Vertically and laterally oriented cobalt dendrite films with or without dendritic structures were synthesized by cathodic electrodeposition under different experimental conditions. The morphology of Co deposits was varied significantly depending on deposition conditions such as applied potential, precursor concentration and especially pH value. Co dendritic crystal growth along the [110] direction is preferred. The possible growth mechanism is discussed by supposing differing concentration areas. Results of glucose electrooxidation demonstrate that vertical Co dendrite films are promising materials as carbohydrate sensors with high sensitivity and fast response. In addition, magnetic measurements on cobalt samples under parallel and perpendicular direction of the applied magnetic field show that they exhibit a ferromagnetic behavior with different saturation magnetizations and coercivities.