15 Leftover Coffee Recipes You Need to Try

If discarding leftover coffee down the kitchen drain breaks your coffee loving heart, I’m here to tell you that the days of leftover coffee being left over are over. Your leftover coffee is a vital ingredient to many delicious coffee based preparations and here are some of our favorite leftover coffee recipes.

Besides being used to make perfect cups of iced coffee, yummy coffee ice cream and delectable brownies, coffee grounds are used to make all sorts of savory food too. That’s right, the way you use leftover coffee can be of inspiration to make scrumptious, perfect, Pinterest-worthy food!

Follow these left over coffee recipes found in this article to get the most out of those coffee grounds and half-empty pots of coffee just sitting on your kitchen counter.

Don’t Know What to Do with Leftover Coffee? Try These!

Coffee grounds in recipes for protein-packed steaks? Check! Can you use leftover coffee for foods like chicken, fried eggs and even sweet potato fries? That’s correct.

Here are 15 leftover coffee recipes for sweet desserts, savory food and bite sized snacks that the whole family will love.

Coconut and Chocolate Iced Coffee

Ingredients

–       ½ cup leftover coffee (cold)

–       2 cups ice cubes

–       ¼ cup whole milk

–       3 tbsp chocolate syrup (save some for garnishing)

–       3 tbsp toasted coconut (save some for garnishing)

–       2 tbsp brown sugar

–       2 tbsp vanilla extract

–       Whipped cream for garnishing

Directions

Place leftover coffee, ice cubes, milk, chocolate syrup, toasted coconut, brown sugar and vanilla extract in your blender. Blend until smooth.

Transfer the iced coffee to a glass. Garnish with whipped cream, chocolate syrup and toasted coconut.

Helpful tip: If the iced coffee mixture is too thick for your liking, add more milk until it thins out.

 

Coffee Ice Cubes

Ingredients

–       Brewed leftover coffee

–       Freshly brewed hot coffee

Directions

Pour leftover coffee into an ice tray. Freeze until solid. Once frozen, fill a glass with coffee ice cubes, pour some hot coffee over it and enjoy!

Coffee Chipotle Mole Fried Eggs

Ingredients

–       1 cup stewed tomatoes (drained)

–       ¾ cup leftover brewed coffee

–       ¼ cup chopped onion

–       1 tbsp chopped chipotle chili in adobo

–       2 tbsp vegetable oil

–       1 tsp bittersweet chocolate (finely chopped)

–       8 large eggs

Directions

In a blender, puree the leftover coffee, tomatoes, onion, garlic and chipotle with 1 tbsp oil until smooth.

In a heavy skillet, simmer the puree for 10 minutes or until thickened. Stir occasionally. Season with a pinch of salt and stir in the finely chopped chocolate. Remove from heat and set aside.

Using the remaining oil, fry your eggs in a non-stick skillet. Once your eggs are cooked, serve with a generous topping of coffee chipotle mole.

Coffee Roasted Sweet Potato Fries

We took inspiration for this recipe by Emily of Robustecipes.com

Ingredients

–       2 large sweet potatoes

–       3 tbsp medium roast ground coffee

–       2 tbsp grapeseed oil

–       1 tsp sea salt

–       1 ½ tsp cinnamon

–       ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Chop the ends off your sweet potatoes and cut them in half, lengthways. Cut into quarters and quarter those quarters.

Place sweet potato slices onto the baking trays and toss the potatoes with grapeseed oil. Add salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and leftover ground coffee & toss again.

Bake the sweet potato fries for 20 to 30 minutes, turning over and rotating the pan at the halfway mark to ensure an even bake. Remove from oven, cool and enjoy!

Helpful tip: If you want to turn this recipe into a dessert, drizzle with melted dark chocolate.

Almond Butter Espresso Coffee Bars

Ingredients

–       1 cup almond flour

–       2 tsp ground coffee

–       1 tsp baking powder

–       ½ tsp salt

–       ¼ cup coconut sugar

–       ¼ cup cocoa powder

–       1 cup almond butter

–       ½ cup coconut oil

–       1 egg

–       1 cup of dark chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine all ingredients, excluding the dark chocolate chips. Once a thick batter forms, fold in the dark chocolate chips—make sure you save some for later.

Lightly grease baking paper in a baking pan and pour in the batter. Spread the batter evenly and sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over. Bake for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven and set aside to set & cool for around 10 minutes. Once cooled, slice into bite sized bars.

Coffee Crusted Steak

Ingredients

–       4 filet mignon beef steaks (5 oz or 8 oz)

–       2 tbsp olive oil

–       1 tbsp ground black peppercorns

–       2 tbsp paprika

–       ½ cup coffee granules

–       ½ cup seasoned salt

–       ½ cup granulated sugar

Directions

Using a paper towel, pat steaks dry and set aside for one hour. Brush both sides of steak with olive oil. In a bowl, combine the peppercorns, coffee granules, paprika, salt and sugar. Sprinkle the dry mixture over the steaks, press it in to ensure it absorbs. Set aside for one hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and place a cast iron pan on the stove, over high heat. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to the pan and sear the steaks for 2 to 3 minutes, flip the steaks and repeat.

Place the pan in the hot oven and cook to your liking. Once desired temperature has been achieved, remove from oven and set aside to rest before serving.

Coffee Ice Cream

Ingredients

–       1 cup leftover brewed coffee

–       1 ½ cups milk

–       1 ½ cups heavy cream

–       4 egg yolks

–       2/3 cup sugar

–       1 pinch salt

Directions

In a saucepan over medium heat, heat milk and heavy cream until scalded. Beat egg yolks, sugar and salt in a bowl with a hand mixer and slowly add the milk & cream mixture until combined.

Pour mixture back into saucepan and cook for 12 to 15 minutes over a medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook until thickened. Remove ice cream mixture from heat and stir in coffee. Cool to room temperature and freeze according to your ice cream churner’s instructions.

Mocha Muffins

Ingredients

–       1 cup milk

–       ½ cup ground coffee

–       2 large eggs

–       1 tsp vanilla extract

–       1 ¾ cups flour

–       ¼ cup flax meal

–       ½ cup sugar

–       ½ cup brown sugar

–       3 tbsp cocoa powder

–       1 tsp baking powder

–       1 tsp baking soda

–       1 tsp salt

–       1 cup of dark chocolate (melted)

Directions

Heat a cup of milk in the microwave until steaming, then add the ground coffee. Steep coffee for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Use a filter-lined colander and drain the coffee milk.

Once drained, add remaining liquid ingredients. In a separate mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. Proceed to add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and fold in the melted chocolate.

Grease a baking dish with butter or baking spray, then fill with the muffin mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until browned around the edges. Let them cool for a few minutes and then dig in!

Coffee Pudding

Ingredients

–       ½ cup brewed coffee

–       1 ½ cups heavy cream

–       2 tbsp cornstarch

–       ¼ tsp salt

–       ¼ cup brown sugar

Directions

Brew the coffee and combine it with cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Combine your dry ingredients in a small bowl, whisk until smooth. Once your coffee and cream mixture is simmering, whisk dry ingredients in until combined.

Boil for 1 minute. Once boiled, pour pudding through a standard kitchen strainer. Pour into serving dishes, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 to 5 hours.

Helpful tip: Serve with whipped cream on top and sprinkle some coffee grounds over for garnish.

Coffee Chocolate Cake Bites

Ingredients

–       1 ½ cups leftover brewed coffee

–       10 tbsp unsalted butter (softened)

–       2 cups granulated sugar

–       2 large eggs

–       1 tsp vanilla extract

–       ½ tsp salt

–       1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

–       ½ cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)

–       1 tsp baking soda

–       1 tsp baking powder

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease your baking dish with butter. Line dish with baking paper and butter this too. Add flour to sides and bottom of the dish. In a mixing bowl, use a wooden smooth to combine butter and sugar, creaming until smooth. Add in your eggs individually and whisk.

Once batter is smooth, mix in vanilla extract and salt. Sift the baking powder, baking soda, flour and cocoa directly onto your batter and pour in the coffee. Whisk the batter until well combined.

Pour the coffee cake mixture into a greased baking dish and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. Once cooled, cut it up into bite-sized squares.

Coffee Oatmeal

Ingredients

–       ¼ cup leftover coffee

–       ½ cup rolled oats

–       ¾ cup milk

–       1 pinch salt

Directions

In a small pot on medium heat combine coffee with oats, milk and salt. After about 5 minutes of simmering, remove from the heat and serve.

Helpful tip: If you would like a sweeter bowl of coffee oatmeal, add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

Coffee Chocolate Brownies

 

Ingredients

–       ¼ cup leftover coffee

–       ¾ cup cocoa powder

–       1 ½ cups sugar

–       1 tsp salt

–       1 ½ cups flour

–       1 cup chocolate chips

–       4 eggs

–       1 tbsp vanilla extract

–       ½ cup vegetable oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray. Whisk all your ingredients together in a large bowl until combined.

Pour the brownie batter into baking dish and place in the oven. Bake for around 45 minutes, or until the center is slightly firm.

Cool before serving.

Crunchy Coffee Baked Granola

What You Need

–       3 ½ cups rolled oats

–       ¼ cup coffee grounds

–       ¼ cup raw pecan nuts (chopped)

–       ¼ cup flax meal

–       ¼ cup dates (pitted and chopped)

–       ½ cup almond butter

–       ½ cup brown rice syrup

–       1 tbsp vanilla extract

–       2 tbsp water

–       ½ tsp sea salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. In a small pot over medium-low heat, whisk the almond butter, brown rice syrup, vanilla extract and water.

Pour the almond butter mixture over the oats mixture and stir continuously. Spoon mixture onto a baking tray and bake for around 25 minutes until crisped. At the halfway mark, shake the tray and try to flip the mixture to ensure an even bake.

Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Once cooled, enjoy!

Helpful tip: Add fresh fruits and yoghurt for a filling breakfast.

Coffee and Cocoa Chicken

Ingredients

–       8 skinless chicken thighs (bone-in)

–       1 tbsp dark roast coffee (finely ground)

–       2 tbsp paprika

–       1 tbsp chili powder

–       ½ tsp sea salt

–       ½ tsp sugar

–       ½ tsp cumin (ground)

–       ½ tsp coriander (ground)

–       ½ tsp black pepper (ground)

–       ½ tsp garlic powder

–       1 tbsp cocoa powder

–       1 tbsp hot chocolate powder

Directions

Grab a zip lock bag and combine dry ingredients. Add your chicken thighs to the zip lock bag and shake. Use your fingers to press the spice mixture into the chicken. Let the chicken sit in this spice mixture for an hour.

Once spiced: bake, broil or grill chicken and enjoy!

Helpful tip: This recipe can be adjusted for other proteins, simply rub the spice mix into a protein of your choice.

Baked Coffee Cookies

Ingredients

–       ½ cup coffee granules

–       1 cup sugar

–       ¾ cup vegetable oil

–       2 tsp hot water

–       2 eggs

–       2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

–       1 ½ tsp baking powder

–       ¾ tsp salt

–       Extra sugar for rolling

Directions

In a mixing bowl, combine sugar and oil. Dissolve coffee granules in water and mix into the sugar mixture. Add eggs in individually, beating after each egg. Gradually add flour, baking powder and salt to the sugar mixture.

Roll mixture into 3-inch balls and cover with leftover sugar. Place balls on a lightly greased baking tray and press down with a fork until flattened. Bake at 400 degrees for just under 10 minutes or until the edges are firm.

Remove, cool and enjoy.

Final Thoughts

From iced coffee treats to hot savory coffee based food—who knew so many ways to use leftover coffee grounds!  And your imagination is the limit!

Cancel your plans because I’m sure your kitchen will be an exciting place no matter which of these coffee based recipes you try!