Quick keto macaroons (or keto coconut macaroons) - with 6 variations in this recipe, and only 0.6g net carbs each.
Sugar-free macaroons are one of the great ways to use up leftover egg whites.
What do you do when you are really craving cookies, but want to keep up your healthy lifestyle? You make these luxurious keto macaroons!
Jump to:
How To Make Easy Keto Macaroons
These sugar-free macaroons are the perfect things to make when you are craving something sweet. They taste like a rich dessert but they have less than a gram of net carbs in each one!
There are only 4 simple ingredients in these decadent cookies! They are easier to make than you might think. There is no flour at all - just the egg whites, sweetener, vanilla, and shredded coconut.
I preferred to use a granulated sweetener, but I am sure you can use a liquid sweetener too. Just don't use a confectioner's sugar substitute or brown sugar substitute. Those will not work in this recipe.
The secret to these light and airy macaroons is to whip and beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
You can whip the egg whites by hand, but this method will take much longer. I prefer to use an electric mixer. The stiff peaks formed in no time at all this way.
Do You Need To Pipe Macaroons?
No.
To make them look pretty (and only if I have time), then I will pipe the easy coconut macaroons. I line a baking tray lined with parchment paper to make them easy to remove.
If I am in a hurry, then I tend to spoon the macaroons instead of piping them.
Keto Coconut Macaroons Baking Tips
How many macaroons can I eat on keto?
You won't have to restrict yourself to eating just one when you make these macaroons! Each one has less than one gram of net carbs, so you can actually eat a few of them.
You'll want to eat quite a few of them, too! The outside is crispy with a slightly sweet taste. The inside has the exotic taste of coconut and it melts in your mouth.
The fact that they are sugar-free is completely surprising! There is no aftertaste and they taste just like traditional macaroons.
But with all things keto, please spend your carbs wisely. Don't spend all your carbs on keto baking and keto desserts. You want to base your meals and snacks on nutrient-dense foods.
You can use the FREE macro calculator to set your daily carbs, fat, and protein.
Here are some questions people often ask about these keto desserts. They are so easy to make that even if you have never whipped egg whites before, you will be able to make them.
What baking tray should I use for macaroons?
I use a large baking tray that I line with baking parchment or a silicone liner.
How can I decorate keto coconut macaroons?
I allow the macaroons to cool completely then on the lined baking tray, or my wire cooling rack, I drizzle with melted sugar-free chocolate or melted Lindt 95% for an extra treat.
What is the difference between a macaron and a macaroon?
This is a very common misunderstanding. The simple and quick answer is that macron looks like a sandwich cookie and a macaroon looks like a coconut cookie without any filling at all.
Beyond that, there are a bunch of other differences too.
A macaron is Italian. A sweet filling is sandwiched with two cookies. In fact, macrons used to be a single delicate almond flour cookie. When they were brought to France, they became the sandwich that we love today.
A macaroon is French. It was actually a twist on the original macaron recipe, using grated coconut instead of almond flour meringues.
Another big difference is the appearance and texture.
- Macaron - delicate eggshell-like crust with a sweet filling of either ganache, buttercream, or fruit jam.
- Macaroon - lumpy and dense texture filled with shredded coconut.
Is shredded coconut keto-friendly?
Yes, shredded coconut is a keto-friendly ingredient, as long as you use unsweetened coconut flakes. Shredded coconut is high in healthy fats and protein, so it is a fantastic choice on the keto diet.
In fact, in 2 tablespoons, there are just 2 grams net carbs and 1 gram of protein.
Nutritional values from cronometer.com
This is one of my favorite ingredients to use when I am trying to make a dessert because it adds healthy fats and fiber without adding carbs.
How do you store keto coconut macaroons?
The best way to store coconut macaroons is in an airtight container at room temperature. You do not need to put them in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to a week.
I bet you eat them up way before they get to the end of the week!
Can you freeze sugar-free coconut macaroons?
Yes, you can freeze sugar-free macaroon cookies. They will last about 3 months in the freezer. Just follow these steps:
- Place them on a single layer on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment or wax paper.
- Put them in the freezer for up to 3 hours or until they are completely frozen.
- Remove the baking sheet and place all the cookies in a plastic resealable freezer bag.
When you are ready to eat them, you can let them thaw at room temperature. Freezing them doesn't alter their texture at all!
How do you know when macaroons are done?
You will know the macaroons are done baking when they turn a nice golden color. When they are completely cooked, they should be moist, light, and chewy. If you overcook them, they will be dry and crumbly.
Sugar-Free Macaroons Flavor Variations
The best thing about these macaroons is that you can add different spices and flavors and make them taste completely different! Here are some of my favorite sugar-free macaroon flavor variations:
- Lemon - Mix in some lemon zest
- Orange - Mix in some orange zest
- Dark Chocolate Drizzle - Melt some sugar-free dark chocolate chips and drizzle it on top or dip them in the dark chocolate.
- Vanilla and Cinnamon - Sprinkle some cinnamon on top
- Spicy Ginger - Make them taste savory with some fresh-minced ginger
- Allspice and Nutmeg - Make some fall or Christmas cookies with the aromatic addition of nutmeg and allspice.
📖 Recipe
Please rate this recipe.
Easy keto macaroons recipe
Calculate ingredients
Ingredients
- 4 egg whites
- 2 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice or more, to your taste
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (200 g) desiccated/shredded coconut unsweetened
Instructions
- Clean a large bowl with kitchen paper to ensure it is free of grease or oil, otherwise, your egg whites won't whisk to stiff peaks. Whisk the egg whites with the sweetener, to form stiff peaks.
- Add the vanilla and the coconut and gently mix to combine.
- Line a baking tray with a non-stick liner or baking paper. Roll (or pipe) a spoonful of macaroon mixture into a small firm ball and place evenly on the baking tray.
- Bake at 180C/350F for10-12 minutes depending on your oven and the humidity.
- Decorate with sugar-free chocolate (optional).
5-INGREDIENTS COOKBOOK
.
YOUR HOLIDAY PANTRY & GIFT GUIDES
.
Approximate nutrition information is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. For the most accurate nutritional data, use the actual ingredients and brands you used in your preferred nutrition calculator.
More recipes you may like:
- Nut free "Peanut butter" cookies
- Chocolate zucchini cake
- Keto key lime cheesecake (Instant Pot and oven) + VIDEO
- Low-Carb Flourless Orange Madeleines
- Low Carb Chelsea Buns
Crystal Reeves
OMG so yummy! Thank you for this! Dipped mine in cocoa powder mixed with coconut oil and a few drops of stevia. YumO!
Claudia
I made these today. I usually like to read the comments on a recipe and I read that one of the readers had trouble with the egg whites after putting the coconut in, so what I did was add a pinch of cream of tartar to stabilise the egg whites just in case. I also added more vanilla and a couple of extra tablespoons of stevia granules. My husband enjoyed them and I enjoyed them too. Thank you for a beautiful recipe.
Shellihob
Any tips or ideas for the egg yolk left over so they aren't wasted.
Cornelb
I actually made mayonnaise with my egg yolks and the macaroons with my leftover egg whites!
Kyle
Cornelb: fresh egg yolks are not safe to make mayonnaise with in fear of salmonella food poising! Only posturized egg yolks are safe for this use.
A safer use for the leftover yolks is just to add them to an omelette mix and enjoy the richness.
Samantha
My family has been making mayo with fresh eggs we raise ourselves for many, many years. No problems. Real farmers don't fear such things.
EM
Same here - I make mayo every week out of our own chickens from the back yard. Freshly laid. No trouble at all, and I've been doing this for years!
I just made these macaroons for the first time, they're delicious and really easy to make. Next time I'll make sure I have some dark chocolate on hand to top them off with, it sounds like a heavenly mix.
Lorna
I agree. If it's not made from fresh eggs, it's not food, but rather just another food-like product. Real food is not meant to 'keep behind the couch' for 2 years.
And by the way, these cookies sound like they would taste good, but they are far from sugar-free and should not be labeled as such. Any granulated sweetener is sugar and is not food. I've wasted so much time being misled by recipe titles because the popular definition of 'sugar-free' is so inaccurate. A mind shift really need to happen. So sad. Thanks for listening.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Hi Lorna, this is indeed sugar free, the sweetener I use contains no sugar whatsoever. You may wish to read this article.
Kim
How much mayo.
Yolande Morgan
Home made custard is good, I use a sugar substitute and arrowroot to thicken it.
Sockeye
Make low carb creme brulée. Thats what brought me to this page looking for a way to use up the egg whites
Trina
Creme Brulee. I actually was looking for something to use the egg whites for after making Creme Brulee and came across these.
amber bryan
Wondering if we could use cartoned egg white or is there thibgs added into them that wouldn't make this work? Thanks
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I have never used cartoned egg white, I'm not sure if we can even get it here in NZ. Personally, I prefer to use eggs directly, being in a carton implies it has been through some processing to get there? Sorry, can't give you much of an idea on this one.
Heatger
I tried the carton whites and they didn't work.
Tony Bermudez
I tried this recipe, and I used Splenda as my sweetner. And tbh it didn't taste like anything. I may need to modify it for more, I tried getting my egg whites to a stiff peaks, but I wasn't sure if it needed to be stiff like making macarons meringue. I added a whole orange for its zest, maybe that messed up the recipe too. Help?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
The egg whites need to form stage peaks like any meringue would require. I'm not sure how it didn't taste of anything as it is packed with coconut and vanilla. And yes adding an entire orange would have affected the recipe. A little zest would be a lovely addition though. Also dipped in dark chocolate would be amazing.
Trish
Love these and yes I find I follow recipe exactly they work every time, I do add an extra teaspoon of vanilla essence as I love vanilla flavour. They so good to snack on. Thanks for the recipe.
Esther
I tried these today. Everything was going great until I added the coconut. The stiff peaked egg whites wentry flat!!! I poured it into mini tart pans and baked. It fluffed up, and now I have 6 cute tartlets! Very moist and tastes yummy.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Oops, I'm glad to hear they were still yummy. Next time you could try adding even more coconut and then they may roll into little balls.
Barbara
I make these regularly and reduce sweetner down to 1/2 tablespoon. Also added
Cinnamon. Latest batches i used home grown stevia which i grew , dried leaves over winter then blended then ground in coffee grinder. 1/4 tablespoon added to mixture as very sweet. (Buy Stevia plants from garden centre)
Phoebe
Mine turned out delicious! I just forgot to flatten them a bit so they looked like mini volcanoes! Added a bit more (maybe 1/2 cup) coconut, and a bit more vanilla, as they seemed not to have enough..I believe it was because my eggs are jumbo eggs! Thank you so much, Libby!!
T. Bastress
My 9 yr.old made these today and they are fantastic! Thank you for the recipe!!!
Leah Cox
Love these! I used Sweet Leaf Stevie and food the traditional chocolate dip using dark chocolate. They turned out great and my picky son loved them too! Thank you for this recipe!
Julie
Can you make these sweetener free?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Possibly but that would depend on your sweet tooth and how you can tolerate baking without any sweetener added.
Theresa
I used a half cup of egg whites from a carton and granulated Xylitol; they turned out perfectly!
Amanda
Bummer wanted to leave a photo - yummy Libby thankyou. We put 85% lindt choc drizzled over the top mixed with some cocnut oil- even my fussy sons love them lol
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yes I wish readers could add photo's, you can share them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or even Pinterest. I love seeing riders recipes results. Tag me and I can share your photos.
Linda
Good recipe, I increased the sweetener ( plain erythritol ) to 4T, 3 would have been fine! It worked well, lovely moist macaroons. Great way to use up egg whites when you make home made mayo!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Linda thank you. There have been some failures from readers that I cannot fathom as they work for me (and you). I'm wondering if their was something wrong with their eggs? thanks for the great feedback. Libby.
Lisa
I made a batch today using your recipe. The macaroons were delicious! Light, airy and guilt-free. Thank you for posting : )
ginni
I made these yesterday but they were so dry and tasteless I couldn't eat them. Unfortunately I'm having a hard time with LC dessert recipes. They always disappoint because they are never like the real thing. When I see dessert, my mind is expecting a certain taste and mouth feel, which I can't find when substituting ingredients.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
It sounds like a) they were cooked for too long as they shouldn't be dry at all. You can always salvage them by dipping in dark chocolate. b) It also sounds like you may still have a sweet tooth. Don't worry, this will pass with time and you won't be craving so much of your usual sweet desserts or baking. When people start off low carb, it can sometimes be difficult to give up the texture and "bliss point" that are formulated in so many processed foods. That is probably what you are missing. Start off with some of the cheesecake recipes, I'm sure they will be more to your liking.
Jen
Hi. Baked them for the first time this afternoon as a treat for my husband who is diabetic.
Followed the recipe to the letter , bur unfortunately they turned out to be very crumbly and didnt hold their shape. Any suggestions on what went wrong regards. Jen
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Possibly not enough egg whites or your brand of shredded/desiccated coconut? I've never heard this problem for this recipe before but my suspicion is something was wrong with the egg whites.
Rebecca Fox
Hi! I've just made these, stuck to the recipe to a T- However, they have come out extremely, EXTREMELY, dry...Can anyone help point me in the right direction please?! Mucho thanks!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
It may be that your brand of desiccated/shredded coconut was drier than most, you may have been on fan bake, and they may have been cooked a little too long. Next time reserve a little coconut to ensure the mixture isn't too dry before adding it all, cook on bake and keep an eye on them so they don't dry out. If they do ever turn out dry, you can always dip them in dark chocolate - a tip that has saved many recipes 🙂
a
Maybe dry due to oven too hot or using fan forced too long?
Brigitte
How long would these keep? Could I freeze them?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yes, you can freeze in an airtight container.
janice
Wondering what brand of powdered stevia you use? I have liquid on hand,but the powdered types in the stores all seem to have either dextrose oe erithritol added which I assume is not good.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I currently use
Natvia
which is a blend of stevia and erythritol. It has no bitter aftertaste that some do. I have tried the drops and have found for me it is too easy to over or under dose the sweet taste. Many people try 2 or 3 brands until they find one that suits them and they can cook easily with.Mkchael
Would this work with yolks as well (whole egg) to get some protein in there?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
No sorry the fat in the egg yolks makes the egg whites impossible to whisk into firm peaks. That is why the bowl must be dry and oil free to begin with. To use up the egg yolks, try some custard.
Janice
The white contains the protein, not the yolk.
Jenni
There is 3.6g of protein in one large egg white and about 2.6 in one large egg yolk. So a good amount here really.
Hanlie
How many calories?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
This is one of my older recipes before I started to calculate macros. I am slowly going back and updating them all, until then, hop onto MyFitnessPal 🙂
Janice
I am curious about the calorie calculation. I calculate approx. 65 calories per macaroon, not 29 calories (based on the recipe yielding 20 cookies)
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
You are indeed correct and I have updated it using cronometer.com. I use to use My Fitness Pal but had so many inaccuracies I am now going through all my old recipes and recalculating them. A laborious job but worth doing I think. I always add the note that my nutrition panels are a guide only because there is just so much variation between brands out there. Thanks for keeping me on my toes Janice 😉
Alice
Hi there, what brand of unsweetened desiccated coconut did you use?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
This is great option depending on which country you are in -Bob's Red Mill Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
Alice
Great. thank you!
liso66
I didn't wait for an answer on liquid vs granulated Stevia, however,liquid works wonderfully! Also, I added a tsp of fresh lemon zest to the fold and it had a bright, fresh flavor with the vanilla. These are so good! Now... My husband is eyeing the rest of the batch. He said "YUM!" and stole two more off the cooling rack! haha!
I have been low carb for two years and T2 diabetic, off meds for over 1.5 years now. LCHF and lovin' it! And love this recipe!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I love the suggestion of lemon to the macaroons. And I love that you have been LCHF which has allowed you to come off your T2 meds. Awesome results.
cindykeen
I thought the recipe called for 2 tbs of liquid stevia. I tasted them before cooking and they are the most chemical tasting cookies I have ever tasted. They are in the oven but I don't have much hope, almost through them away without cooking but the oven was ready so I'm going to see if some miracle might happen in there and they will become edible. It would be so helpful if you would specify which ingredient in the directions.
liso66
Will liquid Stevia work? The granular Stevia has carbs due to the anti-clumping agents. The liquid has zero carbs and if I can get away with it, it is my first choice.
Thanks!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I have never got on with liquid stevia, but I'm sure it would work. I use Natvia 100% Natural Sweetener,
liso66
I have that brand as well, and use it when liquid can't be used.
Oh! I played with the macaroons a bit. Ever hear about the candy bar, Mounds? I made two batches of these and I melted 80% dark chocolate and drizzled it over the second batch. AMAZING!
Also, I'll be happy to write up a testimonial. 😉
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Brilliant. Cant wait to read it 🙂
IkeyWabbit
Major disappointment. This recipe resulted in possibly the blandest outcome I have tasted in recent years. The taste was so bland that I had a laughing fit (yes, at least it was good for a laugh), because it *looked* so delicious in the recipe picture.
Reading over the other comments, now I understand why some people suggested making it more “flavourful” with almond flavouring and cinnamon; the 85% chocolate suggestion also sounds like a viable option. But then again, instead of adding, one might as well avoid this recipe completely.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Thank you for taking the time to add your honest feedback. Are you sure you didn't miss out the vanilla? I made these again last night to the letter in case I had misjudged these when writing the recipe. They were again another hit with us so cannot understand how coconut and vanilla can be mistaken for bland? Like with all recipes, if you need a stronger flavour, or find they are not to your taste, play around with flavours before you bake them. 🙂
Reeva
Wonderful! Made these because hubby and i are keto believers but also because i am 28 weeks along and on a very strict sugar/carb intake. I used splenda (what i had) but i think i added a wee bit too much coconut. When i measured them out i had like less than 1/3 cup left and i know that will sit in my cupboard because i will forget that i have it. Anyways, thanks so much!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
If you have leftover coconut, give my grain free granola a go.
helen
Is it better to use stevia rather than dextrose? we have been cutting out a lot of sugar and carbs, but notice NZ Sugarfree uses glucose in their recipes and you use stevia? If you have time I would love a little more info ...thanks. like the look of theses little beauties xx
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I don't use glucose/dextrose because they are sugars which will raise your blood sugar and hence insulin, and all that goes along with high insulin (fat storage, inflammation etc). I choose to use stevia. I don't do as much baking as I used to do and I use far less than the 'spoon for spoon' recommendation (your sweet tooth definitely goes away). Which sweetener you use is a personal choice and your goal, but for me, stevia works when I need a sweetener (which is rare). Take a look at this article and this to read about sweeteners. Hope that helps 🙂
@UKMikeSmith
Added a twist, took some 85% chocolate (fibre matches and cancels carbs) melt this in a bowl over some boiling water, add a tsp of orange extract and a knob of butter and dip the cooled macaroons into the melted bowl. Chocolate orange topped macaroons - Yummy!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I love the sound of your version, thanks xx
Leah
I added some almond flavouring and pinch of cinnamon to make a bit more flavourful.
Sheila Dunn
I have recently found you and can't believe all the great recipes
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I'm so glad you have found us and thank you for the kind feedback 🙂
Grace
Hi, I only have stevia powder (the green stuff) how much of that do you think I should put in?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Sorry you may have to experiment. I only use the baking mix or icing mix.
Kris
Hi Libby,
These are great, thanks! I even found them a bit too sweet, so I'll halve the Natvia next time. I really appreciate that you've posted a dessert-type recipe that doesn't require heaps of sweetener. A quick Pinterest search for keto cookies or the like turns up a gazillion options, but they've all got so much sweetener. For me, any kind of sweetness triggers cravings. I'd love to see more dessert recipes that take advantage of the natural sweetness of coconut or nuts.
Thanks again!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yes, as our tastes adapt we need less, which is why I alway say use the least you can and test as you go so you haven't made it too sweet, you can always add more but can't take it out. Glad you liked them 🙂
Kimberley
Hi, what brand of Stevia do you use? I tried these and the stevia taste was so bitter. Thanks 🙂
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I use Natvia brand of granulated stevia. It measures cup for cup, but I use far less than is recommended as my tastes have changed, and I require a less sweet taste.
Neil
First attempt not looking great so far 🙁 smell lovely. Think I knocked the air out of the eggs and sugar. Of which I didn't put enough in! Always next time.
Natalie
Can I use liquid stevia?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I'm sure you could. I personally don't get on with the liquid stevia, as it is too easy to under/overdose with the drops. 🙂
Cindy
Making some today. Do you know how many calories they have?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Hi Cindy, I am slowly going through my older recipes and updating the nutritional information, I'll try to calculate this one next.
Amanda @ MoveLoveEat
How many did this recipe make?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Hi Amanda, thanks for stopping by. It made about 30 and they didn't last long in our house!
loveh3
These look amazing 🙂 Like little bundles of happiness ! Lol
Libby at ditchthecarbs.com
Thanks, my children certainly LOVED them. I had to stop them from eating them all at once.
loveh3
I will be making them some day soon 🙂
angusglsf
Looks delicious 🙂
Libby at ditchthecarbs.com
Thanks. If you make some, let me know what you think.
FatGirl_LivingLowCarb
Looks so easy! Can't wait to try these! I'm used to macaroons that have condensed milk on it. Didn't know it will still come up nice like yours.
Libby at ditchthecarbs.com
I am trying to experiment with recipes to make them as healthy and low carb as possible while retaining their nutrition. My children couldn't get enough of these.