I’m always on the lookout for healthy low-sugar or sugar-free dessert recipes. This haystacks cookie recipe is almost like a little candy and is naturally low in sugar, but you can also make it totally sugar free if you want!
As someone who has to avoid sugar almost altogether, the holidays or birthday parties can sometimes be tough when there are so many tempting sweets around, but no healthy sugar-free options.
Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin or sucralose tend to do more harm than good, so I avoid those as well. One of the few natural sweeteners I use that doesn’t spike blood sugar and cause more cravings is stevia. The sugar-free version of this recipe uses stevia sweetened chocolate. It’s a perfect easy crowd-pleasing treat to bring to a party of holiday gathering!
Why I love this recipe:
- The combination of the creamy chocolate and the textured shredded coconut make for a delicious, crunchy, rich and chocolatey treat!
- I love that this chocolate coconut haystacks recipe is so easy to make, it’s no-bake and only has two simple ingredients!
- It’s a pretty easy dessert to please those with different special diets since it’s sugar free, keto, paleo and vegan.
Easy Chocolate Coconut Haystacks Recipe Tips:
- For the chocolate chips, I use this brand of sugar free stevia-sweetened chocolate chips that are keto-friendly. If you don’t mind the sugar, you can also use regular chocolate chips instead. Be careful not to over heat the chocolate chips after they are already melted–this can cause them to burn which will bring an acrid flavor to the recipe.
- For the shredded coconut, be sure to get unsweetened shredded coconut. It should be the finely shredded kind and not the thick coconut flakes.
- When you go to place the mixture onto the cookie sheet it will be loose and will not stick together. Don’t worry, it’s supposed to be like that, but it will stick together and harden in the fridge. Just do your best to place clumps of the mixture on the sheet (watch the video below the recipe to see how I did it).
- Be sure to store these haystacks in refrigerator or freezer. They generally will be ok out in room temperature for a bit, but they can be a bit melty if they are out in the heat for too long.
- Since this recipe only has 2 simple ingredients there’s really no room for substitutions apart from different types of chocolate chips. Any other substitutions would really just make this an entirely different recipe!
How to Make This Easy Chocolate Coconut Haystacks Recipe (Paleo, Vegan, Sugar Free):
Start by melting the chocolate chips over a double boiler on medium-high heat.
Stir until fully melted and smooth, then turn off the heat.
Put shredded coconut in a bowl, then add the melted chocolate.
Stir until ingredients are fully combined.
Place spoonfuls of the mixture onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper until all of the mixture has been used up. When wet, the mixture will not hold together, it will feel loose, but it will harden in the refrigerator.
Refrigerate until solid– about 1-2 hours.
This chocolate coconut haystacks recipe is such a fun and easy healthy dessert! With only 2 ingredients that are keto, paleo and vegan, it's quick to whip up and sure to please friends and family.
- 2 cups shredded coconut
- 1 1/3 cups stevia chocolate chips or regular chocolate chips
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler until smooth, then turn off the heat. Be careful not to over heat the chocolate chips.
Put the shredded coconut in a bowl and add the melted chocolate and mix.
Form into stacks on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. When wet, the mixture will not hold together, it will feel loose, but it will harden in the refrigerator.
Refrigerate for about 1-2 hours or until hardened.
Recipe Video
- For the chocolate chips, I use this brand of sugar free stevia-sweetened chocolate chips that are keto-friendly. If you don't mind the sugar, you can also use regular chocolate chips instead. Be careful not to over heat the chocolate chips after they are already melted--this can cause them to burn which will bring an acrid flavor to the recipe.
- For the shredded coconut, be sure to get unsweetened shredded coconut. It should be the finely shredded kind and not the thick coconut flakes.
- When you go to place the mixture onto the cookie sheet it will be loose and will not stick together. Don't worry, it's supposed to be like that, but it will stick together and harden in the fridge. Just do your best to place clumps of the mixture on the sheet (watch the video below the recipe to see how I did it).
- Be sure to store these haystacks in refrigerator or freezer. They generally will be ok out in room temperature for a bit, but they can be a bit melty if they are out in the heat for too long.
- Since this recipe only has 2 simple ingredients there's really no room for substitutions apart from different types of chocolate chips. Any other substitutions would really just make this an entirely different recipe!
- Nutrition facts below are for haystacks made with sugar free Lily's stevia chocolate chips. There are 2.4 grams of sugar alcohols per serving. There are 0.2 net carbs per serving.
This Easy Chocolate Coconut Haystacks Recipe was originally posted in December of 2017 but has been republished in January of 2019 to include new and improved recipe tips, photos and a recipe video.
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Lisa Bryan says
December 1, 2017 at 1:15 pmI used to love haystack cookies but haven’t had them in forever. Yum!
Hannah Healy says
December 1, 2017 at 2:21 pmMe too! So happy to have a healthier version!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
December 1, 2017 at 3:07 pmI grew up eating haystacks and I love how you’ve recreated them in a healthy way. I can’t wait to give these a spin!
Lisa Bynum says
December 1, 2017 at 3:33 pmThese are one of my favorite cookies at Christmas time. I’m so glad to have a healthier version!
Allison - Celebrating Sweets says
December 1, 2017 at 4:04 pmThese look addicting! I bet I could eat whole bowl of them.
Hannah Healy says
December 1, 2017 at 5:27 pmTotally! Hard to eat just one!
Patty @ Spoonabilities says
December 1, 2017 at 4:25 pmDid I hear healthy? These are definitely on my list of goodies to try! 🙂
Akamatra says
December 1, 2017 at 11:38 pmThese sound amazing. I love coconut and chocolate (duh!) and I’d love to try them with honey.
Laura says
December 2, 2017 at 6:28 amOh wow I love sugar and Evan recipes and going to have to give this a go as it looks so delicious and perfect for the festive season
Laura x
Patty Hancock says
December 8, 2017 at 4:47 amI have always wanted to learn how to make these. They look so simple to make and I bet they are so delicious. These would be perfect to take to get togethers or to even keep at home to munch on.
Natalie says
January 15, 2019 at 9:06 pmThey look so delicious and I love how easy it is to make! I love chocolate and coconut together ♥
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
January 16, 2019 at 2:52 amI’m definitely going to be making these for my kids! They look so delicious and I love that they only need two ingredients too!
Dannii says
January 16, 2019 at 3:55 amChocolate and coconut is SO good together. I am definitely going to have to try this!
Neli Howard says
January 16, 2019 at 3:59 amChocolate and coconut are the perfect combo! Especially for Valentine’s! Love this easy recipe!!
Cathy says
January 16, 2019 at 4:03 amWow I cannot even believe this is only 2 ingredients! So down for this recipe!!! These look delicious and perfect for a quick sweet treat!
Ellen says
January 22, 2019 at 11:55 amI can’t use Stevia, would 100% cacao nibs with monk fruit extract? If so, how much monk fruit, liquid of powdered?
Hannah Healy says
January 22, 2019 at 1:27 pmNo sorry that wouldn’t work. You need to use chocolate chips with this otherwise it won’t hold.
cathy says
February 13, 2019 at 10:00 amI suspect you could use regular monkfruit sweetened chocolate, once it cools it would hold together quite nicely. But you would need to know how to substitute by weight. I never can understand why bloggers don’t use weight in g or oz when blogging their recipes. A cup of this or tablespoon of that is so inaccurate especially when you have to figure out a substitute.