Our 23 Best Ways To Cook With Coffee

Add a little jolt to your favorite recipes

By | Published Dec 18, 2017 8:30 PM

Espresso Waffles with Mocha Drizzle
Espresso Waffles with Mocha Drizzle Farideh Sadeghin

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 »

Gone in 60 Seconds

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 »

Coffee Granita

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

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 »

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 »

Chocolate Amaretti Truffles

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

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 Tom and Jerry Cocktail »

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 »
Roasted Cauliflower

“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 »

Espresso Waffles with Mocha Drizzle

Espresso Waffles with Mocha Drizzle

Braised Zabuton with Coffee Beans

The small flap of meat between the chuck and the rib eye in Wagyu is called the zabuton, meaning “cushion” in Japanese. Nicely marbled with intramuscular fat, the little-known cut—sometimes dubbed a Denver steak—is buttery and rich. Get the recipe for Braised Zabuton with Coffee Beans »

Coffee Shrub Spritzer

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 »

Country Ham With Red-Eye Gravy and Grits

Country Ham

Irish Coffee Soda 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 »

Dusty Bliss Chocolate-Espresso 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 »

Heaven and Hell Cake

This rich, multilayered dessert of angel food and 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 »

Breakfast Salad

Breakfast Salad

Country Ham & Red Eye Gravy Danish

Country Ham & Red Eye Gravy Danish

Coffee Butter

Add an extra jolt to your morning toast with this caffeinated spread. Get the recipe for Coffee Butter »

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.

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 Milk Chocolate and Coffee Cake »

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 »

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