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Kick up the flavor of your next meal by trying one of these coffee-inspired recipes!
Don't relegate the sweet notes of cocoa, rich aromas, and kick-in-the-pants flavor of coffee to liquid form. For a quick pick-me-up at any time of the day, try one of these coffee-inspired recipes, and eat your way to more pep in your step.
Just be careful not to enjoy a caffeine-packed treat too close to bedtime, as it may keep you up longer than you'd like.
1. Coffee Spice Rub
Apply this rub to your favorite cut of chicken, beef, or pork, or sprinkle on eggs or veggies for a hit of feel-good flavor! Rub it in with your fingers to be sure it stays on during cooking.
Ingredients
Instant espresso powder, 1 tsp
Smoked paprika, 1 tsp
Brown sugar, 1 tsp
Cumin powder, 1/2 tsp
Mustard seed, 1/2 tsp
Salt, 1/4 tsp
Directions
Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl or plastic bag, then rub the spices on your favorite protein.
2. Red-Eye Barbecue Sauce
Apply this buzz-worthy barbecue sauce to grilled meats like pork tenderloin, or mix it with sliced rotisserie chicken for a zesty sandwich filling.
Ingredients
Low-sugar barbecue sauce, 1/2 cup
Instant espresso powder, 2 tsp
Allspice, 1/4 tsp
Directions
Stir the ingredients together, and slather the sauce on your favorite cut of meat!
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 2 tbsp
Recipe Yields: 4 Servings
Calories: 44
Fat: 0 g
Carbs: 11 g
Protein: 0 g
3. Mocha Overnight Oats
This make-ahead stick-to-your-ribs breakfast will let you get out the door in short order with the kick and nutrition you need to tackle your day.
Ingredients
Steel-cut oats, 1/2 cup
Protein powder, 1 scoop
Chia seeds, 1 tbsp
Cocoa powder, 1 tbsp
Maple syrup, 1 tbsp
Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp
Strongly brewed coffee (hot), 3/4 cup
Low-fat milk, 1/4 cup
Directions
In a jar or Tupperware container, combine the oats, protein powder, chia seeds, cocoa powder, syrup, and cinnamon.
Stir in the hot coffee, and cover tightly.
Refrigerate the mixture overnight.
In the morning, top with some warmed milk and any desired toppings like berries and nuts.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 recipe
Recipe Yields: 1 serving
Calories: 432
Fat: 8 g
Carbs: 54 g (12 g fiber)
Protein: 36 g
4. Coffee Cheesecake Smoothie Bowl
The dynamic trio of carbs, protein, and fluids makes spooning up this deliciously thick smoothie bowl a perfect way to build yourself back up after a demanding workout. Be careful if you work out in the evening, though, as this bowl of goodness will give you a kick in the pants and may interrupt your usual sleep habits.
Ingredients
Low-fat milk, 1/4 cup
Ricotta cheese, 2/3 cup
Medjool date, pitted, 1
Almond butter, 2 tsp
Instant espresso powder, 1 tsp
Lemon zest, 1 tsp
Cardamom, 1 tsp
Banana, frozen and sliced, 1
Directions
Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend on high until creamy and smooth, about 60 seconds.
Serve the smoothie in a bowl, and garnish it with dried coconut, chopped hazelnuts, or cacao nibs.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 smoothie bowl
Recipe Yields: 1 Serving
Calories: 452
Fat: 20 g
Carbs: 45 g (4 g fiber)
Protein: 23 g
5. Cold-Brew Pops
Here's a good example of how a dessert can taste great but still play by the nutritional rules. Look for bottles or cans of prepared, unsweetened cold-brew coffee in most supermarkets, or brew your own coffee and let it chill before using.
Ingredients
Cold coffee, unsweetened, 1 cup
2% plain Greek yogurt, 1 cup
Maple syrup or honey, 2 tbsp
Dark chocolate chips, 1 tbsp
Directions
Blend together the coffee, Greek yogurt, and maple syrup or honey.
Place one tablespoon dark chocolate chips in each popsicle mold.
Fill the molds with the coffee mixture, insert popsicle sticks, and freeze the popsicles overnight.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 popsicle
Recipe Yields: 6 servings
Calories: 125
Fat: 5 g
Carbs: 16 g (1 g fiber)
Protein: 4 g
6. Espresso Almond Butter
This fired-up nut butter is ready to make toast, crackers, sliced apples and smoothies that much better. It's the perfect pairing to a late-afternoon snack to help you power through the last few hours of your workday.
Ingredients
Almonds, skinless and blanched, 2 cups
Instant espresso powder, 1 tbsp
Salt, 1 tsp
Maple syrup or honey, 2 tbsp
Coconut oil, melted, 3 tbsp
Directions
Place the almonds, espresso powder, and salt in a food processor or high-powered blender, and blend until smooth, 5-7 minutes, scraping the sides of the container with a rubber spatula as needed.
Blend in the maple syrup or honey and melted coconut oil until creamy.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 tbsp
Recipe Yields: 20 servings
Calories: 113
Fat: 9 g
Carbs: 5 g (2 g fiber)
Protein: 3 g
Don't relegate the sweet notes of cocoa, rich aromas, and kick-in-the-pants flavor of coffee to liquid form. For a quick pick-me-up at any time of the day, try one of these coffee-inspired recipes, and eat your way to more pep in your step.
Just be careful not to enjoy a caffeine-packed treat too close to bedtime, as it may keep you up longer than you'd like.
1. Coffee Spice Rub
Apply this rub to your favorite cut of chicken, beef, or pork, or sprinkle on eggs or veggies for a hit of feel-good flavor! Rub it in with your fingers to be sure it stays on during cooking.
Ingredients
Instant espresso powder, 1 tsp
Smoked paprika, 1 tsp
Brown sugar, 1 tsp
Cumin powder, 1/2 tsp
Mustard seed, 1/2 tsp
Salt, 1/4 tsp
Directions
Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl or plastic bag, then rub the spices on your favorite protein.
2. Red-Eye Barbecue Sauce
Apply this buzz-worthy barbecue sauce to grilled meats like pork tenderloin, or mix it with sliced rotisserie chicken for a zesty sandwich filling.
Ingredients
Low-sugar barbecue sauce, 1/2 cup
Instant espresso powder, 2 tsp
Allspice, 1/4 tsp
Directions
Stir the ingredients together, and slather the sauce on your favorite cut of meat!
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 2 tbsp
Recipe Yields: 4 Servings
Calories: 44
Fat: 0 g
Carbs: 11 g
Protein: 0 g
3. Mocha Overnight Oats
This make-ahead stick-to-your-ribs breakfast will let you get out the door in short order with the kick and nutrition you need to tackle your day.
Ingredients
Steel-cut oats, 1/2 cup
Protein powder, 1 scoop
Chia seeds, 1 tbsp
Cocoa powder, 1 tbsp
Maple syrup, 1 tbsp
Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp
Strongly brewed coffee (hot), 3/4 cup
Low-fat milk, 1/4 cup
Directions
In a jar or Tupperware container, combine the oats, protein powder, chia seeds, cocoa powder, syrup, and cinnamon.
Stir in the hot coffee, and cover tightly.
Refrigerate the mixture overnight.
In the morning, top with some warmed milk and any desired toppings like berries and nuts.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 recipe
Recipe Yields: 1 serving
Calories: 432
Fat: 8 g
Carbs: 54 g (12 g fiber)
Protein: 36 g
4. Coffee Cheesecake Smoothie Bowl
The dynamic trio of carbs, protein, and fluids makes spooning up this deliciously thick smoothie bowl a perfect way to build yourself back up after a demanding workout. Be careful if you work out in the evening, though, as this bowl of goodness will give you a kick in the pants and may interrupt your usual sleep habits.
Ingredients
Low-fat milk, 1/4 cup
Ricotta cheese, 2/3 cup
Medjool date, pitted, 1
Almond butter, 2 tsp
Instant espresso powder, 1 tsp
Lemon zest, 1 tsp
Cardamom, 1 tsp
Banana, frozen and sliced, 1
Directions
Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend on high until creamy and smooth, about 60 seconds.
Serve the smoothie in a bowl, and garnish it with dried coconut, chopped hazelnuts, or cacao nibs.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 smoothie bowl
Recipe Yields: 1 Serving
Calories: 452
Fat: 20 g
Carbs: 45 g (4 g fiber)
Protein: 23 g
5. Cold-Brew Pops
Here's a good example of how a dessert can taste great but still play by the nutritional rules. Look for bottles or cans of prepared, unsweetened cold-brew coffee in most supermarkets, or brew your own coffee and let it chill before using.
Ingredients
Cold coffee, unsweetened, 1 cup
2% plain Greek yogurt, 1 cup
Maple syrup or honey, 2 tbsp
Dark chocolate chips, 1 tbsp
Directions
Blend together the coffee, Greek yogurt, and maple syrup or honey.
Place one tablespoon dark chocolate chips in each popsicle mold.
Fill the molds with the coffee mixture, insert popsicle sticks, and freeze the popsicles overnight.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 popsicle
Recipe Yields: 6 servings
Calories: 125
Fat: 5 g
Carbs: 16 g (1 g fiber)
Protein: 4 g
6. Espresso Almond Butter
This fired-up nut butter is ready to make toast, crackers, sliced apples and smoothies that much better. It's the perfect pairing to a late-afternoon snack to help you power through the last few hours of your workday.
Ingredients
Almonds, skinless and blanched, 2 cups
Instant espresso powder, 1 tbsp
Salt, 1 tsp
Maple syrup or honey, 2 tbsp
Coconut oil, melted, 3 tbsp
Directions
Place the almonds, espresso powder, and salt in a food processor or high-powered blender, and blend until smooth, 5-7 minutes, scraping the sides of the container with a rubber spatula as needed.
Blend in the maple syrup or honey and melted coconut oil until creamy.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 tbsp
Recipe Yields: 20 servings
Calories: 113
Fat: 9 g
Carbs: 5 g (2 g fiber)
Protein: 3 g