Food

Our 23 Best Ways To Cook With Coffee

Add a little jolt to your favorite recipes

By SAVEUR Editors

Updated: December 18, 2017

When you think of the word, coffee, maybe you think a latte or a cappuccino, and while those hot drinks are delicious on their own, there's something unexpectedly tasty about adding coffee to food. We've tried coffee on barbeque, and coffee in dessert, and its versatility is often underestimated. Whether it's a traditional coffee ice cream or a rub for your roast our best ways to cook with coffee will have you wanting to pour your morning cup of joe into all your dishes.

Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream — Sweetened condensed milk and a touch of spice set this caffeinated treat apart from other coffee ice creams. Get the recipe for Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream »Laura Sant

Gone in 60 seconds Iced Coffee with lime and peach nectar — This recipe treats iced coffee like a cocktail, adding peach nectar and lime juice to amp the beans' citrus and other fruit notes. Get the recipe for Gone in 60 Seconds »Matt Taylor-Gross

Coffee Granita — This refreshing Italian dessert is made with nothing more than brewed espresso and sugar. Get the recipe for Coffee Granita »Matt Taylor-Gross

Nutty Chocolate Bark with Cardamom and Coffee — A flavorful combination of cardamom, dried mulberries, tart cherries, almonds, pistachios, and coffee beans tops dark chocolate in a crunchy, gorgeously layered bark. Get the recipe for Nutty Chocolate Bark with Cardamom and Coffee »Helen Rosner

Coffee-and Soy-Marinated Flank Steak — Strong coffee pairs with soy sauce and lightly caramelized garlic and onions in a marinade that leads to ultra-juicy flank steak. Get the recipe for Coffee-and Soy-Marinated Flank Steak »Laura Sant

Chocolate Amaretti Truffles — Amaretto, coffee, and crushed almond cookies flavor rich dark chocolate truffles. Get the recipe for Chocolate Amaretti Truffles »Helen Rosner

Tom and Jerry cocktail — In this riff on the hot eggnog-like classic, Rachael Thompson of Chicago's Violet Hour perks up the traditional rich base of egg batter and cognac with two New Orleans favorites: the anise-y liqueur Herbsaint and a coffee-chicory syrup, a nod to the coffee at Café du Monde. Get the recipe for Crescent City Tom and Jerry »Matt Taylor-Gross

Currant and Molasses Chutney — Strong coffee accentuates the dark, fruity notes of currants and brown sugar in this chutney. Try it on top of scones or a slice of banana bread. Get the recipe for Currant and Molasses Chutney »Yossy Arefi

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH TAHINI SAUCE — Tossed in a bold espresso-infused oil, then broiled until just charred, a savory shallot–coffee sauce takes this holiday-worthy side dish over the top. Get the recipe for Roasted Cauliflower With Tahini Sauce »Matt Taylor-Gross

A Little Jolt Dry Rub — Coffee's sweet, earthy flavor is perfect for ribs. Incorporate it into an otherwise traditional dry rub by finely grinding the beans. Get the recipe for "A Little Jolt" Dry Rub »Matt Taylor-Gross

Espresso Waffles with Mocha Drizzle — Almond flour and espresso powder give bittersweet edge to these waffles, which are glossed with a decadent sauce of condensed milk, coffee, and dark chocolate. Get the recipe for Espresso Waffles with Mocha Drizzle »Farideh Sadeghin

Braised Zabuton with Coffee Beans — The zabuton is a buttery and rich cut of Wagyu. Braise this nicely-marbled fatty cut with a spicy, satisfying blend of coffee beans, star anise, jalapeños, and cilantro. Get the recipe for Braised Zabuton with Coffee Beans »Andre Baranowski

Coffee Shrub — This sparkling balsamic vinegar–espresso shrub gets a tangy, bubbly boost while still giving a jolt of energy. Get the recipe for Coffee Shrub Spritzer »Farideh Sadeghin

COUNTRY HAM WITH RED-EYE GRAVY AND GRITS — Some Southerners believe that the gravy takes its name from a man's red-rimmed eyes in the morning or from the reddish hue of certain country hams. Others swear that the name comes from the red-tinted layer of fat that forms on the surface of the gravy. Either way, it's a filling start to the day that will get you going. Get the recipe for Country Ham With Red-Eye Gravy and Grits »Matt Taylor-Gross

Irish Coffee Bread — Espresso powder adds a jolt to this sleepy soda bread. We love it as toast for a breakfast sandwich or to mop up rich sauces alongside a dinner roast. Get the recipe for Irish Coffee Soda Bread »Matt Taylor-Gross

Dusty Bliss Cookies — A sandy, melt-in-your mouth chocolate cookie with a coffee kick—and a dip in more chocolate for good measure. Get the recipe for Dusty Bliss Chocolate-Espresso Cookies »Matt Taylor-Gross

Heaven And Hell Cake — This rich, multilayered dessert of angel food and coffee-rich devil's food cake, peanut butter mousse, and milk chocolate ganache should be frozen before icing is added and refrigerated before it's sliced. Get the recipe for Heaven and Hell Cake »Matt Taylor-Gross

Breakfast Salad — Bacon and eggs get the salad treatment complete with a zingy espresso vinaigrette and toasty croutons for crunch. Get the recipe for Breakfast Salad »Farideh Sadeghin

Country Ham Danish — This perky danish with salty country ham gravy is a glorious mash-up of pastry and homey Southern comfort. Get the recipe for Country Ham & Red Eye Gravy Danish »Joseph De Leo

Seafood Coffee Butter — Add an extra jolt to your morning toast with this caffeinated spread. Get the recipe for Coffee Butter »Matt Taylor-Gross

Ricotta and Coffee Mousse — Elegant and easy to prepare, a classic mousse flavored with espresso and topped with a dusting of chocolate is a great way to end a romantic meal. Get the recipe for Ricotta and Coffee Mousse »Helen Rosner

Milk Chocolate and Coffee Cake — This milk chocolate–butter cake is enhanced with a full 2 tbsp. of espresso powder and topped with a brown sugar–almond crumble. Get the recipe for Ricotta and Coffee Mousse »Matt Taylor-Gross

Chocolate Barbecue Sauce — A smooth, spicy-sweet barbecue sauce gets even richer thanks to the inclusion of a small amount of chocolate. We love it basted onto chicken as it grills, or painted atop a classic meatloaf. Get the recipe for Ricotta and Coffee Mousse »Yossy Arefi

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