Our 9 Best Test-Kitchen Approved Coffee Desserts

Individually, a good cup of coffee or an enjoyable dessert is already capable of dulling the sorrow of an otherwise forgettable meal. However, when put together into a single dish, these two can transform even the most average of meals into something truly memorable. In honor of this beautiful marriage between caffeine and sugar, we gathered our nine best coffee desserts, including ice creams, cakes, and pies.

1. Irish Coffee Cupcakes

“These inventive Irish coffee cupcakes are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth,” writes former Food52 recipe tester Stephanie Bourgeois. “The frosting is made with a healthy dose of Irish cream, and the cupcakes are brushed with whiskey after baking. Forget St. Patrick's Day, they'd be delicious any day of the year.”

2. Chocolate Coffee Ice Cream Cake

Somewhere between a brownie sundae and an ice cream cake, this frozen treat is a coffee lover’s ideal birthday treat. It’s worth noting that while this recipe does call for a homemade ice cream, you can absolutely make this cake with your preferred brand of store-bought ice cream, instead.

3. Salted Toffee & Coffee Blondies

One of our most-saved recipes of the year, these salty, Heath Bar-loaded blondies have garnered much praise from our community. Of all the compliments these have received, this particular comment from Food52er NibbleMaster stands above the rest: “Absolutely the best dessert ever! Super simple to make and a great combination of bitter, sweet, coffee, and toffee! Would make (and eat) them everyday if I could.”

4. Tahini Mousse Pie

In this treat from Danielle Oron, espresso balances the sweet, chocolate-cookie-crumb crust and nutty, fluffy, tahini-swirled mousse to create a pie that is complex both in texture and in flavor.

5. Nigella Lawson's One-Step, No-Churn Coffee Ice Cream

“This recipe has four ingredients, one step, no cooking, and no churning, but the ice cream you get will have a creamy, almost buttery smoothness,” writes Nigella Lawson. “Serve it on its own, or with chocolate sauce, or in little brioche buns.”

6. Malted Black & White Milkshake

This is a milkshake that will also teach you how to create homemade, coffee-infused chocolate syrup—what’s not to love?

7. Uncle Fester on a Faster Vespa (espresso-chocolate gelato, Roman style)

Everytime I see this recipe, the name and picture make me smile. Then I read the ingredients (chocolate, espresso, and Grand Marnier), note the exclusively positive reviews from our community members, and become hungry.

8. Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies

These intensely chocolatey cookies have garnered over 150 positive reviews from our community, and here are some of the best: “This is, hands down, the best cookie I have ever baked...and I'm 58,” writes Susan. “Wow, wow, wow. This is the best chocolate thing I have ever made,” says Jo. “Holy cow these are good,” notes Emily.

9. Cappuccino Cheesecake

Espresso lingers delightfully in every bite of this rich, but not too sweet, cheesecake. Bonus: The cross section of this cake actually looks like a cappuccino.

---

Which of these coffee desserts are you most excited to make? Let us know in the comments below!