For millions of Americans, coffee is the glorious taste that wakes them up in the morning and gives them the energy to power through the day. For many, a typical day includes a cup or two in the morning while getting ready for work, another cup at 10am during their break, one more after lunch for their afternoon break, and stopping off at their favorite coffee bar on the way home for another shot of energy to finish the day strong. We at Coffee Mill say, why stop there. Especially when so many coffee enthusiasts have found tasty ways to put the flavor you love so much into the desserts you crave. Here are 2 delicious coffee desserts that are sure to be the star at your next party of family gathering.

Coffee and Kahlua Brownies

Our good friends at Cooking on the Weekends give us this wonderful recipe for Coffee and Kahlua Brownies. First, go to your cupboards and gather together these ingredients:

8 ounce of unsweetened chocolate
1 cup +1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
5 large eggs
2 tablespoons of finely ground coffee (we like Dunn Brothers for this recipe)
1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon of salt
2 ¼ cups of granulated sugar
1 2/3 cup of sifted all-purpose flour
2/3 cups of hot coffee, strongly brewed (Again, we like Dunn Brothers here)
¼ Kahlua

Firstly, roughly chop the unsweetened chocolate. Next, adjust your oven rack to the top third and preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x13x2 inch pan with butter. Melt the chocolate and butter together in a saucepan over a low heat.

In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat the eggs together with the sugar, coffee grounds, vanilla, and salt. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and beat until mixed. Add in the flour and beat again.

In a small bowl, combine the brewed coffee with the Kahlua and then poor into the mixture and beat again.

Pour the batter into the saucepan and place in the preheated oven. Bake until the edges look solid and there is little movement in the center when you jiggle the pan. This should take between 30 and 40 minutes.

Let the brownies cool, cut and enjoy.

Coffee S’More Pie

Those culinary Wizards over at BonAppetit have created a recipe for a Coffee S’more Pie. For this decadent dessert, you will need the following ingredients:

For the Graham Cracker Crust:
9 whole graham crackers, finally ground
2 teaspoons of heavy cream
2 tablespoons of Nutella
1 ounce of semisweet or bitter sweet chocolate, melted
1 tablespoon of unsalted butter, melted

For the Coffee Ganache:
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, cut into ½” cubes
1 ¼ cup of heavy cream
2 tablespoons of finely ground coffee, (We love Starbucks Café Verona for this recipe)

For the Meringue:
2 large white eggs
½ cup sugar

Finely grind the graham crackers and mix the crumbs and remaining ingredients into a small bowl and blend. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a pie dish. Chill until the crust is firm. This should take about 30 minutes.

While the crust is chilling, finely chop the chocolate. Place the chocolate and butter into a large bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the cream and coffee to boil in 2 tablespoons of water. Remove from heat, cover and let steep for 5 minutes.

Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve and into the bowl with the chocolate and butter. This will strain out the coffee ground, which can now by discarded. Stir until melted and the ganache is smooth. Pour this into the waiting chilled crust. Smooth out the top and set in the refrigeration to chill for about an hour.

For the Meringue, use a mixer with clean, dry beaters to beat the egg whites in a medium bowl until light and frothy. Slowly add in the sugar while continuing to beat. Beat the meringue until it is stiff and glossy.

Spoon the meringue over the coffee ganache, swirling decoratively with a spoon or spatula. If you choose, torch the meringue with a kitchen torch until golden brown in spots.

Put in the refrigerator to chill overnight and serve to with pride to your friends and family.

If you need just the right coffees for any of these recipes, or to keep your office mates happy and productive, send us a message or give us a call here at Coffee Mill. We’ll help you find just the right coffee to keep your workplace running smoothly throughout the day.