Rise & Shine: 6 Coffee-Inspired Recipes

Cup of coffee on table

Photo: Jannis Brandt/Unsplash

Rise and shine! We’re celebrating our cups running over (and into our food and drinks) with these buzz-worthy coffee recipes.

What else can you do with coffee? Click here to find out.

beef
Photo: Bite Me More

1. Coffee Crusted Beef Tenderloin

Our highly caffeinated Chef Lisa always has a cup of Joe at her side, so it should come as no surprise that she’s taken her favorite grinds and brought them to this most special cut of beef, the tenderloin. This Coffee-Crusted Tenderloin is a pull-out-all-the-stops star, a juicy, super-flavorful and tender (hence the name, tender-loin) main course guaranteed to have everyone buzzing with praise.

Ingredients

Coffee Rub

2 tbsp medium grind coffee
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder

3 lb beef tenderloin, center cut

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

2) In a small bowl, combine coffee, brown sugar, rosemary, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Pat evenly over the beef and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes or until desired doneness. For medium rare, you want to reach an internal temperature of 135-140ºF. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Serves 8

scones
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2. Cinnamon Coffee Scones

In many ways, these Cinnamon Coffee Scones are the perfect baked good. Not only are they delicious (each bite is a perfect one of the cinnamon, coffee and brown sugar filling mingled with the moist and buttery scone), but they are also extremely easy to make. While the thought of baking scones conjured up British perfectionism, these are in fact the most forgiving pastry, ideal for both beginner bakers and a steaming cup of tea.

Ingredients

Cinnamon-Coffee Filling

¼ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp finely ground coffee
½ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp cold butter, cut into small pieces

Scone

2½ cups flour
½ cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp kosher salt
½ cup cold butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract

Egg Wash

1 egg white, lightly whisked
2 tsp sugar

Glaze

1¼ cups icing sugar
3 tbsp strong brewed coffee, cooled

Directions

1) For the cinnamon-coffee filling, combine brown sugar, flour, coffee and cinnamon in a medium bowl stir to combine. Add butter, incorporate until coarse crumbs and set aside.

2) For the scones, preheat oven to 375ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter with your fingers until pea size crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk yogurt, egg and vanilla extract. Add to flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until moistened. Dump onto a lightly floured surface and knead 5 to 6 times. Divide dough in half, and pat each half into an 8-inch circle. Sprinkle cinnamon-coffee filling over one circle and place remaining dough circle over top. Pinch edges gently together. Cut into 8 wedges and place each wedge on prepared baking sheet. Brush wedges with egg white and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until tops are golden.

3) For the glaze, whisk together icing sugar and coffee in a small bowl. Drizzle over cooled scones.

Yield: 8 scones

brownies
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3. Triple Chocolate Coffee Brownies

Ever wonder how to get all your vices in one bite? We’ve got the answer, these fudgy and fantastic Triple Chocolate Coffee Brownies. Yes, it’s mocha madness with these moist brownies chock full of brewed coffee, the trinity of chocolate (milk, semi-sweet and white chocolate) and chunks of chopped Oreo cookies. If that doesn’t sell you on these blissful brownies, consider that they’re topped with a creamy coffee frosting!

Ingredients

1½ cups butter, melted
1½ cups sugar
1½ cups brown sugar
4 eggs
¼ cup coffee, cooled
1 tsp vanilla extract
1½ cups flour
1 cup cocoa powder, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp kosher salt
1 cup chopped Oreo cookies
1 cup chopped milk chocolate
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup white chocolate chips

Coffee Frosting

¼ cup butter, softened
2 cups icing sugar
2 tbsp strong brewed coffee, cooled
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1) For the brownies, preheat oven to 325ºF. Coat a 13×9-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper.

2) In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, sugar and brown sugar until combined. Add eggs, coffee and vanilla extract and continue to whisk until smooth. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, Oreo cookies, milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate and white chocolate, stirring just until flour has disappeared. Spread into prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Once cool, refrigerate for 2 hours before frosting.

3) For the coffee frosting, using an electric mixer, cream butter and icing sugar on low to combine. Add coffee and vanilla extract and continue to mix on medium speed until reaches a smooth and desired spreading consistency.
Spread frosting on cooled brownies.

Yield: 25-30 brownies

bread
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4. Fudgy Chocolate Bread with Coffee Glaze

Lisa a self-professed chocaholic. When she was little, she buried a chocolate bar in the backyard, hoping to grow a cacao tree. Now that she’s older, a bit crankier and short one chocolate forest, I do drive-by bonbons, pegging bars at her and running. And, well, since she’s not a morning person (she might dispute this, but take my word), I’m thrilled she created this decadent and dense chocolate loaf cake that undoubtedly lifts her spirits sky high. With a 1-2 chocolate punch, this coffee-glazed bread will leave you with a sweet chocolate high…one slice and Lisa’s euphoric.

Ingredients

Chocolate Bread

1 cup flour
½ cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
2 tbsp hot water
2 tsp instant coffee
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
½ tsp vanilla extra

Chocolate Coffee Glaze

½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 tbsp butter
1 tsp instant coffee
1 tsp hot water
1 tbsp icing sugar, sifted

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, draping it over the edges to cover the sides. Lightly coat with non-stick cooking spray.

2) In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.

3) In a small bowl, combine hot water and instant coffee stirring well to dissolve. Add buttermilk and stir to combine. Set aside.

4) In an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium speed, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract. On low speed, alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat just until flour disappears, careful not to over mix. Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake 42-45 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes before removing from pan.

5) For the glaze, in a small, microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips and butter. In a separate small bowl, dissolve coffee in hot water and then stir into chocolate mixture along with sifted icing sugar. Stir well to combine and evenly spread on top of cooled chocolate loaf.

Serves 10-12

milkshake
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5. Kit Kat & Creamy Coffee Milkshake

How do we get our daily coffee and chocolate fix all in one sip? With this incredibly irresistible Kit Kat and Coffee Milkshake, a creamy concoction that blends up the best of both worlds.

Ingredients

2 cups vanilla ice cream
2 (42g) Kit Kat milk chocolate bars
½ cup strong brewed coffee, cooled
½ tsp vanilla extract

Kit Kat milk chocolate bars, chopped for garnish

Directions

Using a blender, combine ice cream, chocolate bars, coffee and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth. Pour into milkshake glass and garnish with chocolate bars if desired.

Serves 1

coffeecocktail
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6. Coffee Nudge Cocktail

Give yourself a big nudge by following this great Coffee Nudge recipe, a hot cocktail that adds coffee and chocolate liqueur along with sweet brandy to your coffee.

Ingredients

8 oz hot coffee
1oz crème de cacao
1oz coffee liqueur
½ oz brandy
Whipped cream, for garnish

Directions

In a coffee mug, stir together hot coffee, crème de cacao, coffee liqueur and brandy. Garnish top with a dollop of whipped cream.

Serves 1

Authors of bestselling cookbooks Bite Me, Bite Me Too and Lick Your Plate, saucy sisters Julie Albert and Lisa Gnat love eating, feeding, entertaining and dishing up easy recipes at BiteMeMore.com

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