31 Coffee Desserts So You Can Have Your Cup and Eat It Too
Some coffee desserts have just a touch—a teaspoon or so of espresso granules or a little pour from the French press to deepen the flavor of chocolate or toasted nuts. But these recipes are for true coffee lovers, and in these cakes, cookies, doughnuts, puddings, ice creams, and pies, the coffee is really the star. With backup singers like molasses and rum, or mascarpone and fluffy whipped cream, these coffee desserts would make for a memorable finish at your next dinner party or family gathering. Feel free to brew a fresh pot to serve on the side.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini1/31Brown-Butter Pecan Pie With Rum and Espresso
Thanksgiving pies welcome a little experimentation, and we found that adding brown butter and instant espresso transforms pecan pie into one of our favorite coffee desserts. The coffee (along with a touch of rum) cuts the sweetness of the classic—this version may become your new Thanksgiving tradition.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne2/31Fluffy Coffee and Walnut Cake With Mocha Buttercream
This recipe adds a silky mocha frosting to the classic British cake. If you really want to lean into the coffee flavors, you can brush the cake layers with an easy coffee-and-amaro syrup for extra moisture.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich4/31Tiramisu Bundt Cake
If you’ve ever wondered why more coffee cakes don’t taste like coffee, this make-ahead buttermilk cake with swirled mascarpone and a crunchy coffee-soaked exterior is for you.
Photo by Davide Luciano6/31Espresso Chocolate Sablés
Considering adding some new cookie recipes to your holiday repertoire? These deeply coffee-flavored sablés from baking expert Dorie Greenspan just need a glass of milk on the side.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton7/31Molasses Sandwich Cookies With Coffee Cream
Photo by JP Bevins, Food Styling by Molly Baz10/313-Ingredient Frozen Mud Pie
This is one of those easy desserts that looks impressive; all you need to make it is a store-bought pie crust, chopped semisweet chocolate, and two pints of coffee ice cream.
Photo by Davide Luciano11/31Coffee Malteds
These toasty, chewy cookies recall a malted shake, thanks to a touch of malted milk powder in the dough. You can use ground coffee or instant coffee in this recipe.
Ditte Isager12/31Coffee S’mores Pie
Coffee deepens the chocolate flavor in the rich ganache filling of this meringue-topped pie.
Lucy Schaeffer13/31The Dude
This dessert combines coffee with cream and vodka for a frozen take on the creamy White Russian cocktail.
donna hay magazine, photography by Benjamin Dearnley15/31Quick Chocolate Swirl Tiramisu
This cheater’s version of tiramisu combines mascarpone cream and espresso-infused chocolate for a faster take on the dish that’s—shhhh!—maybe even better than the original.
Photo by MIKKEL VANG18/31Opera Cake
This intricate dessert is layered with espresso buttercream and dark chocolate ganache. Read more about it in our guide to cake recipes, then consider making one for your next special occasion.
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Sue Li19/31Coffee-Hazelnut Biscotti
Dunk these crisp, nutty cookies in amaro, bourbon, or a big glass of cold milk. These keep well, so they’re ideal for boxing up and shipping to friends and family over the holidays.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell20/31Swirl Spice Cake
This isn’t quite your classic coffee cake: the flavorful swirl in the center combines buttery pecans with ground coffee, dried orange peel, cardamom, and fennel.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht22/31Tiramisu
This classic is one of our favorite make-ahead desserts for a dinner party, and it’s a great reason to always keep Italian ladyfingers on hand.
Lara Ferroni23/31Tiramisu Yule Log
Gingerbread houses aren’t the only fun holiday project to consider this year. This rolled cake brings everyone’s favorite flavors to the bûche de Noël format.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams, Food Styling by Judy Haubert24/31Mocha Egg Cream
Take a frothy egg cream, add a little caffeinated punch, and you’ve got one of our favorite drinkable desserts of all time.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton25/31Tiramisu Granita
Homemade or store-bought cold-brew concentrate gives this refreshing take on tiramisu its bold coffee flavor. Sift a little cocoa powder on top just before diving in.
Mitchell Feinberg26/31Pecan-Mocha Meringues
You’ll need instant espresso powder, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and cream of tartar to make these crunchy cookies—plus egg whites and pecans.
Photo by Alex Lau28/31Buckwheat Banana Cake with Yogurt-Espresso Frosting
An espresso-spiked Greek yogurt topping finishes this cake with a flourish of tangy, creamy sweetness. Banana bread has never been so glam.
Yoko Inoue29/31Cappuccino Brownies
Lots of brownie recipes lean on a touch of coffee to deepen the chocolate flavor. But here, white chocolate ganache mimics the look of steamed-milk foam on the top of a cappuccino.
Photo by Misha Gravenor30/31Chocolate Pudding With Espresso Whipped Cream
Homemade whipped cream is always great. But adding espresso powder makes it an even better partner for chocolate pudding.
Photo by Alex Lau31/31Spiced Coffee Affogato With Vanilla Ice Cream
Some of our best coffee desserts are truly simple. For this one, you'll just top cold vanilla ice cream with a sprinkle of cinnamon and cardamom and douse the whole thing in espresso.
