We’re obsessed with espresso powder. It’s one of my favorite secret ingredients. I’m sharing my favorite ways to use it, the one I have in my kitchen, and more!
I love using espresso powder for baking and savory recipes. It’s dehydrated brewed espresso (not coffee grounds), and it packs the same punch as a shot of espresso.
Since it’s in powder form, it’s incredibly versatile. You can add it to batters, doughs, rich sauces, and even spice rubs!
Someone once compared espresso powder to vanilla extract, and I think that’s a pretty good analogy. You don’t always specifically taste vanilla when you add it to a recipe, but it adds depth and complexity. That’s how espresso powder works. You won’t necessarily taste coffee in the final dish, but it elevates the other flavors and makes them more interesting, especially when baking with chocolate or brown sugar.
Espresso powder lasts a long time, and a little goes a long way. My go-to brand is Medaglia D’Oro Instant Espresso with the green top. You can buy it at most US grocery stores. Look near the coffee and tea. It’s budget-friendly and works like a charm! Espresso powder is also available online from other brands, such as King Arthur Baking, The Spice House, and Delallo. Williams Sonoma even has one, but it’s a bit pricier.
My Favorite Ways to Use Espresso Powder
My favorite way to use espresso powder is in my easy chocolate chip cookies. Half a teaspoon added to the batter creates a richer, more complex flavor you won’t get without it. The espresso enhances the malty caramel notes in the brown sugar. Trust me, you’ll notice the difference!
Chocolate and espresso powder are a match made in heaven. A quarter to half teaspoon of espresso powder intensifies the chocolate flavor in cupcakes, cakes, cookies, or brownies. My favorite chocolate recipes that benefit from this trick are double chocolate cookies, strawberry chocolate muffins, chocolate zucchini bread, and my easy one bowl brownies.
Espresso powder also boosts the coffee flavor in my homemade lattes, especially my pumpkin spice latte. Since I don’t have an espresso machine, I usually use strong brewed coffee, which is good, but sometimes I crave an extra kick. A half teaspoon to a full teaspoon of espresso powder solves that problem!
Beyond baked goods, espresso powder is amazing in homemade caramel sauce. Just a quarter to half teaspoon takes it to a new level of deliciousness. The same goes for homemade caramels!
And don’t limit yourself to sweet treats! Espresso powder works wonders in savory dishes like spice rubs, rich brown or tomato sauces, and chili. Try adding it to my homemade chili recipe or this Texas red chili made with dried chile peppers.
This list doesn’t come close to sharing all the wonderful ways to use espresso powder, but I hope it inspires you to pick up a bottle and try it yourself. If you do, come back and tell me how you used it!
