Beyond the Mug: Coffee Recipes We Love

June 24, 2009
Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon
Ahh... Coffee. There's nothing quite like sipping on a freshly brewed cup, but have you ever enjoyed coffee beyond the mug? This collection of caffeinated recipes--both savory and sweet--has us buzzing.
Start Slideshow

1 of 32

Coffee-Drenched Ice Cream with Banana and Peanuts

Photo: Nigel Cox; Styling: Tiziana Agnello
Coffee-Drenched Ice Cream with Banana and Peanuts Recipe
This 5-ingredient dessert is so simple, you'll wonder why you hadn't thought of it before. Vanilla ice cream, bananas, and peanuts are literally drenched in steaming espresso, causing the ice cream to soften as you devour every last drop.
Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 32

Chocolate-Espresso Pots de Crème

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell
Chocolate-Espresso Pots de Crème Recipe
The secret's out: Everyone knows chocolate and coffee are having a love affair. Their flavors harmonize beautifully in these rich, creamy French custards. Serve them in sweet little teacups at your next dinner party, topped with edible flowers for an elegant touch.

3 of 32

Espresso-Rubbed Skirt Steak with Pineapple Chimichurri

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst
Espresso-Rubbed Skirt Steak with Pineapple Chimichurri Recipe
Chili powder, espresso, dark brown sugar and spices form the rub for this tender skirt steak. Espresso plays up the smoky flavor of the grilled meat, while fresh Pineapple Chimichurri brings out its sweetness.
Advertisement

4 of 32

Citrus-and-Spice Churros with Mocha Sauce

Photo: Kate Mathis
Citrus-and-Spice Churros with Mocha Sauce Recipe
Churros are a definite crowd pleaser, especially when served with an espresso-spiked chocolate dipping sauce. This Top Chef take on the Spanish-style ridged doughnuts infuses them with bright citrus zest and warm spices.

5 of 32

Coffee Baba au Rhum

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Coffee Baba au Rhum Recipe
Coffee Baba au Rhum is our shortcut revival of the original sophisticated French confection. Coffee extract, finely ground coffee, and fresh brewed coffee provide the cake with a triple hit of that caffeinated flavor you crave. You'll earn "ooh la las" from your luncheon or teatime crowd when your serve this showstopping creation.

6 of 32

Coffee and Brown Sugar Bacon

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon
Coffee and Brown Sugar Bacon Recipe
Everyone loves waking up to the smell of coffee and the smell of bacon, and the flavors are pretty awesome together too. Coat strips of bacon with molasses-y brown sugar and ground coffee, and you'll reach breakfast nirvana.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 32

Ultra Iced Coffee

Photo: Con Poulos
Ultra Iced Coffee Recipe
Iced coffee fans, this is for you. Flavors like cinnamon, mint and ginger give this icy concoction its character. Once it freezes, the granita is drenched in ice-cold coffee and milk, making this the ultimate iced coffee.

8 of 32

Espresso Crinkles

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr, Jan Gautro
Espresso Crinkles Recipe
Espresso Crinkles may seem innocent enough, but these decadent cookies have a dark side. They go into the oven white as snow, but emerge revealing their delicious, fudgy interior. Practically irresistible.

9 of 32

Coffee-Brined Chicken Drumsticks

Coffee-Brined Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
Chicken and coffee may seem like an unlikely pair, but a savory-sweet brine of coffee, brown sugar, cinnamon, and chili powder adds rich flavor to unsuspecting chicken drumsticks. This inexpensive, kid-friendly recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, with a bonus caffeine kick to tide you over 'til morning.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 32

Coffee-Chocolate Ice Cream

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke
Coffee-Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe
Homemade ice cream is truly indulgent, and worth every bit of extra effort. Instant espresso is added to the ice cream base for real coffee flavor, while flecks of shaved semisweet chocolate add extra richness throughout this creamy delight.

11 of 32

Beer-Braised Baby Back Ribs with Orange-Tamarind Sauce

Photo: Jody Horton
Beer-Braised Baby Back Ribs with Orange-Tamarind Sauce Recipe
Beer and coffee don't sound like they would work together, yet in this recipe they do. The ribs are braised in lager, which yields a lot of flavor, but the real kicker is the barbecue sauce. A unique combination of orange juice, ketchup, strong-brewed coffee, sambal oelek, molasses and tamarind concentrate, this sauce is certainly eclectic, bold, and not easily forgotten.

12 of 32

Mocha-Espresso Cream Pie

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Mocha-Espresso Cream Pie Recipe
Mocha-Espresso Cream Pie is a chocolate-lover's dream. A crunchy cookie crust is filled with a decadent chocolate filling before being topped off with luscious, coffee-infused whipped cream and bittersweet chocolate curls.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 32

Espresso Shortbread Cookies

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller 
Espresso Shortbread Cookies Recipe
If you're a true coffee connoisseur or enjoy the savory taste of coffee with chocolate, you'll enjoy these buttery shortbread cookies. The recipe calls for two types of espresso beans--regular and chocolate-covered--for an extra hit of its bold flavor. These cookies would be equally delicious served with a frothy cappuccino or a steaming cup of strong coffee.

14 of 32

Coffee-Braised Spoon Lamb

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon
Coffee-Braised Spoon Lamb Recipe
Spoon lamb gets its name from the texture of the meat when it's finished cooking: so tender, you can cut it with a spoon. This long, slow cooking technique benefits leg of lamb, typically a tough cut, and the acidity of the coffee offsets the richness of the meat. The sauce made from the drippings begs for polenta or potatoes.

15 of 32

Espresso Soy Milk Shake

Photo: William Dickey; Styling: Margaret Dickey
Espresso Soy Milk Shake Recipe
You'll enjoy this 4-ingredient dairy-free dessert for its taste, but also for its health benefits! Caffeine may help lower your risk of diabetes and Parkinson's disease and soy is said to increase heart and bone health.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 32

Coffee and Ancho Chile Skirt Steak with Green Chile-Apple Relish

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon
Coffee and Ancho Chile Skirt Steak with Green Chile-Apple Relish Recipe
It's an unusual combination, but when coffee and chile mingle with meat, the flavor is extraordinary. The relish adds an exclamation point to the end of this wow-worthy main dish.

17 of 32

Chocolate-Espresso Pound Cake Truffles

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck
Chocolate-Espresso Pound Cake Truffles Recipe
Decadent flavors unite in Chocolate-Espresso Pound Cake Truffles. The truffles start with our Million Dollar Pound Cake, are mixed with espresso, Vanilla Buttercream Frosting and cocoa, and end as bite-size delights--perfect for special occasions and gift giving.

18 of 32

Coffee-Rubbed Texas-Style Brisket

Photo: Charles Masters; Styling: Alma Melendez
Coffee-Rubbed Texas-Style Brisket Recipe
This delicious Texas-style beef brisket features a coffee-based dry rub that adds deep, smoky flavor to the meat.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 32

Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake

Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake Recipe
Tiramisu is the quintessential coffee dessert, but have you ever tried it frozen? This chilly twist on the classic features ice cream instead of the typical mascarpone cream, but still touts the espresso-soaked flavor you love.

20 of 32

Profiteroles with Coffee Whipped Cream

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Sissy Lamerton
Profiteroles with Coffee Whipped Cream Recipe
These small cream puffs are surprisingly easy to make and look impressive on a dessert plate. Fill with coffee whipped cream and douse in hot fudge sauce for an over-the-top experience.

21 of 32

Coffee-Cured Pulled Pork

Photo: John Kernick
Coffee-Cured Pulled Pork Recipe
Coffee-rubbed pork butt is slow roasted for 6 hours, and then glazed with a mixture of sorghum and apple cider vinegar. The results are outstanding and well worth the extra effort. Turn this pulled pork into sliders topped with barbecue sauce and your favorite spicy-sweet salsa.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 32

Coffee Sundaes with Salted Peanut Butter Caramel

Photo: Peden & Munk; Styling: Amy Wilson 
Coffee Sundaes with Salted Peanut Butter Caramel Recipe
Here's something to buzz about: Salted Peanut Butter Caramel. It's the sauce that tops these indulgent coffee ice cream sundaes, creating a salty-sweet combo that is truly amazing.

23 of 32

Double Chocolate-Mocha Muffins

Photo: David Prince; Styling: Linda Hirst
Double Chocolate-Mocha Muffins Recipe
These multitasking Double Chocolate-Mocha Muffins include your daily dose of chocolate, plus the added espresso leaves no need for a coffee run.

24 of 32

Mocha Affogato with Vanilla Cream

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
Mocha Affogato with Vanilla Cream Recipe
Affogato, meaning "drowned", is an Italian dessert that lives up to its name. It's essentially a scoop of ice cream drowned in espresso--so simple, so delicious. This recipe calls for chocolate ice cream, but you could use whatever flavor you like.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 32

Vanilla Bean-Espresso Crème Brûlée

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Linda Hirst
Vanilla Bean-Espresso Crème Brûlée Recipe
Try something creamy and sweet to satisfy your sweet tooth with this beautiful espresso dessert.

26 of 32

Chicken-Fried Steak with Redeye Curry Gravy

Photo: Antonis Achilleos
Chicken-Fried Steak with Redeye Curry Gravy Recipe
Top Chef star Dale Talde serves his outstanding, crispy fried steak with a richly flavored gravy spiked with curry powder, coffee and Sriracha chile sauce.

27 of 32

Coffee-Rubbed Skirt Steak

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Coffee-Rubbed Skirt Steak Recipe
If you don't have chicory coffee, regular ground coffee or espresso works just as well in this recipe. After grilling, slice the steak against the grain to ensure tender pieces of meat. Serve with your favorite fruit salsa and a squeeze of lime.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 32

Coffee Waffles

Coffee Waffles Recipe
These waffles are packed with coffee flavor! Serve with syrup for breakfast, or add a scoop of ice cream and caramel sauce for a whimsical dessert.

29 of 32

Mocha Pie with Coffee Whipped Cream

Photo: Chris Court; Styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart 
Mocha Pie with Coffee Whipped Cream Recipe
This pie comes together quickly and won't hog oven space as it chills and sets in the fridge (a great make-ahead option). You can use decaf instant coffee granules instead of regular, or leave them out entirely for a silky-smooth chocolate pie with vanilla topping.

30 of 32

Smuggler's Coffee

Photo: Fredrika Stjärne
Smuggler's Coffee Recipe
Who says coffee can't be a part of happy hour? This double rum coffee is deliciously flavored with cinnamon and orange zest. Top with sweetened whipped cream and grated Mexican chocolate for an ultra-luxe cocktail.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 32

Spice-Glazed Lamb Chops with Red Wine-Coffee Pan Sauce

Anna Williams
Spice-Glazed Lamb Chops with Red Wine-Coffee Pan Sauce Recipe
Ancho chile powder seasons these large lamb chops, which are topped with a savory pan sauce made with beef broth, red wine and coffee.

32 of 32

Coffee and Almond Milk Granita