16 Recipes That Use Coffee for an Extra Jolt of Flavor

Not that we need more reasons to love coffee, but it is an underrated ingredient for cooking. A splash of leftover brew from the pot can add depth to a marinade or enhance the bittersweet side of anything with chocolate; the grounds can similarly round out the dark flavors of a spice rub or even add an element of texture to cookies. That’s only regarding the recipes where it blends and recedes into the role of a supporting player; but for java lovers, there are also plenty of recipes here that let coffee shine as the main event.

It’s no wonder that this cake blows up the internet every time someone links to it anew—it’s the most ideal chocolate cake you could bake, with the coffee disappearing into the layers and frosting and just making the chocolate somehow more chocolatey.

This heavenly dish, in which the green beans char right there in the skillet alongside the roast, picking up its delicious juices, is so simple, the first time you make it will definitely not be the last. Pick up a crusty loaf from a good bakery and you can feast like it’s a weekend even on a weeknight.

We call lots of cakes coffee cakes, but that’s usually because they go well with coffee. This coffee cake, however, actually contains coffee, darkening the usually yellow crumb and really tasting exceptional in combination with the cinnamon (in the same way that a cinnamon crumb cake does go well with a cup of coffee!). This is one of those cakes that you’ll be carving away at for as long as it sits on the countertop, because it makes the best breakfast, snack, dessert…

Ree definitely plays on the coffee theme, serving this rich mocha custard in mugs, so you could almost believe it was sippable. A little brandy in the whipped cream topping really punctuates the very grown-up dessert.

When it comes to steak, coffee isn't just for the marinade. It also makes for a wonderful dry rub ingredient, along with a touch of brown sugar, some ancho chile powder and paprika. Quick and easy, but no less robust.

There’s one thing that ensures the irresistibility of an ice cream confection, and everybody knows it: Chocolate crunchies! You’ll be making these all summer, as they require nothing more than store-bought coffee and chocolate ice creams and said crunchies. Each one you pull from your freezer is like a gift you’re giving yourself.

Molly Yeh never met a sprinkle she could resist, but don’t let these happy squares fool you—the deep chocolatiness, underlined with the addition of coffee in the batter and frosting, and additionally, the unexpected hit of cardamom, make these as sophisticated as a brownie can be.

The cornmeal crust here, seasoned with spices and coffee grounds, turns into a crisp shell while frying, that yields to intensely juicy fish sealed inside. Brightened up with a zippy radish and cabbage slaw and a very green-tasting creamy avocado sauce, these tacos are very easy to disappear in sets of three.

The prep for these coffee-lovers’ sweet treats, if it can be called that, is quite literally 3 minutes. And a little bowl of it—or heck, mug, why not go for the coffee experience—is the most refreshing pick-me-up on a hot summer afternoon.

Consider the spiral ham. Such an inoffensive holiday staple, you know it’s going to be there, and you know it will be edible, but likely forgettable. Now imagine the surprise when guests start to taste the flavor-bomb that is Edward Lee’s ham, just the right crispness around the edges and spiked with gochujang, maple syrup and Worcestershire. Be prepared for the rare ham that yields no leftovers.

Our eyes nearly popped when we saw these adorable thumbprints, and not just in anticipation of the impending caffeine boost! These nibbles get their flavor and crumbly texture from coffee grounds, and are topped with homemade milk jam, a sort of spin on dulce de leche, which turns the whole experience into something reminiscent of the best caramel latte.

You’ll find a lot of lore online about how this iconic Southern gravy got its name, but it’s easy to imagine showing up to a diner the morning after a particularly eventful night and letting the comfort of grits, ham, and this outrageous gravy, cooked with coffee, take the edge off.

This dish is a project, which is not to say it’s difficult; it’s not. But it will take you a few days to put it together. Still, we are happy to report that this is one of those cases in which the labor is so worth it; you’re rewarded with a showstopper of a main course with perfectly cooked meat and layers of complexity. The coffee here mellows into the braising liquid, adding a deeply beefy richness that also gorgeously absorbs into the potatoes and carrots.

We’re already sold on the combination of macadamia nuts and coffee, the richness of the former melding well with the bittersweet notes of the latter. But then add a little dip in white chocolate and shredded coconut, and you truly have the icing on the… cookie.

When you invest in a rib eye, you want to be sure that you’ll cook it just right. This marinade will get you there, with all the umami, smoky deliciousness that calls to mind something served in a high-end steakhouse.