Gluten-Free Coconut Cashew Clove Ball Cookies

This recipe for Gluten-Free Coconut Cashew Clove Ball Cookies is another one that I’m pulling from the archives. Not exactly “my” archives. Archives of recipes that I have loved from gluten-free friends.

This recipe is another one that I am sharing courtesy of my dear friend Linda Etherton. Linda, who most of you all knew formerly as Gluten-Free Homemaker, is not blogging any longer but her many, many outstanding recipes definitely live on. I’m so happy I have the privilege of sharing some of my favorites with you!

I am sharing this one thinking that many of you may have missed it and need to add it to your holiday plans!

In Linda’s original post, she said:

“I just couldn’t resist using a little alliteration in the title of these no-bake ball type cookies.  The clove is what really makes these, and it doesn’t take much of that spice to add wonderful flavor.  These cookies are great for holiday parties and can be made ahead and stored at least a week in the refrigerator.

We enjoy these every year, and my sister-in-law loves them.”

I found a couple of times when I had shared Linda’s recipe on my gfe Facebook page and this is what I said:

“These Coconut Cashew Clove Ball Cookies seem unusual but they are absolutely divine and worthy making!”

and

“These Coconut Cashew Clove Ball Cookies from Gluten-Free Homemaker are amazingly good! 🙂 They look pretty on a cookie tray, too.”

And I left the following comment on Linda’s post sharing these Coconut Cashew Clove Ball Cookies long, long ago—right after New Year’s Day in 2010 to be exact.

“Linda, I did make these to send with Mr. GFE to church this evening. They turned out great even though I should have started making them earlier because I forgot they needed to be chilled for a bit. However, I stuck them on the enamel-topped table on our screen porch uncovered, and they cooled in no time. I also left them in the pan rather than mess up another bowl. But, here’s the funny thing, in copying the recipe off your site (no printer upstairs), I scrawled the amount for the coconut. It said 7 ounces, but I just realized that I read 2 ounces and only used 3/4 cup vs the whole bag. However, I don’t think they were adversely affected at all. The clove might have been a tad stronger, but I rolled them in cinnamon sugar vs just sugar after having just read your Snickerdoodles recipe, and that balanced the clove well. Hubby bit into one and asked oatmeal? rice krispies? He couldn’t figure out what was in them, but loved them. Hopefully, his choir will, too. Thank you! Update: Unsurprisingly, his handbell choir loved these treats!”

What a sweet memory!

Another reader of Linda’s found the recipe adaptable to her needs as well. She said:

“Just had to tell you that with a couple adjustments, I made these for a Christmas gathering … no one knew they were GF and everyone raved over these balls…they are super addictive. First change, used chopped walnuts and coconut flakes (unsweetened) and two, used a mix of cinnamon sugar to roll them in. One thing I won’t do next time is let the dough get too cold before rolling…made it a little tougher to scoop out…I will definitely make these again. Thanks.”

I’ve made these cookies many times since—actually following the directions every time!—and everyone has loved them. Whether I’ve made them for holiday parties, part of a meal for families with new babies, lunches and teas with girlfriends, etc., they are always a huge hit!

In fact, I plan to make them for a Christmas night family together this year. Give them a try, especially if you’re looking for a terrific no-bake cookie option.

Oh, by the way, as soon as you look at the recipe, you’ll see that all the ingredients are everyday ingredients, ones that most of us keep on hand all the time. No gluten-free specialty ingredients are needed.

If you’ve been following gfe for a while and know about my gfe approach, you’ll know that I really appreciate that fact!

Need more gluten-free Christmas cookie options? Check out my series, 30 Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies You’ll Want To Make Right Now!

Gluten-Free Coconut Cashew Clove Ball Cookies Recipe

Yield: About 42 one-inch cookies

Gluten-Free Coconut Cashew Clove Ball Cookies

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The clove is what really makes these no-bake ball type cookies and it doesn’t take much of that spice to add wonderful flavor.  These cookies are great for holiday parties and can be made ahead and stored at least a week in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

• 1 can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 7 ounces shredded coconut (unsweetened or sweetened, your choice)
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• 2 tsp gluten-free vanilla extract (see notes)
• 1 cup chopped cashews (raw or roasted and salted; either works fine)
• Granulated sugar (or cinnamon-sugar mix)

Instructions

1. Add the sweetened condensed milk to a heavy pot.
2. Add the butter, coconut, ground cloves, and cook over medium heat at least 10 minutes, stirring frequently. As the mixture gets hot, you will need to stir almost constantly. It should begin to thicken slightly.
3. Add the vanilla extract and mix well.
4. Stir in the cashews.
5. Remove the pot from the burner, cover it, set it on a pot holder, and refrigerate all until the mixture is chilled all the way through.
6. Roll into balls about one inch in diameter.
7. Then roll the balls in granulated sugar (or in a cinnamon-sugar mix if you prefer).
8. Place the balls in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

Commercial vanilla extract made in the U.S. is gluten free because it is made using alcohol that is distilled. Beware of vanilla extract that comes from other countries that may be made from alcohol that is not distilled and therefore, may not be gluten free.

These cookies will keep for at least a week in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container.

Did you make this recipe?

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Originally published December 17, 2009; updated December 30, 2023.