20 Coffee Desserts to Perk You Up

Coffee is a pleasant way to end a meal, and the flavor makes some fantastic desserts and sweets as well. From sweet cups of espresso and ice cream treats to cakes, puddings, and variations on tiramisu, coffee desserts are diverse, delicious, and fun to make.

For many of these recipes, you'll use powdered instant coffee or espresso, while others require strong-brewed coffee. For the latter, try cold brew coffee. The lack of heat produces a richer, truer flavor without bitterness or acidity, though you'll need to start the brew at least 12 hours before you plan to make the dessert.

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01 of 20

Affogato

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Affogato is an Italian espresso dessert that is amazing and incredibly simple. This delightful treat requires vanilla ice cream and fresh-brewed espresso, and it takes just a few minutes to make.
02 of 20

Tiramisu Cake

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

This tiramisu cake recipe has the signature flavors of the classic "pick me up" dessert, but with a few shortcuts. You'll saturate a store-bought angel food cake with coffee and liqueur and create a coffee liqueur and cream cheese filling. As if that's not enough java, it's finished with coffee-infused whipped topping.
03 of 20

Texas Brownies

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Lattes have proven that coffee and chocolate are a perfect pairing. Texas brownies showcase the duo in baked form by adding a full cup of coffee to the batter. Topped with a homemade chocolate frosting, you'll have a hard time eating just one.
04 of 20

Coffee Flan

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Flan de cafe adds espresso to Spain's famous baked vanilla egg custard. It's a delicious twist and one of the most popular flan flavors. When you want to impress dinner guests, it's a great choice.

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05 of 20

Coffee Meringues

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Coffee meringues are the ideal little bite to go with a great cup of coffee. The recipe requires just five ingredients, with instant coffee providing the sweet's flavor. These can be made days in advance and are both kosher and gluten-free.
06 of 20

Coffee Mousse

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Homemade coffee mousse is a fantastic treat that's perfect for special occasions. It needs to chill for a couple of hours, so you can make it before starting the main meal. Finish the custard with a drizzle of chocolate sauce or chocolate-coated coffee beans.
07 of 20

Coffee Ice Cream

The Spruce / Chelsea Ross

Instant espresso granules are the secret to making coffee ice cream at home. This recipe doesn't require an ice cream maker, either. Instead, simply mix the ingredients and place it in a loaf pan, then freeze it for at least six hours.
08 of 20

Mississippi Mud Ice Cream Pie

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Use the coffee ice cream to whip up a rich and irresistible Mississippi mud pie. This decadent frozen dessert includes layers of fudge, pecans, and coffee ice cream on top of a bourbon-flavored vanilla ice cream base.

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09 of 20

Cuban Coffee

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For coffee so sweet that there's no need for dessert, try Cuban coffee. The crema on top of these espresso shots is made by whipping sugar and concentrated coffee from a stovetop espresso maker. There's a learning curve, but that first sip is worth it.
10 of 20

Coffee Jelly

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Black coffee, gelatin, and sugar combine for a deliciously simple dessert. This old-fashioned favorite is now most often enjoyed in Japan, though coffee jelly was once a hit in the U.K. and U.S. too. Topping it whipped cream dresses it up wonderfully.
11 of 20

Coffee-Walnut Snack Cake

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The majority of "coffee cakes" don't include a drop of coffee, but this coffee-walnut snack cake doubles up on the flavor. The super moist dessert uses strong coffee or espresso in both the batter and frosting, so it's a coffee lover's dream.
12 of 20

Chocolate-Covered Coffee Beans

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Jazz up your afternoon coffee routine with chocolate-covered coffee beans. They're fantastic little nibbles and you can pair different types of chocolate with various roasted beans so you'll never get bored with the snack.

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13 of 20

Dairy-Free Coffee Frosting

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Add the taste of sweetened coffee to almost any dessert with this tempting coffee frosting recipe. Made with brewed espresso, soy margarine, and either soy or almond milk, it's dairy-free and wonderful with chocolate.
14 of 20

Coffee Caramels

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When candy is on your mind, this is the only recipe you need. Coffee caramels are chewy, buttery, and filled with that smoky flavor that makes coffee so appealing. They're relatively easy to make and a good introduction to candy making.
15 of 20

White Chocolate Cappuccino Fudge

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Of course, there's a fudge recipe that includes coffee! This eye-catching recipe includes swirls of white chocolate and coffee-flavored fudge to replicate the taste and look of cappuccino.
16 of 20

French Opera Cake

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A classic French dessert, opera cake is always dressed to impress. Ideal for a dinner party, the layers of almond sponge cake, coffee buttercream, and the dark chocolate ganache will put your baking skills to the test.

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17 of 20

Vegan Mocha Cake

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This vegan mocha cake recipe includes a few ingredients that make the final taste that much more surprising. With a combination of cocoa powder, coffee, maple syrup, and vinegar, you don't even need an electric mixer to make it.
18 of 20

French Café au Lait Crème Brûlèe

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Learn how to make a classic French dessert with this café au lait crème brûlèe recipe. It adds espresso to the baked egg creme and is finished off in traditional style with torch-caramelized sugar.
19 of 20

Chocolate Cookies With Mocha Glaze

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The recipe is simple, and the real challenge with these mocha-glazed chocolate cookies is restraining yourself from eating too many. It's one of the few recipes to require hot coffee. For a great tasting glaze, use a pour-over brewer, stovetop espresso maker, or French press.
20 of 20

Whoopie Pies

Filled Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Icing. Photo: Diana Rattray

Sandwiched between two vanilla whoopie pies you'll find delicious chocolate filling accented with bold, hot coffee. These crowd-pleasing treats are almost as much fun to make as they are to eat.

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