You Can Brew It! 17 Coffee-Flavored Recipes
Did you know you could use coffee as an ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes? From cupcakes to chili, these recipes get the java treatment.
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Tiramisu Brownies from My Baking Addiction
If you love coffee as much as I do, you’re a sucker for anything juiced with java. After all, what’s not to love about this inky nectar of the gods besides that little boost from caffeine? With its malted, roasty notes reminiscent of chocolate flavor, it’s often used in chocolate dessert recipes to enhance those rich cocoa notes. But in savory dishes, coffee contributes a smoky earthiness. To show off its versatility in food, desserts, and drinks, here are 17 delicious recipes much improved by a jolt of the coffee flavor.
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Q&A: Cooking with coffee
Coffee is used in all sorts of recipes. Before you get started cooking with coffee, check out these commonly asked questions about recipes with coffee.
Which dessert recipe uses coffee?
There are plenty of coffee dessert recipes but a well-known one is the classic tiramisu, which involves soaking ladyfingers in espresso or strong brewed coffee. However, in certain desserts, such as this triple dark chocolate cake recipe, coffee is only added to enhance chocolate’s roasty, rich flavors. An easy and straightforward dessert is the affogato, which is simply espresso poured over a scoop of ice cream.
What are some good coffee-flavored recipes?
As you can see from this article, there are plenty of good coffee-flavored recipes, from coffee and stout popsicles to espresso martinis to coffee pot roast. They can range from using a couple of tablespoons of coffee granules to enrich chocolate in a fudge recipe, to 3 1/2 cups for a coffee crepe cake.
Can you use coffee grounds in recipes?
Yes! Don’t throw out those coffee grounds just yet. Sub them in for any recipe that calls for ground coffee. They can be used in meat rubs, ice cream, and cake.
How can you make the coffee flavor stronger in a recipe?
For a bolder coffee flavor in a recipe, drop in espresso powder, cold brew concentrate, coffee extract, instant coffee, or brewed coffee.
Stimulating sweets
The bitter and rich notes of coffee perfectly balance out the sweetness in these coffee dessert recipes
Coffee and Cream Stout Beersicles
These popsicles are definitely adult-only, made with 4 ounces of coffee, 6 ounces of stout beer, simple syrup, and a bit of whipping cream for a smoother texture. The recipe maker recommends using a coffee vanilla stout to play up the sweet, malty flavors in the beersicle.
Coffee Cheesecake Mousse (Vegan)
For a quick and decadent vegan dessert, whip up this rich, creamy chocolate cheesecake mousse. It serves four and only takes about 5 minutes to make. Blend together vegan cream cheese, coconut blossom sugar, peeled hazelnuts, and a shot of coffee until smooth and creamy.
Coffee Crepe Cake
Sure, this particular coffee cake takes some doing in that you have to cook up 25 coffee crepes. Once you have, it’s just a matter of layering them with a thin spread of coffee whipped cream. The result is the perfect complement to that cup of joe.
Coffee Cupcakes with Mocha Buttercream
How to make a coffee cupcake even more irresistible to those cuckoo for the brew? Top it with mocha buttercream. In this recipe, coffee flavor is leveled up with instant espresso powder, in addition to the 1 cup of coffee.
Coffee Shop Fudge
This coffee fudge recipe is so easy to make, all you need is a microwave and about 15 minutes of prep time. Warm up the pecans in the microwave and then the chocolate chips, milk, strongly brewed coffee, cinnamon, and salt. After the mixture is combined and poured into a prepared pan, it sits in the refrigerator for two hours. Perfect for a last-minute potluck offering.
No-Churn Coffee Ice Cream
Don’t have an ice cream maker? No problem with this no-churn coffee ice cream recipe that makes about one quart (enough for a 9x5-inch loaf pan). If you want a bolder coffee flavor, you can add a few more teaspoons of instant coffee or swap out the vanilla extract for coffee liqueur like Kahlua, as a commenter had suggested.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie
Enjoy PSL season any time with this decadent pumpkin pie. The 3 ounces of brewed espresso imbue it with latte goodness. Serve it with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a sprinkling of pumpkin spice.
Tiramisu Brownies
Tiramisu is a favorite Italian coffee dessert — but this time make it brownies. It’s more portable for parties and picnics. This decadent treat features layers of a mascarpone-cream cheese topping, coffee-soaked ladyfingers, and a rich brownie base.
Perked-up sips
Ways to enjoy coffee outside the plain ol’ cuppa, from dessert shakes to cocktails
Espresso Milkshake
For an afternoon pick-me-up, blend up this espresso milkshake. If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can swap in a strongly brewed batch of coffee instead. Just make sure the coffee has completely cooled to room temperature before you add it to the mix.
Irish Iced Coffee
Why have plain ol’ iced coffee when you can Irish it up with whiskey for brunch? To amplify the coffee flavor, though, don’t chill it with plain ice. Instead, freeze cold brew coffee in ice cube trays beforehand and drop those coffee cubes into your glass.
A Mezcal Espresso Martini
Mezcal, orgeat, and mole bitters deepen the coffee flavors of the classic espresso martini. Shake up the ingredients together with ice and an ounce of cooled espresso, fine strain into a cocktail coupe, and then garnish with coffee beans.
Loaded Coffee Smoothie
Not to say that this coffee smoothie should replace a complete breakfast, but if you want portable breakfast to sip on the way in to work blend up this goodie. Just remember to prep ahead the night before by freezing the banana (peeled and sliced) and chilling the coffee. Then in the morning, simply blend the banana and coffee with rolled oats, milk, and nut butter — and off you go.
Starbucks Oreo Frappuccino
The cookies and cream frappe cappuccino is a favorite off the secret menu at Starbucks. And now you can make your own vegan version at home with coconut milk, coconut sugar, Oreos, cocoa powder, and a shot of espresso.
Boosted bites
Coffee in savory recipes might sound like a strange ingredient to pair with meat but it enriches their earthiness and smokiness
Coffee Bacon Sandwiches
Coffee plus bacon in a sandwich makes for a decadent lunch. In this recipe the freshly ground coffee is mixed with chili powder, brown sugar, and molasses and spread on the bacon pieces, which are then baked in the oven (after having sat in the refrigerator for at least two hours). The result is richness with molasses sweetness and chili kick.
Coffee Rubbed Burgers with Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce
Take your backyard barbecue party to the next level with this burger recipe. With its delicious coffee-spiced crusted patty slathered with a cola and coffee barbecue sauce, it’ll end up the crowd favorite.
Grilled Steak Recipe with Coffee Spice Rub
This coffee spice rub will improve any less expensive cut of steak with its big flavors. And the fact that the steak only needs to sit in the rub for a half hour versus overnight means it can be made for weeknight dinners. Coffee lovers will want to increase the coffee ratio, however, as recipe testers say the coffee flavor is subtle.
Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili
One wouldn’t normally think to use coffee and cocoa powder in a chili recipe. But the combination results in one that’s both rich and smoky. Bonus is you can leave out the maple syrup in this already paleo-compliant turkey and beef chili recipe to also make it Whole30-friendly.
More pick-me-ups
If you love coffee, you'll love these additional Yummly articles that celebrate java!