Coffee, it’s the glorious flavor that wakes us up and motivates us for the day ahead. Now, coffee has become a wonderful part of many of our favorite recipes, making it the delicious way to end our day as well. Try cooking with coffee and create your very own coffee-inspired meal!

Bon Appetit Magazine has inspired this recipe for a Coffee Rub New York Strip Steak. First, gather together these ingredients:

2 16 oz boneless New York Strip Steaks
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
2 tablespoons chile powder
2 tablespoons of Sam & Evan’s ground coffee beans
5 teaspoons of dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon of paprika
1 ½ teaspoons of oregano
½ teaspoons of ground black pepper
1 ½ teaspoons mustard powder
¾ teaspoons of ground red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon kosher salt

Firstly, mix your Sam & Evans ground coffee beans with the chili powder, brown sugar, paprika, dried oregano, black pepper, mustard powder, red peppers, ginger and salt into a small bowl. Mix them all together to form a nice spicy steak rub. Season the steaks thoroughly with the rub then place them on a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate for 3 – 6 hours. When it’s time for dinner, let the steaks warm up for an hour to bring them to room temperature. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil in a large skillet on a medium-high heat. Cook steaks for about 2 minutes on a side to create a nice crust which will give your steaks a wonderful texture. Then place the skillet in the oven and cook to your preferred level of done.

Man cannot live on delicious steaks alone, sometimes you want a nice light salad. The geniuses at the Genuine Source bring us this recipe for a light Balsamic Coffee Vinaigrette. First, dig through your cupboards to find:

2 cloves of garlic, halved
2 tablespoons of brewed Peace Coffee, cooled
2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
2 tablespoons of roasted and chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of ground black pepper
½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Toast your walnuts in a heavy skillet over a medium heat, stirring often, for about 2 – 4 minutes. Finely mince the garlic cloves and the walnuts and place them in a bowl with a lid. Add the other ingredients and shake vigorously until it is well mixed. (or you can cheat and mix the whole thing in a food processor.) Drizzle over a bed of greens for a light and delicious fare.

For dessert, our friends at Black River Roasters bring us a Spicy Ginger Cake. Here’s what you need:

2 cups of dark molasses (or less for those who want a little less bold taste)
2 sticks of soft butter
¼ cup of brewed Peet’s Coffee
4 ¾ cup of cake flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cloves
4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
4 teaspoons of ground ginger
2 teaspoons of ground mace
2 teaspoons of grated nutmeg
1 ½ teaspoon of baking soda
4 tart apples
½ cup of packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups of sour cream
½ cup of chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and lightly oil a 13”x9”x2”cooking pan. Combine your Peet’s coffee with the molasses, and butter in a medium saucepan and bring to boil on a light heat. Take off the heat as soon as it begins to boil and pour into a large mixing bowl.

Sift the flour, salt, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, mace, and baking soda onto a piece of waxed paper. Core, peel and slice your apples into ¼ inch slices. Line the pan with overlapping apple slices, then sprinkle them with brown sugar. Whisk eggs into the coffee and molasses mixture and then add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Add the sour cream and chocolate chips and continue to mix until everything is well blended. Pour the mixture over your apples. Bake for 55 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched lightly in the middle with a knife.

Cut the cake into slices and then turn it over to let it fall out onto a serving plate with apple side up. Serve it with a nice spiced coffee or hot tea and you’ll be ready for anything the cold weather can send your way.

Looking for more great recipes? Check out the Coffee Mill blog for more cooking with coffee inspiration!