23 Coconut Oil Recipes from Sweet to Savory

Between the chewy cookies, dreamy chocolate fudge, and perfectly roasted Brussel sprouts, these coconut oil recipes are sure to be a hit in your house.

It’s readily available, easy to use, and not as expensive as you might think (at least, not when you compare it to some fancy olive oils!).

Coconut oil can help elevate your metabolism and has been known to encourage healthy skin and hair growth.

Plus, it’s ideal for those on low-carb and keto diets. 

Better yet, you can use it in everything from baking cakes to frying veggies – as you’ll see on this list of coconut oil recipes!

20+ Best Ways to Cook with Coconut Oil

1. Butterless Chocolate Chip Cookies with Coconut Oil

It’s possible to substitute coconut oil for other oils in practically any recipe. However, it works best in sweet ones.

And these sensational cookies are proof!

There are plenty of reasons you might want to cut butter from a recipe. But you want to know that doing so won’t ruin your dough, right?

Luckily, this recipe has you covered. These babies are chewy, buttery, and full of gooey chocolate.  

2. Vegan Chocolate Fudge

This six-ingredient vegan chocolate fudge is insanely delicious and relatively healthy to boot.

It’s thick, fudgy, and supremely chocolatey. The coconut oil and shredded coconut also add a nice tropical sweetness I think you’ll really enjoy.

If you like, you can also add a bit of orange zest. The resulting chocolate orange flavor is impossible not to love.

3. 5-Ingredient Coconut Oil Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

I’m about to say something potentially controversial: these vegan peanut butter cups are better than Reese’s Cups.

There, I said it. And I meant every word! 

Seriously, though, these are phenomenal. The combination of dark chocolate and peanut butter is simply drool-worthy. 

No one will notice or care that they’re vegan. They’ll be too busy trying to sneak a few extras in their pockets when no one’s looking.

4. Healthy Apple Muffins

Need a quick, healthy, grab-and-go breakfast to start your day? Try these crumbly and fluffy muffins.

Ready in just 30 minutes, they’re overloaded with sweet cinnamon apple flavor.

They’re best in the fall but are delish all year.

5. 3-Ingredient Coconut Oil Biscuits

Want to make the perfect breakfast biscuits with just three ingredients? This recipe will help you do just that. 

All you’ll need is flour, coconut oil, and milk. (Use coconut milk to keep the recipe vegan-friendly.)

It takes about 20 minutes to make a dozen, which is just enough time to get some bacon and eggs on the go.

Besides canned or frozen, these are the easiest biscuits you’ll ever make.

6. Roasted Carrot Coconut Soup

Ready for something savory? This carrot soup is gorgeous, and it certainly tastes as good as it looks.

It’s thick and creamy with a lovely orange color and a picture-perfect white swirl on top.

If you enjoy caramelized carrots, you’ll appreciate this soup. It makes an excellent starter for your holiday meals. 

7. Vegan Chocolate Tart

Want a stunning dessert that’s sure to turn heads? This vegan chocolate tart is just the thing.

It looks and tastes downright decadent. Surprisingly, though, it’s not difficult to make.

And it’s not all that bad for you. 

You’ll use all-natural ingredients, including almonds, cacao powder, maple syrup, coconut oil, and coconut milk.

You’ll also want to go for a raw chocolate bar instead of the sugar-heavy stuff on the shelves.

After about 10 minutes of prep, it needs to sit for a few hours, and it’s ready to go. 

8. 7-Ingredient Vegan Key Lime Pies

These seven-ingredient key lime pies are vegan and gluten-free.

They’re also perfectly sized to be one or two mouthfuls, making them ideal for parties. 

Zesty, tart, and tangy, they taste just like your favorite Key West treat, and they’re ready in 30 minutes (plus setting time).

Whip them up the next time you need a refreshing summer dessert. One bite, and you’ll swoon!

9. Chocolate Coconut Pound Cake

Spongy, light, and airy: three words that perfectly describe this chocolate pound cake.

It’s lovely, tasty, and full of chocolate yumminess. 

Try it once, and you’ll never want another plain pound cake again. Neither will anyone else who tries it. 

10. Healthy Pumpkin Bread

If the bright orange color of this bread isn’t enough to make you try it, the alluring scent and spectacular taste will be.

It’s a moist, soft, pumpkin-flavored bread that’s perfect for autumn. 

Feel free to tweak the recipe, too. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, pecans, walnuts, or anything else you like.

There’s no way to mess this bread up.

11. Maple Pecan Granola

This healthy, hearty granola is 100% natural.

It combines crunchy oats, pecans, and sunflower seeds with rich, sweet ingredients for a breakfast dish you’ll crave day after day.

From the pleasant texture to the delightful maple syrup flavor, this works well with tangy yogurt. That said, it’s yummy with ice cream too.

Either way, you won’t be sorry you made it. 

12. Cinnamon Apple Granola

Prefer cinnamon and apples to maple syrup and pecans? Then check out this granola recipe instead. 

It’s just as crunchy and nutritious as the one above. However, it has a much different spiced and fruity flavor.

I like to make this granola into snack bars or add it to my cereal.

13. Healthy French Toast

This is the same cinnamony, maple syrupy French toast you know and love. The only difference is you’ll make it with much healthier ingredients. 

It’s more natural and less artificial and heavy. And that means you can have seconds!

Make it the next time you want a decadent (but still nutritious) breakfast for the family. 

14. Homemade Thin Mints

Tired of waiting for Girl Scout cookie season to roll around? That’s okay! Use this recipe to whip up some Thin Mints at home.

They’re crunchy and have the perfect balance of chocolate and mint.

They’re also healthier than the ones that come in the green box. Sounds like a win-win to me. 

15. Healthy Banana Bread

The best banana bread is dense and tender with a slightly crisp exterior crumb. It’s also fully loaded with banana flavor, of course.

Luckily, this banana bread is some of the very best. It ticks every box and then some!

Featuring the sweet flavors of bananas and honey with just a hint of cinnamon, it’s beyond scrumptious.

Plus, you can add in whatever you like – pecans, walnuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips – you name it!

16. Whole Wheat Coconut Waffles

These are some of the best waffles you’ll ever try. They’re sweet and crunchy, just like Belgian waffles.

You’ll make them with whole wheat flour, though, making them extra nutritious. 

Don’t forget to check out the cranberry cinnamon sauce recipe, too. It’s the ideal sweet and tangy topping for these yummy waffles.

(Maple syrup and whipped cream work, too.)

17. Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

You won’t believe how easy these Brussels sprouts are to make.

You’ll need sprouts, balsamic vinegar, and coconut oil. Add a dash of salt and pepper if you like, but that’s all you’ll need.

They’re flavorful and tender inside. However, the outside leaves remain delightfully crunchy.

I adore the kick of the balsamic! And some bacon and onions, and they’re irresistible.

So, even if you don’t like Brussels sprouts, you should try these. They may surprise you. 

18. Coconut-Oil Fried Peanut Chicken

Frying chicken in coconut oil is tricky.

Add too much, and you get coconutty chicken, which isn’t always ideal.

However, if you’re making Thai peanut chicken, the coconut flavor is a benefit, not a drawback.

Its crunchy skin and tender white meat make it some of the best chicken you’ll ever eat. And the unique sweet-n-savory flavor is hard not to love. 

If you like Thai food, this recipe will quickly be a new favorite. 

19. Broccoli Soup with Coconut Milk

Broccoli soup isn’t as pretty as the carrot soup above. But fortunately, it tastes just as delectable.

Thick and creamy with a robust, earthy flavor, it contains tons of veggies and is vegan-friendly to boot.

It’s also extremely good for you. So don’t be afraid to have a second bowl!

20. Coconut & Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

These no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars are absolutely to die for. They’re rich, sweet, and just a touch tangy (if you add the cherries). 

You’ll fill them with protein-rich ingredients, making them the ideal midday pick-me-up. 

Just don’t forget the sea salt on top. Its saltiness provides the perfect complement to the bars’ intense sweetness.

21. Healthy Cherry Crisp

All you need for this healthy cherry crisp is a handful of ingredients. It combines sweet, spiced, tart, and tangy flavors for an unforgettable taste. 

I love to serve this during the summer, but it makes a beautiful apple crisp alternative in the fall too.

22. Vegan Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot – what will they think of next? (I don’t know, but I’m looking forward to it, whatever it is!)

These fluffy, pillowy soft potatoes are unbelievably good. They’re so garlicky and buttery, no one will ever know they’re vegan. 

Best of all, you can make them in just 15 minutes. That makes them perfect for any occasion, formal or otherwise. 

23. Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream

Want some vegan ice cream on top of that healthy cherry crisp? Here’s the recipe for it!

It’s smooth, luscious, and overflowing with vanilla flavor. 

Of course, it tastes great in a bowl by itself, in a cone, or on top of another dessert. But it’s extra yummy with those cherries.