Using Instant Coffee in Recipes

Awful to Drink, but Great Ingredient to Add to Brownies & Stews

Jan 29, 2009 Marcia Passos Duffy

Hate the way instant coffee tastes? It still deserves a spot in your pantry to add zing to chocolate desserts, stews and chili.

Coffee aficionados turn their noses up to instant coffee for good reason: it doesn't smell or tastes like the real thing.

But a jar of instant coffee -- which is actually real coffee that simply brewed and freeze-dried into granules – does have a place in your pantry.

Instant coffee can be used to flavor your baking, cooking and add some zing to drinks, like hot cocoa. Its dry consistency allows you to add it without worrying about adding lots of extra water to a recipe (as you would with brewed coffee).

Turbo Boost Chocolate Batters

  • Any chocolate cake, cookie or brownie can get a flavor boost by adding instant coffee. To do this, dissolve 1 to 2 tablespoons of instant coffee (any kind) in an equal amount of hot water or any other warm liquid in the recipe.

Add to Stew, Chili and Bean Soup

  • Strange as it sounds, adding a tablespoon of coffee (mixed with a tablespoon of hot water) to main meals adds depth and character to broths. Coffee is frequently added in stews in Central and South American recipes. Don’t worry, you won’t taste the coffee at all, and the broth will be darker and richer. Try adding it to your next batch of stew, chili or bean soup.

Use Decaf for Family Recipes

  • Make sure to use decaffeinated instant coffee if you would prefer that your family not to get a dose of caffeine with their dessert or meal.

Here are two recipes to try using instant coffee (espresso coffee will give these recipes an even stronger coffee flavor):

Coffee Brownies

  • 1 pound unsalted butter
  • 1 pound plus 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
  • 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
  • 6 large eggs
  • 3 tablespoons instant coffee granules
  • 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 ¼ cups sugar
  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • Pinch of salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 12x18x1-inch baking sheet.
  2. Melt together the butter, 1 pound of chocolate chips, and the unsweetened chocolate in medium saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl stir (don’t beat) eggs, coffee granules, vanilla, and sugar and salt. Stir the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature.
  4. In a medium bowl, sift together one cup of flour, the baking powder, and salt. Add to the cooled chocolate mixture.
  5. Fold in the 12 ounces of chocolate chips in a medium bowl with 1/4 cup of flour, then add them to the chocolate batter. Pour entire mixture the baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes, then, reach in with a oven mitt and rap the baking dish against the oven shelf to take out any air bubbles. Bake an additional 15 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean, but do not over bake. Let cool, refrigerate, and cut into squares.

South American Style Stew with Coffee

  • 1 ½ pounds of cubed stew meat
  • 2 tablespoons, olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons instant coffee granules
  • 2 ½ cups beef broth
  • 2 medium onions, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup dry red wine
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 small dried chili peppers, whole
  • 1 cup, potato, diced
  • 1 cup, carrots, diced
  • ½ cup raisins
  • salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. Sprinkle beef cubes with salt and pepper. In a large saucepan add olive oil and heat until hot; add beef cubes and cook over medium to high heat until beef is browned (about 5 minutes), stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Add coffee, broth, onions, chili peppers and garlic, stir well. Bring to boil.
  2. Cover pan, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes on low heat.
  3. Add potatoes, carrots and raisins and bring to a boil. Cover again and reduce heat, simmering for about 15-20 minutes.

Serve over white rice.

The copyright of the article Using Instant Coffee in Recipes in Recipes is owned by Marcia Passos Duffy. Permission to republish Using Instant Coffee in Recipes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Comments

May 22, 2009 12:22 PM
Guest :
I agree that instant coffee is incredibly versatile. However I do believe a great cup of coffee can be made from instant coffee. I'd like to share a recipe for cafe batido, which is similar in robustness and taste to cappuccino. I acquired this recipe during a trip to Paraguay.

Cafe Batido. This is a coffee drink made from instant coffee (I like Nescafe Clasico) and sugar. Pour equal parts (e.g. 1 tablespoon) instant coffee and sugar into a cup. Add just a few drops of water or milk. It is very important not to add too much liquid! Rigorously stir for a few minutes until the mixture becomes a light-colored paste. Add hot water or milk, and foam will form at the top.

source: http://www.bevoost.com
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