76 Coffee Desserts for a Sweet Pick-Me-Up

Updated October 01, 2019
Credit: Oxmoor House

With these delicious coffee-flavored desserts, you can have your coffee and eat it too. From mocha brownies to tiramisu, we have both classic and updated recipes with the rich, roasted flavors of your favorite morning pleasure. Get your caffeine fix in a totally new way with these sweet and decadent coffee desserts. Not only are they satisfying on their own, but they also pair perfectly with a warm cup of coffee.

Start Slideshow

1 of 75

Cappuccino Swirl Bars

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Cappuccino Swirl Bars Recipe

Don’t be fooled: These bar cookies may look fancy, but store-bought wafer cookies are the secret to the chocolate crust. Make these coffee-flavored beauties in advance and refrigerate them up to three days.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 75

Caramel-Mocha-Sea Salt Cupcakes

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Caramel-Mocha-Sea Salt Cupcakes Recipe

This cupcake is a combination of salty and sweet blended with mocha and is one of the most requested flavors at Dreamcakes Bakery.

3 of 75

Kahlúa Cookie Dough Bites

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studios

Kahlúa Cookie Dough Bites Recipe

If you're only going to have "a bite" of dessert, this is the bite to have.

Advertisement

4 of 75

Coffee Flour Brownie à la Mode

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Coffee Flour Brownie à la Mode Recipe

Adding a bit of coffee flour to box brownie mix not only contributes richer flavor and a slight caffeine boost, but also delivers a whopping dose of potassium. Just 1 tablespoon of coffee flour contains 310 mg of potassium. Topped off with a scoop of coffee ice cream, this dessert is a mocha-lover’s paradise. If you want to make these brownies completely gluten-free (coffee flour is naturally gluten-free), use your favortite gluten-free brownie mix. 

5 of 75

Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie with Coffee Liqueur Whipped Cream

Credit: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Pam Lolley; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie with Coffee Liqueur Whipped Cream Recipe

Whether or not you’re a fan of the infamous, seasonal Starbuck’s beverage, we’re willing to bet you won’t have any regrets about swapping your typical pumpkin pie for this caffeinated uptake this Thanksgiving. We were surprised by just how amazing a hint of coffee sets off creamy, spiced pumpkin pie filling, but the depth of rich flavor speaks for itself—this PSL-inspired pie is in a league of it’s own. Served with a coffee liqueur-spiked whipped cream, this fall dessert reaches a level of decadence a basic pumpkin pie could only dream of. Note: If you opt to create a decorative lattice effect as we did here, be very careful when placing your dough strips atop the pie—the pie’s surface will be very hot and not fully set.

6 of 75

Coffee Liqueur Affogato with Chocolate Whipped Cream

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Coffee Liqueur Affogato with Chocolate Whipped Cream Recipe

This decadent dessert is ridiculously easy to make and is based around 4 of our absolute favorite things: caffeine, booze, ice cream, and chocolate. An adffogato is a traditional coffee-flavored dessert that typically looks like a scoop of creamy gelato topped off with a pour of hot espresso. A shot of liqueur is sometimes added as well to kick things up a notch (as we do in the recipe below). We opted for coffee liqueur here, but feel free to substitute in almond liqueur or leave the booze out if you prefer. Intensely rich, a small serving of adffogato is enough to satisfy. A perfect after-dinner treat for two, this grown-up sundae is sure to become a new favorite. If you find yourself with leftover chocolate whipped cream—or “accidentally” double the whipped cream to guarantee you’ll find yourself with leftovers—use it to top anything from morning waffles and French toast to shortcakes and pie. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 75

Mocha Balls

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Mocha Balls Recipe

Coat in chocolate two at a time.

8 of 75

Caramel Frappuccino

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Caramel Frappuccino Recipe

This easy, copycat version of your favorite coffee shop drink tastes just like the real thing!

9 of 75

Mocha Puppy Chow

Credit: Emma Crist; Styling: Emma Crist

Mocha Puppy Chow Recipe

A teaspoon of instant espresso powder and rich dark chocolate morsels are all that's needed to add depth and a slight coffee-flavoring to classic puppy chow. You can use chocolate cereal in place of plain cereal for extra-chocolatey flavor. This delicious homemade chocolate-cereal treat comes together in less than 10 minutes for an easy, sweet, and portable snack. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 75

Coffee-Hazelnut Pie

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Coffee-Hazelnut Pie Recipe

Shake up your Thanksgiving buffet with this incredible offering. Taking inspiration from the best part of classic pecan pie (the sweet goo!), this nutty treat serves several tasty upgrades while still cutting sugar by more than a third. Toasted hazelnuts contribute supreme crunch and a sweetness unsurpassed by any other nut, while instant coffee and coffee liqueur deepen the flavor with delightfully bitter nuances. And that dollop of chocolate-hazelnut spread? That's simply a touch of sweet genius, as is the sprinkling of flaky salt on top. Make the pie up to a day ahead, and refrigerate; be sure to let it sit at room temperature for about an hour before serving to wake up all the flavors.

11 of 75

Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Coffee Glaze

Credit: Darcy Lenz

Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Coffee Glaze Recipe

Full of warming fall flavors, these easy Pumpkin Spice Cookies are just about the perfect after-dinner treat to pair with a cup of coffee. After all, they’re basically everyone’s favorite seasonal latte delivered in cookie form. If you plan to share these pumpkin spice cookies at any sort of fall potluck and nut allergies are a concern, you can certainly leave the ground pecans out of the batter—simply replace them with 1/3 cup more all-purpose flour.

If you’d rather skip the booze in the coffee glaze, try replacing it with 2-3 tablespoons of cold coffee. Or you can opt for a different glaze altogether; the maple glaze used here or this toasty tahini glaze would both work great for these pumpkin cookies. 

Hungry for more? Check out our 25 Best Pumpkin Spice Recipes next. 

12 of 75

Mocha Java Cakes

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Mocha Java Cakes Recipe

Even the cook will have a hard time believing these litte chocolate-filled chocolate cakes take less than 45 minutes to assemble and bake.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 75

Mocha-Chocolate Shortbread

Mocha-Chocolate Shortbread Recipe

Chocolate-covered shortbread is the yummy end to a wonderful meal. You're likely to have all of the ingredients for this recipe stocked in the pantry.

14 of 75

Fudgy Mocha-Toffee Brownies

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Fudgy Mocha-Toffee Brownies Recipe

Coffee, toffee, and chocolate come together for a triple-threat of fabulous flavor in this brownie recipe.

15 of 75

Pumpkin-Espresso Tiramisù

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Pumpkin-Espresso Tiramisù Recipe

Make Ahead: Loosely wrap baked and cooled tiramisù in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 75

Easy Mocha Chip Ice-Cream Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Easy Mocha Chip Ice-Cream Cake Recipe

This frozen dessert comes together quickly then just needs a little time to set in the freezer. Use premium-quality ice cream for rich, luscious results.

17 of 75

Cappuccino Blossoms

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Cappuccino Blossoms Recipe

These coffee-flavored cookies have relatively small amounts of granulated and light brown sugar becasuse the coffee liqueur and the dark chocolate kisses add a good bit of sweetness. Also, you might want to note that this is an egg-free recipe.

18 of 75

Mocha Chocolate Cake

Mocha Chocolate Cake Recipe

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 75

Chocolate-Coffee Cheesecake Tartlets

Credit: William Dickey; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Chocolate-Coffee Cheesecake Tartlets Recipe

Treat yourself to this bite-size dessert featuring coffee-flavored chocolate cheesecake in a mini phyllo shell.  Easy pick-up desserts like this one are perfect for entertaining, so you may want to double the recipe. You can make them ahead and chill them overnight.

20 of 75

Vanilla Bean-Espresso Crème Brûlée

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Linda Hirst

Vanilla Bean-Espresso Crème Brûlée Recipe

21 of 75

Coffee Angel Food Cake with Fudge Glaze

Coffee Angel Food Cake with Fudge Glaze Recipe

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 75

Coffee and Doughnuts Ice Cream Sandwiches

Credit: Photo by Daniel Agee

Coffee and Doughnuts Ice Cream Sandwiches Recipe

Take a tip from cartoon policemen and have doughnuts and coffee for breakfast. But instead of a latte and a chocolate-sprinkled taking up both hands (so difficult to balance while driving to work!) smash both together, add some ice cream for good measure. We take full responsibility for the deliciousness of coffee and doughnuts ice cream sandwiches; you only have to tackle to sugar rush.

If you’re feeling ambitious, fry up a batch of your own doughnuts—here we’ve opted for pre-made. As for the coffee ice cream, you can DIY that as well, or just reach for the carton in your freezer. Soften the ice cream slightly, then smear it onto a halved doughnut. And just in case that wasn’t enough for you, we rolled the exposed ice cream sides in our favorite cereals. Yeah, we’re not holding anything back.

Coffee and Doughnuts Ice Cream Sandwiches

23 of 75

Nutella Iced Coffee

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Nutella Iced Coffee Recipe

Don’t be surprised if this decadent, chocolatey twist on a typical iced coffee becomes your #1 caffeinated beverage of choice. While you can also prepare this Nutella Iced Coffee by whisking the ingredients together by hand, the blender makes creating a perfectly smooth beverage easy work. P.S. You do not want to skip out on the coffee ice cubes—they make this cool caffeine hit all the more delicious. To make them, simply freeze lightly sweetened coffee (you can use leftovers from your morning pot) in ice cube trays overnight. 

24 of 75

Espresso Crinkles

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr, Jan Gautro

Espresso Crinkles Recipe

Lightly coat your hands with flour to make rolling the dough into balls easier. The dough freezes well. Freeze the dough after step 1, thaw in the refrigerator, then proceed with step 2. The powdered sugar coating gives these cookies an appealing cracked finish. Serve with coffee to echo the espresso.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 75

Mocha-Pistachio Biscotti

Credit: Oxmoor House

Mocha-Pistachio Biscotti Recipe

"Biscotti" is an Italian word referring to hard, crunchy, twice-baked cookies. These biscotti can be kept for weeks in an airtight container, but are pretty enough to be wrapped in clear plastic with a ribbon and given as a gift.

26 of 75

Decadent Chocolate-Espresso Cheesecake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Decadent Chocolate-Espresso Cheesecake Recipe

Dessert and coffee all in one slice, this over-the-top cheesecake is a surefire crowd-pleaser. To garnish with chocolate shards, melt dark bittersweet chocolate, and spread it in a thin layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Let it stand until set, and break into pieces.

27 of 75

Cappuccino-Walnut Toffee

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Cappuccino-Walnut Toffee Recipe

Some brands of butter have slightly higher water content than others. We prefer Land O'Lakes butter for this recipe.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 75

Bittersweet Brownies

Credit: Cooking Light

Bittersweet Brownies Recipe

The highlight of fudgy brownies is their crisp sugar crust on top. Instant espresso intensifies the chocolate flavor for this not-too-sweet dessert.

29 of 75

Espresso-Walnut Cake

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Melanie J. Clarke

Espresso-Walnut Cake Recipe

This cake was screaming for a streusel topping, so we actually used two bowls.

30 of 75

Mocha-Dark Chocolate Chunk Brownies

Credit: Oxmoor House

Mocha-Dark Chocolate Chunk Brownies Recipe

Low in calories, fat, and cholesterol but rich in decadent chocolate flavor, these brownies tout the heart-health benefits associated with coffee and dark chocolate.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 75

Mocha Chocolate Mousse

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Mocha Chocolate Mousse Recipe

This seriously easy and decadent mousse hides a smart secret: reduced-sodium soy sauce. Just 1/2 teaspoon elevates the rich dark chocolate flavor. Add crunch with cookies to contrast the mousse's silky texture. Heating store-bought shortbread in the oven opens up the flavors of the buttery cookies.

32 of 75

Espresso Crepes with Ice Cream and Dark Chocolate Sauce

Espresso Crepes with Ice Cream and Dark Chocolate Sauce Recipe

Since both the crepes and chocolate sauce can be made ahead, this is the simplest of desserts. If you make the sauce ahead, warm it just before serving.

33 of 75

Profiteroles with Coffee Whipped Cream

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Sissy Lamerton

Profiteroles with Coffee Whipped Cream Recipe

These small cream puffs are surprisingly easy to make. Use a 1-inch scoop coated with cooking spray to drop dough onto baking sheet. Store cooled, unfilled puffs in an airtight container up to 2 days.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

34 of 75

Mocha Truffle Cake

Credit: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams

Mocha Truffle Cake Recipe

A quick spin in the food processor makes this cake's prep easy enough for a weeknight dessert for your family. Its bold chocolate flavor is so satisfying that it's unlikely you'll be able to think about seconds.

35 of 75