed milk and coconut. I usually default to semi-sweet because it hits that classic candy bar note perfectly, but if you love bittersweet candy, go dark! Just know it will taste slightly less sugary overall.

How do I make my almond joy cookies chewier if they came out slightly crisp?

Crisp usually means they baked just a touch too long, or maybe they sat out uncovered for a day or two! If you find they are a little crisp right out of the oven, the best trick is actually making sure they cool properly. Remember how I stressed letting them rest on the hot pan for those five minutes? That step is crucial for setting that chewy structure.

But if you baked them and they are hard, don’t throw them out! Pop them into an airtight container with a slice of fresh bread—yes, seriously! The cookies will draw the moisture from the bread and soften right up overnight. Just make sure you take the bread slice out before you serve them!

Are these considered Five Ingredient Dessert options for potlucks?

They certainly are! This is one of the best features of this recipe. When you’re asked to bring a dish to a potluck or a neighborhood gathering, and you’re short on time, these fit the bill perfectly. When you only need five items that are sitting right in your pantry or freezer, it makes them a total winner for last-minute plans. They hold up well sitting out on a buffet, and everyone loves getting their favorite candy bar in cookie form!

Estimated Nutritional Data for Almond Joy Cookies

I always keep the nutrition facts handy, mostly because my husband will ask if he can have “just one more” and I need to know what I’m agreeing to! Remember, since these Almond Joy Cookies rely on sweetened condensed milk and coconut rather than flour, the numbers look a little different than a classic butter cookie. I use the standard calculations for portion sizes, but please know these are always estimates based on the brand of chips and coconut you use, just like any good home cook has to acknowledge!

Here is the estimated breakdown for one cookie, based on a yield of 18:

See? Not bad at all for something that tastes like you just unwrapped a full chocolate bar! It’s definitely manageable for a batch of Cookie Tray Favorites. If you’re concerned about sodium, you can use very lightly salted butter/coconut, but honestly, 35mg is quite low already. Enjoy them!

Share Your Homemade Almond Joy Cookies

I truly love connecting with all of you who try my recipes! When you bake these Best Almond Joy Cookies, it brings me so much joy to know that my speedy, simple treat has made it onto your table, whether it’s for an ordinary Tuesday night or part of a huge holiday cookie assortment. My kitchen feels a little less lonely when I see photos of what you guys are whipping up!

Please, if you made a batch—or even if you experimented with the chocolate drizzle suggestion—come back and tell me all about it! Drop a star rating right down below the recipe card. Five stars are always lovely, of course, but hearing what you adapted or what your family’s favorite part was helps me know I’m cooking up recipes that really work for busy people like us.

If you took a picture on your phone—and I bet you did, because they look gorgeous with that sprinkle of almonds on top—I would be thrilled if you shared it! Tag me on social media, or if you prefer, you can always reach out directly through my contact page. I can’t wait to see your lovely Quick Chocolate Coconut Treats!

If you are looking for comparison or maybe just want to see how another seasoned home baker tackled this recipe, I always love checking out what other wonderful cooks are doing. One recipe I often look at when I’m feeling extra inspired for holiday baking is the one over at Together as Family—you can see their take on the five-ingredient version here: their description of crunchy almonds and a chewy exterior is spot on. Happy baking, everyone!

Easy 5-Ingredient Chewy Almond Joy Cookies

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You can make cookies that taste exactly like your favorite candy bar using only five simple ingredients. These are chewy, loaded with coconut, chocolate, and almonds, and perfect for holiday baking.

• Author: Carla Davis
• Prep Time: 10 min
• Cook Time: 12 min
• Total Time: 22 min
• Yield: About 18 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

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• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sweetened coconut
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup sliced or chopped almonds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, sliced almonds, and vanilla extract. Mix until everything is evenly coated.
3. Drop rounded tablespoons of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about two inches apart. You do not need to flatten them.
4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the cookies are set.
5. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

• For an extra chocolatey treat, you can drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled cookies.
• If you want a slightly softer cookie, reduce the baking time by one minute.
• You can substitute chopped almonds with whole almonds if you prefer a larger crunch in the center.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 cookie
• Calories: 180
• Sugar: 18
• Sodium: 35
• Fat: 10
• Saturated Fat: 5
• Unsaturated Fat: 5
• Trans Fat: 0
• Carbohydrates: 22
• Fiber: 1
• Protein: 3
• Cholesterol: 5