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Add This Secret Ingredient for the Best Chocolate Desserts Ever

Cathryn Jakicic

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Legendary desserts don't have to take all day if you know when to add this extra ingredient.

Many a coffee drinker will tell you that a splash of chocolate syrup turns a cup of joe into a richer, sweeter treat. But bakers are just waking up to using this trick so coffee can return the favor.

Coffee + chocolate = a richer treat

Believe it or not, simply swapping brewed coffee for water in a boxed chocolate cake mix can transform it into a special-occasion treat. And sprinkling instant coffee granules (like this brand) or adding brewed coffee to your homemade chocolate cake batter will render it irresistible. The complementary flavors of coffee and chocolate are a match made in mocha heaven.

But it’s not about making a mocha-flavored cake. You shouldn’t be able to taste the java at all. Instead, the coffee will enhance and add complexity to the chocolaty flavor, resulting in a richer cake, cookie or brownie.

Both good cocoa powder and coffee should be a bit bitter, and they will often have subtle fruit and spice notes. So it’s not surprising that adding coffee to cake batter will boost these flavors in the cocoa. If you’re afraid of ending up with a coffee-flavored cake, don’t worry. A teaspoon of crystals or a cup of brewed coffee won’t overpower the chocolate flavor.

How to use coffee in desserts

When Taste of Home reader Christa Hageman of Telford, Pennsylvania, created her contest-winning chocolate Bundt cake, it was the jolt of java that raised it to the next level. The sugar, vanilla and buttermilk in Christa’s recipe make her cake moist and delicious, but the cup of coffee made it a winner in the chocolatyness category. Rich and elegant desserts don’t have to take all day if you know when to add that extra ingredient.

Coffee plays an important—but a strictly backstage—role in Christa’s cake. Reader Mary Houchi of Swansea, Illinois, gave coffee a more prominent place in her brownies by upping the standard teaspoon of instant coffee to a tablespoon. Make no mistake, the semisweet chips in Mary’s brownies guarantee they are plenty chocolaty, but tripling the java proportions adds a stronger, but well-balanced, coffee flavor.

Either way, for true chocolate lovers, instant coffee should be a pantry staple. (Here are more pantry items that last forever). It’ll keep for years, making all your chocolate baked goods legendary.

Desserts That Get a Boost From Instant Coffee

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Coffee ‘n’ Cream Brownies

Coffee 'n' Cream Brownies

A friend gave me the recipe for these rich cakelike brownies topped with a creamy coffee-enhanced filling and a chocolate glaze. I like to garnish each square with a coffee bean. —Michelle Tiemstra, Lacombe, Alberta

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Cappuccino Cinnamon Rolls

Cappuccino Cinnamon Rolls

Distinctive coffee flavor accents the filling of these ooey, gooey rolls. The glaze goes on while they are still warm—they won’t last long!. —Sherri Cox, Lucasville, Ohio

Mocha-Pecan Ice Cream Bonbons

Mocha-Pecan Ice Cream Bonbons

These bite-size bonbons may sound tricky to make, but you'll find that fashioning them is a breeze. What's more, our cooking experts advise that you keep this recipe handy when you serve them—as soon as folks sample the treats, they'll be asking how to make them!—Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Coffee Lover's Coffee Cake

Coffee Lover's Coffee Cake

I had this cake at a friend's brunch and she graciously shared the recipe. Now people always request it from me, too. Because it's so tasty it's always a hit. -Gale Lalmond of Deering, New Hampshire

Mocha-Hazelnut Glazed Angel Food Cake

Mocha-Hazelnut Glazed Angel Food Cake

I love this recipe because it combines three of my favorite flavors: coffee, hazelnuts and cherries. —Joan Pecsek, Chesapeake, Virginia

Tiramisu Cheesecake Dessert

Tiramisu Cheesecake Dessert

Tiramisu didn't do it for me until I tried this recipe, with its luscious layers of cheesecake. It's one of my favorite desserts to make this time of year. —Christie Nelson, Taylorville, Illinois

Coffee Bean Bark

Coffee Bean Bark

Chopped coffee beans add a yummy crunch to this pretty, two-toned bark. Coffee-lovers won’t be able to resist pieces of the chocolaty candy treat. —Anne Addesso, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Rich Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Rich Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

The combination of mocha and peanut butter will satisfy every sweet tooth at your table. The garnish is a little extra work, but what are special occasions for? —Tammy Bollman, Minatare, Nebraska

Mocha Nut Roll

I’ve enjoyed this dessert several times at a friend’s house, and it never ceases to be delightful. The tender, impressive cake is the ultimate indulgence for anyone who loves coffee or chocolate!—Susan Bettinger, Battle Creek, Michigan

Crunchy Chocolate Clusters

Crunchy Chocolate Clusters

This easy candy has a south-of-the-border flavor with cinnamon, chocolate and coffee. Sweet, salty and crunchy, it's a great no-bake treat. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

Mocha Truffle Cheesecake

Mocha Truffle Cheesecake

I went through a phase when I couldn't get enough cheesecake or coffee, so I created this rich dessert. Its brownie-like crust and creamy mocha layer really hit the spot. It's ideal for get-togethers because it can be made in advance. —Shannon Dormady, Great Falls, Montana

Ultimate Fudgy Brownies

Ultimate Fudgy Brownies

In these ultra fudgy brownies, coffee granules bump up the chocolate flavor. Add chocolate chips to the batter and you’ve got irresistible treats. —Sarah Thompson, Greenfield, Wisconsin

Glazed Doughnuts

Glazed Doughnuts

The light coffee flavor in these tasty sugar-glazed doughnuts makes them a perfect start to the morning...on Christmas Day or any day. You'll find that the recipe is a delectable way to use up leftover potatoes. —Pat Siebenaler, Random Lake, Wisconsin

Mocha Truffle Cups

Mocha Truffle Cups

One classic recipe I pull out every yuletide is for these dreamy creamy truffle cups. They're just so festive...and the smooth filling melts as fast as snowflakes on your tongue!

Coffee Cream Tortilla Cups

Coffee Cream Tortilla Cups

Here's a special dessert for two. Crispy tortilla bowls hold creamy coffee-flavored pudding topped with a mix of colorful fresh berries. —Amber Zurbrugg, Alliance, Ohio

Coffee Shortbread

Coffee Shortbread

You'll be remembered for these cookies when you serve them for a morning coffee or at a gathering. Melted chips drizzled on top make them look fancy, but they're so easy to make. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois

Fudgy Layered Irish Mocha Brownies

Fudgy Layered Irish Mocha Brownies

My husband and I are big fans of Irish cream, so I wanted to incorporate it into a brownie. I started with my mom's brownie recipe, then added frosting and ganache. This decadent recipe is the result, and we are really enjoying them! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Potluck Banana Cake

Potluck Banana Cake

I found this recipe more than five years ago and have been making it for family gatherings ever since. The coffee-flavored frosting complements the moist banana cake. —Kathy Hoffman, Topton, Pennsylvania

Frozen Mocha Marbled Loaf

Frozen Mocha Marbled Loaf

This showstopping marbled dessert seems fancy, but it's really simple to prepare ahead of time and pop in the freezer. Frosty slices have a creamy blend of chocolate and coffee that's delightful anytime of year. —Cheryl Martinetto, Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Cappuccino Flats

Cappuccino Flats

These coffee-flavored cookies are so delicious they make my own kitchen seen like a gourmet bakery!

Molten Mocha Cake

Molten Mocha Cake

When I first made my decadent slow-cooker chocolate cake, my husband's and daughter's expressions said it all. She says it's one of her favorites. Later, I brought one of these to our next-door neighbors. Their teenage son, who answered the door, ate the whole thing without telling anyone else about it! —Aimee Fortney, Fairview, Tennessee

Mocha Pumpkin Seeds

Mocha Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted pumpkin seeds are a classic fall snack. Kick them up a notch with instant coffee and cocoa powder for a mix that’s mocha genius at any time of year. —Rebekah Beyer, Sabetha, Kansas

Creamy Mocha Frozen Dessert

Creamy Mocha Frozen Dessert

Light as a feather, this cool, satisfying dessert is delicious and impressive to serve. It's an excellent dessert to take to a potluck because it can be made ahead and stored in the freezer. —Launa Shoemaker, Landrum, South Carolina

Creamy Tiramisu Cheesecake

Creamy Tiramisu Cheesecake

The Italian word "tiramisu" means "pick-me-up" and refers to a dessert of ladyfinger sponge cake dipped in coffee, embracing mascarpone cheese. Work that in with cream cheese and you have a guaranteed picker-upper that redefines a classic. —Mrs. Priscilla Gilbert, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida

Mocha Sandwich Cookies

Mocha Sandwich Cookies

I've had cookies melt in my mouth, but not as much as these do! I've made several versions of these, but I like to make them as sandwiches with an almond-mocha filling. —Anna Sylvester, Sylvania, Ohio

Easy Mocha Cream Pie

Easy Mocha Cream Pie

This chocolate crust is excellent with a cool no-bake mocha filling. — Gina Nistico, Taste of Home Food Editor

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