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If you’re like me you probably love to bake and make candy for your family and friends during the holidays.  Along with decorating, shopping, wrapping and all the other festivities, it leaves little time to bake that extra something for a work event or church gathering.  So if you don’t have time to bake pans of cookies or cake, this recipe is for you.  Actually it’s for anybody that loves coconut and apricots or if you want a quick something-sweet without turning on the oven.  Three ingredients and a little powdered sugar and you are ready to roll!
I’ve had this recipe for more than 20 years and wasn’t sure where it came from until I started doing a little research.  Eagle Brand Milk has a very similar recipe posted on their website so I bet it was printed inside the label back in the day.  I tweaked it just a tad and rolled half the Apricot Coconut Balls in extra coconut and the remaining balls in powdered sugar.  Both are great and I found it interested that the powdered sugar doesn’t change the taste in the slightest.
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Apricot Coconut Balls
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried apricots
- 2 cups moist shredded coconut
- 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
For coating:
- 1 cup coconut, or 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Put the apricots and coconut in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times until the apricots are chopped fine. Add the sweetened condensed milk and processed until combined.
- Scoop scant 1 tablespoon (I used a small cookie scoop) and roll the mixture into a ball. Roll in shredded coconut or confectioners' sugar.
- Store in the refrigerator
Recipe Notes
- Adapted from a recipe by Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Leftover sweetened condensed milk is great in a hot cup of coffee or tea!
Do you believe there is a special female “gene” for shopping?  If there is … I didn’t get it.  It must have skipped my generation.  My mother was a wonderful shopper and she not only enjoyed it, she was very good at it.  If shopping was an Olympic event, she would have won a gold medal!  My daughter loves to shop too – me?  Not so much!  I guess I’ll be on-line clicking away with my credit card,  paying extra for express shipping or heading out to the mall with the “last minute dudes!!!!”   I seem to be in a time warp where the minutes are going by two at a time with Christmas and New Years steamrolling ahead with or without me.  Knowing how precious time is during this busy season, I appreciate your visit all that much more!  Thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
Barbara Webb says
Tricia
Well, it is Christmas Even and I just put this recipe together. Wow – soooo good. However I bought my Apricots already chopped, so they are a bit chunkier than yours would be, and I couldn’t get shredded coconut sweetened, so I bought flaked. In any case, they turned out great. Thanks
Barbara Webb/ Canada
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Barbara! So glad you enjoyed these little cookies. The sweetened condensed milk and apricots probably sweetened it enough anyway – bravo!
Pippa E says
Just made these. So simple and tasty. I used sour apricots and unsweetened coconut. To add a little zing I added the zest of one orange, a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of ground ginger. This is a keeper.
Tricia Buice says
So glad you tried these Pippa! I love your adaptations and bet that orange zest is terrific. Thanks so much and have a wonderful holiday!
2 Sisters Recipes says
Genius idea Tricia!~ Love these NO Bake sweet treats! They make our lives easier during these last few days of preparation for Christmas! YUM!
Tricia Buice says
No bake and delicious – can’t beat it! Have a blessed holiday Liz and Anna 🙂
Jan says
Lucky I found you. Had a similar recipe last year which was a hit with everyone at several Christmas parties. Only difference was some chopped almonds. Moved since then and couldn’t find my recipe. So grateful for finding yours.
Another big hit from me with family this year
Thank you.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Jan! So happy you are here – and hope you will come back often. This is a tasty little cookie – love the zing from the apricots! Have a blessed holiday season.
Amy says
I have never seen these before, they came out really nice.
Sheena @Tea and Biscuits says
They look perfect Tricia, I love that there’s only a couple of yummy ingredients and they are all gluten free too! 🙂
Tricia Buice says
Yes they are Sheena! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Yael says
What is moist shredded coconut? How I it different than the regular shredded coconut available at the grocery store?
Tricia Buice says
Hello Yael – looking at the photo you can see the balls rolled in coconut and it is long strips. Sometimes coconut can come in a dry almost powdery consistency. This coconut feels soft when you squeeze the bag at that store. Coconut comes in many different forms – such as large hard flakes great for toasting, small dry pieces and the moist shredded. They are all available at the grocery store. The moist shredded coconut is usually in the baking aisle. “Baker’s Angel Flake Coconut” would be a good product for this. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Dom says
What a lovely idea. I love the apricot / coconut combo. So summery yet so festive too! I make cinnamon balls at this time of year as they make great gifts but I may try your recipe this time x
Tricia Buice says
I would love to hear about your cinnamon balls Dom – thanks!
cheri says
Hi Tricia, wow! only 3 ingredients, these are very special. I purchased all of my gifts on-line so far this year except 2, so much easier.
Tricia Buice says
Online shopping wins!~ Three ingredients are these treats are perfection. So easy and addictive! Have a great weekend!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
First, I love these! Apricot is one of my favourite flavours and with coconut is just about perfection 🙂 Secondly, I am right there with you on the lack of shopping gene, much to the chagrin of my shopping-loving daughter. I hate malls and clothes shopping. About the only store that I need to be pulled from is a food/food gadget store 😉
Tricia Buice says
Oh we have that in common Jennifer – kitchen stores and perhaps antiques (with spoons and plates) are the only ones I love! Have a great weekend!
Becky Green says
These look WONDERFUL, Tricia! AND EASY TOO!!! 😉 THANK YOU!!!! You ALWAYS “need” cookies at Christmas!!! HAPPY SHOPPING!!! I LOOOVE to shop too, only now I don’t go out to shop either….getting too old for running from store to store! LOL (But, I was a “good shopper” back in the day!) 😉
Tricia Buice says
Now sweet Becky – I never was a big shopper but do enjoy online browsing 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Susan says
They are so pretty! What a simple but impressive treat, Tricia. I love to shop but NOT during the Christmas season. I’m so glad web shopping is so easy now. I probably did 90% of my shopping on the internet.
Tricia Buice says
Looks like internet shopping is winning this year! Thanks so much Susan 🙂
Gerlinde @Sunnycovecheg says
I am not a big fans of coconut but these little balls look very tasty and I adore apricots.
Tricia Buice says
You might just like these Gerlinde – the apricots are front and center!
Monique says
Love the color!
Oh Tricia..you had better start early next year since you will be buying for more:)
Online is great..many places have free shipping..I like to start the stockings early..many to fill:)
I like shopping in cute different stores..foodie things..my husband’s middle name is Costco we determined yesterday;)
I do buy there ..but the wharehouse decor is awful.People are super nice though.
Tricia Buice says
I agree Monique – starting earlier next year might be the thing to do! I would rather go to the dentist than a Costco! Haha – love a good kitchen store however 🙂
[email protected]'s Recipes says
These apricot coconut balls simply make me happy..gorgeous colour and flavour.
Tricia Buice says
They are so tasty Angie – it’s really wonderful how much flavor is packed into a tiny ball!
Monica says
I love an easy little genius recipe like this, Tricia! Condensed milk is a great secret, short cut ingredient, isn’t it! I’ve never seen these and I adore the color and the ones you rolled in coconut look extra festive and wintery at the same time. I suppose this quick recipe frees up more time for shopping but I am with you. I don’t enjoy it, except when it comes to shopping for home/kitchen things or walking around Sur la table! I did most of my Christmas shopping online, and thank goodness for it!
Tricia Buice says
I’m with you Monica – I do love a home store too – online shopping is the best!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
This is such a unique cookie! I’m a big fan of the flavor of apricots, so I know I’d love them. As for shopping, I’m afraid I did get the gene 🙂
Tricia Buice says
Oh you’re a shopper Sue! Good to know 🙂 We could have fun in a kitchen store I bet!
The Café Sucré Farine says
I love that you didn’t get a shopping gene Tricia! It’s one of those that’s hard to control. I just try to stay away from stores these days, just too tempting. Now these apricot balls, that’s a whole different story, wow, what a fun and delicious treat. And healthy, to boot! A win-win-win!
Tricia Buice says
Haha Chris – I do love a good kitchen store!
Diane (Created by Diane) says
oh my goodness the flavors in these are wonderful and they are super cute too!
Tricia Buice says
They are so easy Diane – and the flavors really do come together in a tangy sweet bite!