Snacks and Sweets That Can Be Made With Coffee, in Addition to Drinking It
Coffee is a very important drink. Not only is it delicious, it also provides a much-needed boost of caffeine to “make the little lady have fun.” He cannot give us anything else, and we will still be seriously indebted to this miracle grain, but coffee gives more. Here are some of the best sweet and savory ways to add more coffee to your food.
Let the coffee show its zesty side
The bitter, roasted coffee flavor is the perfect accompaniment to a variety of savory dishes and lends an unexpected look to meats, vegetables and even chili. A couple of our favorite methods:
- Rub the meat with it . A good grated seasoning can turn a normal piece of meat into “wonderful,” and the coffee is really good here, especially when paired with smoky chili peppers or sweet brown sugar. There are tons of recipes for coffee graters, but I like to use this simple ratio of ¼ cup brown sugar + ¼ ground coffee + 2 tablespoons chili powder as a starting point, adding other seasonings as I see fit. (If you want to double up on this great combination, you can always make a barbecue coffee sauce .)
- Use it in a curing mixture . The best thing I’ve ever done in this life is coffee-roasted duck prosciutto. Was it a simple process? No, but it wasn’t too difficult. For each duck breast, you will need a cup of ground coffee, 1 ½ tablespoon of coarse salt, ½ tablespoon of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of orange peel . Combine it all, grate duck breasts and cure like regular duck prosciutto . If you don’t like duck, coffee will also make a great piece of bacon .
- Make a marinade out of it . It’s a great use for that last cup of joe that wasn’t eaten, and the acidic nature of coffee makes it a great way to break down tougher meats. Epicurious has a great Skirt Steak Pickled Coffee recipe with Dijon mustard, balsamic, garlic and shallots, but the coffee’s bitter base means it can handle all kinds of strong flavors, whether sweet, sour, pungent, or pungent, so feel free to go crazy here.
- Add it to the dressing . The coffee vinaigrette may sound a little odd, but again, the bitter nature of the beans lends balance by cutting through the rich, fatty ingredients. This makes it perfect for salads that are garnished with grilled meats and vegetables, but you can skip the vegetables entirely and just drizzle over something super decadent like foie. You don’t really need a “recipe” for this – just add one or two teaspoons of finely ground coffee to your main dressing, but just in case
- Add chili . Chili is one of those dishes that everyone has a very strong opinion about, but I feel pretty confident in suggesting that you pour ½ cup of strong coffee into your chili. Instead of making coffee-flavored chili, you have a balanced batch with subtle nuances, with a “can’t figure out why this is good” quality.
Of course, this is not all spicy. Coffee goes well with the sweeter things in life.
Sweeten the deal
A cup of coffee is a natural pairing with sweet, sweet pastries, but it’s also a real superstar ingredient when used in desserts. Here are some sweet ways to add a bitter drink to baked goods.
- Make tiramisu . I mean, obviously. It would be a crime to talk about coffee and desserts and not think about this layered Italian masterpiece. There are tons of good tiramisu recipes out there, but I find this one especially delicious.
- Add flavor to cakes and pastries . Coffee and chocolate are a union made in the mouth, and when coffee is added to dark chocolate cakes and sweet pastries, the cocoa flavor is enhanced rather than distracted. Case in point: This chocolate cake is so perfect that hot, strong coffee is added that I haven’t tried a single chocolate cake recipe in over a year. Instant coffee and espresso powder can also add a hefty flavor, and adding a couple tablespoons of either one to a batch of boxed chocolate brownies will make them taste a little more sophisticated and homey.
- Increase the number of pie crusts . Pie crust flavors are something I’m just superb, but a teaspoon of espresso powder in batter meant for a chocolate cream pie would really be something special, and an Oreo mocha cookie crust doesn’t sound too bad either.
- Flavor mousses and gels . These are pudding and jelly cups for adults and they are amazing. Epicurious has great recipes for both genres, including dark roasted coffee gel and decadent mocha mousse .
- Infuse liquors . I’m sure you’ve brewed coffee yourself before, but did you know that you can make your own coffee liqueur in a cold way? This is a relatively straightforward process to produce a smooth, super-drinkable, ultra-adult drink. Simply put half a cup of ground coffee in vodka (rum or whiskey) in the refrigerator overnight. For a sweeter treat, add some plain syrup and vanilla after soaking.
As you can see from all of its great uses, coffee is truly a bean that can do both. Whether you’re making a sweet, sweet dessert or a meaty main course, a caffeinated drink adds depth and just the right bitterness.