Espresso isn’t just a morning pick-me-up, but the popular beverage also has a place in the world of cooking and baking. Hot water forced through finely ground coffee at high pressure is how the darkly colored drink espresso is made. Originating in Italy, the coffee is typically served in small glasses or in “shots” measuring about one ounce. For instance, making the average latte or cappuccino calls for two shots of espresso.

Starbucks is not the only place that you can enjoy a hot cup of rich, dark espresso. Coffee lovers can make their own at home with an espresso maker, which differs from the regular coffeemaker.  Outside of the beverage world, espresso can provide a distinct taste to dishes and desserts.

A few ideas for baking and cooking with espresso include:

Baking with Espresso

Adding a small amount of espresso to your typical dessert recipes can provide a different experience for your taste buds. A few ways to incorporate a coffee flavor for your next sweet treat include:

Espresso Biscotti: When making your favorite biscotti recipe, experiment with instant espresso powder. Start off by adding 1 teaspoon to your typical ingredients list and adjust according to your taste.

Espresso Brownies: Coffee lovers can add 2 tablespoons of espresso powder to any boxed brownie mix to enhance the taste of their next batch. If you like glazing your brownies with a powdered sugar coating, add 2 teaspoons of espresso powder to your recipe.

Espresso Sugar Cream Pie: After brushing the inside of an unbaked pie crust with melted butter, whisk together 2 cups heavy cream, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, and 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder until well blended. Pour the ingredients into the prepared pie crust. Bake in a 350-degree preheated oven until pie has set – about 50 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to completely cool on a rack. Add one cup of chocolate whipped cream as piping for the edge of the pie.

Chocolate Espresso Cookies: Deliver an extra kick to your cookies with about 2 ¼ teaspoons of finely ground espresso beans added to your favorite chocolate cookie recipe.

Cooking with Espresso

There are also a variety of creative ways to incorporate espresso into some of your favorite meat-related dishes. For example, when you’re looking to shake things up for your next BBQ, consider serving Espresso Rubbed Barbecued Burgers, which are sprinkled with a mixture of espresso powder and freshly ground black pepper on both sides of the patties before grilling.

You could also make an Espresso-Bourbon Sauce to coat grilled meats, such as beef steaks. Combine 1/4 cup bourbon, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and 2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder in a small saucepan. Bring the ingredients to a boil and then reduce the heat. Simmer the sauce uncovered for 8 minutes or until the sauce thickens and is reduced to about half. Occasionally stir and then add in 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Keep warm until grilled meat is ready for eating.

For a non-bake treat, consider Espresso Bark. First, combine 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon margarine in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat at 30-second stretches of time until the ingredients have melted and show a smooth consistency. Stir between each round of heating. Mix in 3/4 cup whole coffee beans. Pour the chocolate mix onto the waxed paper and create an even layer. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of chopped white chocolate pieces onto the top of the chocolate. Lightly press the bark and place in freezer until set – around 5 minutes. Break the bark into pieces and store in an airtight container.

When warm weather brings the juiciness of ripe berries bursting with flavor, it’s time to put those tasty treats to good use. Fruit pies are not only wildly popular during the holidays, but also throughout the summertime when berry picking can take place in your own backyard. To enjoy a few ideas for pies made with berries, consider the following suggestions:

1. Three Berry Pie

Why settle for one kind of berry when you can have three? With a host of variations, Three Berry Pie usually consists of blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries (or blackberries). One recipe for a 9-inch double crust pie calls for 1 cup of strawberries, 2 cups of raspberries and 1 ½ cups of blueberries. Other ingredients may include cornstarch and sugar.

2. Apple-Berry Pie

Use blackberries and apples to bake a pie that takes the typical apple pie recipe to new heights. Flavored with cinnamon, this berry pie tastes exceptional with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

3. Berry Custard Pie

Combine raspberries and blackberries in a light custard sauce and you’ll enjoy an irresistible dessert that is surprisingly low in fat. Using fat free sour cream helps to cut down on the calories. Cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest, and vanilla extract help add flavor to the pie. When choosing the right recipe, one serving of Berry Custard Pie can be as low as 165 calories.

4. Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Blend the sweetness of freshly sliced strawberries with the tartiness of rhubarb to create a delicious summer pie. Some recipes use quick-cooking tapioca to achieve their consistency, while others create creamy custard filling. For added crunch and texture, opt for a crumb topping by combining 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Cut in ½ cup butter or margarine until the mixture becomes crumbly. Spoon the topping mix over the filling and bake according to your recipe.

5. Huckleberry Cream Cheese Pie

Looking to try out a new berry? Huckleberries are small round berries that resemble blueberries. Growing wild in August throughout the Northwest (United States), some grocery stores carry the frozen berry. You can use fresh or frozen huckleberries to create a topping for your favorite cream cheese pie recipe. After cooling your pie, spread the huckleberry mixture over the cream cheese layer and refrigerate until you’ll ready to dig in.

With a dollop of whipped cream or simmered over a hot stove using semi-sweet cocoa chips, hot chocolate is one of the most popular drinks in America. The history of the beverage runs deep. For thousands of years, chocolate has been transformed into beverages – starting with the Olmecs, who are considered the oldest civilization of the Americas (1500-400 BC).

The Mayans hailing from the Chontalpa region also consumed drinks made with cacao beans. Interestingly, their form of currency made quite a tasty drink. Roasted cocoa beans, water, and a little spice made what was known as ‘chocolatl’.

Spaniards drank a mix of ground cocoa beans, water, wine, and peppers. After heating the ingredients, they started to add sugar. When the hot chocolate recipe made its way to England, milk became a part of the beverage and it was consumed as an after dinner treat.

Hundreds of years later, the powdered version hit market shelves and now anyone can make hot chocolate using milk or water. If you’re interested in trying out a few international variations, consider the following hot chocolate recipes:

Italian Hot Chocolate

Also known as Cioccolato Caldo, this beverage becomes wildly popular during the fall and winter season. Some people make the drink so thick that it is the same consistency as pudding and has to be eaten with a spoon. The key to making Cioccolato Caldo is to use high-quality chocolate.

Ingredients: 5 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 6 ounces finely chopped dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao solids), and 2 cups milk

Instructions: Over low heat, add cocoa powder, sugar, and 2 tablespoons of milk into a small saucepan. Heat the mixture until the sugar melts and there are no lumps. Stir well. Bring to a low boil while stirring constantly. Add the remaining milk. Turn off the heat and add chopped chocolate – stirring until smooth. Pour into cups.

Irish Hot Chocolate

Ingredients: 2 cups milk, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 6 ounces very finely chopped semisweet chocolate, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and 2 teaspoons whiskey

Instructions: Combine milk, cream and cocoa powder in a medium heavy saucepan. Warm over medium heat while stirring to dissolve cocoa. Add chopped chocolate and stir until it is completely melted. Bring ingredients to simmer (but do not boil). Increase heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes – stirring occasionally. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in vanilla. Continue to stir to allow it to cool before pouring into cups. Each cup receives 1 teaspoon of whiskey (stirred in).

Mayan Hot Chocolate

Ingredients: 2 cups boiling water, 1 chile pepper (cut in half with seeds removed), 5 cups light cream (or whole or nonfat milk), 1 vanilla bean (split lengthwise), 1 to 2 cinnamon sticks, 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (or 3 tablets Mexican Chocolate, cut into 1/4-inch pieces), 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or honey, and 1 tablespoon grounded extra fine almonds or hazelnuts

Instructions: Over medium-heat heat, add chile pepper to boiling water in a large saucepan. Cook until the liquid is reduced to 1 cup. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add chile pepper to boiling water. Cook until liquid is reduced to 1 cup. Remove the chile pepper and strain water. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine cream or milk, vanilla bean and cinnamon stick over medium heat – until bubbles form around the edge.

Reduce the heat to low and add chocolate and sugar (or honey). Occasionally whisk until the chocolate melts and sugar dissolves. Turn off the heat and remove the vanilla bean and cinnamon stick. Next, add the chile-infused water (small amounts at a time). Taste-test along the way to make sure the flavor isn’t too strong. If chocolate is too thick, use a little more milk to thin out. Serve in small cups with grounded nuts and whipped cream on the side.

Chocolate covered pretzels offer a delicious marriage between sweet and salty sensations. When you’re not purchasing the decadent selections at Chocolate.com, you can create homemade pretzels dipped in chocolate with your own creative decorations. From simple embellishments to elaborate treats gift-wrapped for loved ones, consider the following ways to decorate chocolate-covered pretzels.

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Recipe

Before you get started on decorating your sweet treats, you may need an easy recipe to follow. Gather 1 package chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon shortening, and pretzels (mini, regular, or rods). Melt the chocolate chips and shortening in a double boiler over medium heat. Stir the mixture until smooth. Some people prefer to use a microwave to melt the chips – just make sure not to overheat and stir every 30 seconds. Allow the chocolate to slightly cool. Dip pretzels in chocolate and place on trays covered with waxed paper. Chill if needed.

Decorating Ideas

Spice up your chocolate covered pretzels with the following suggestions:

1. Chocolate Variety: Alternate the kinds of chocolate on your pretzels by drizzling white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate. Not only does this make an inviting display of sweetness, but also offers a variety of flavors for your taste buds.

2. Nuts: Try plunging your chocolate covered pretzels in a bowl of crushed nuts or sprinkle on after a dip. A couple of suggestions include almonds, walnuts, pecans, and peanuts.

3. Coconut: Add a bit of extra crunch by rolling dipped pretzels in toasted, shredded coconut.

4. Peanut Butter: Chocolate and peanut butter go together well. Before dipping your pretzels in chocolate, spread on a thin layer of peanut butter.

5. Sprinkles: Before the chocolate sets on your pretzels, get colorful with a rainbow of sprinkles. Use red, white and blue sprinkles to celebrate Fourth of July in style. Red and green make fabulous Christmas treats. Pastel-colored sprinkles make delightful Easter pretzels.

After decorating your chocolate covered pretzels, store them in an airtight container. Place layers of waxed paper between the pretzels to keep from sticking to one another.

Popular in Southeast Asian, Indian, and Jamaican cuisine, coconut is added to cakes, cookies, and other desserts to provide a nutty sweetness and pleasant texture. Coconut is actually a fruit and not a nut – sold as juice, milk, shredded (sweetened and unsweetened) flakes, and as a whole fruit with its edible, thin brown skin. For the freshest results, it’s suggested to crack your own coconut.

What’s So Good About Coconut?

High in saturated fat, the natural oils in the coconut provide the body with plenty of benefits. From boosting the immune system to improving digestion, coconut offers a high-fiber skin, iron, potassium, and a decent amount of electrolytes found in the coconut juice.

How to Crack Coconut

It takes a little effort, but cracking your own coconut will provide your desserts with a fresher flavor that enhances the overall taste. As you stare at the hairy shell, make the task a little easier by baking the coconut for 20 minutes in an oven set to 350 degrees. After letting the coconut cool, pierce a hole in two of the “eyes” with a hammer and screwdriver. Turn the coconut upside down in order to drain the juice. Use the hammer to tap the screwdriver until the nut breaks into two pieces.

Place each half of the coconut with the flesh facing down on your countertop (or other stable surface) and tap each piece with a hammer to break it up. You can then break the coconut into pieces using your hands. A table knife will help you dislodge the “meat” from the shell. Some people even peel off the brown skin of the coconut and eat it – it’s edible.

Ways to Use Coconut in Your Desserts

Coconut in Salads: Enhance a tropical fruit salad by sprinkling finely grated coconut on top of fresh mango, papaya, orange, and banana. You may use fresh or toasted coconut to achieve varying flavors.

Coconut in Coffee: Some people have added coconut milk to their coffee for a unique, hot beverage.

Coconut in Pie: With an irresistible whipped cream topping, coconut cream pie is comprised of a rich custard or pudding consisting of milk, cream, flour, and eggs. Sometimes, chocolate shavings serve as garnish, while toasted coconut is more commonplace.

Coconut in Cookies and Bars: Whether used as a garnish for cookies or added to your favorite recipes – sky’s the limit with coconut. Popular cookies with coconut include Coconut Macaroons, Coconut Bars, Chocolate Chip Coconut, and variations of the Almond Joy bar.

Coconut in Ice Cream

Add shredded coconut to your ice cream sundaes or create a vegan sweet treat with your ice cream maker called Coconut Curry Ice Cream. First, simmer two and a half 13.5-ounce cans of canned unsweetened coconut milk, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 ½ teaspoons of mild curry paste in a large heavy saucepan. Whisk often, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer to allow the flavors to blend for about 10 minutes.

Slightly cool and then refrigerate the mixture uncovered until cold. Cover and chill overnight. When you are ready, process your ‘ice cream’ according to the directions of your maker. Add in ½ cup of toasted, sweetened flaked coconut to the mixture. Use extra toasted coconut flakes as a garnish.

When decorating cupcakes, the roundness of these sweet treats allows you to take full advantage of their versatile shape. With a few embellishments, colorful frostings, decorative icing, and a little bit of imagination, you too can produce creative cupcakes for special occasions. A couple of ideas include:

Engagement Cupcakes

Position a sparkling wedding ring party favor in the center of frosted cupcakes made for an engagement party. Surround the ring with edible silver balls. Don’t forget to leave a note warning partygoers that the cupcakes are outfitted with inedible decorations.

Birthday Cupcakes

Dazzle your kids with cupcakes made to resemble a hamburger. Simply cut a vanilla cupcake in half and insert a round slice of chocolate or Devil’s Food cupcake. Use red, yellow, and green icing to create mustard, ketchup, and pickles. For adult cupcakes, use fondant or a rainbow of icings to decorate cupcakes to resemble pool balls for the fanatic in your life.

Easter Cupcakes

Ambitious cupcake decorators may transform their treats into the iconic Easter basket. First, tint your frosting a bright color (preferably green) and decorate with small candies, such as M&Ms or jellybeans. Bend a licorice stick into an arch. Insert the ends into the cupcake to create the handles of a basket. Children will surely get a kick out of Easter cupcakes with a marshmallow Peep sitting on top of the frosting. During the holidays, Peeps come in various shades of blue, yellow, lavender, and pink.

Valentine’s Day Cupcakes

Valentine’s Day is probably one of the easiest special occasions for cupcake decorating. For example, use conservation hearts to resemble balloons held together by strings made out of chocolate icing. There are plenty of materials to work with for Valentine’s Day, including red and white sprinkles, berries,  cinnamon candies, Sweet-tarts, red and white jellybeans, and red gumdrops. Today, you can even purchase non-stick cupcake pans in the shape of hearts. Try using cupcake stencils to apply a powdered sugar heart onto an unfrosted cupcake to cut down on calories.

Halloween Cupcakes

Decorative cupcakes make perfect treats for a Halloween party. From black cats and witches to spiders, there are many Halloween symbols and themes to choose for your sweet treats. Bewitch your kiddies with the following cupcake trick: Frost your cupcake with chocolate frosting. Take Nutter Butter cookie and cover in vanilla frosting. Position the cookie in the middle of the cupcake. Use brown icing to draw on eyes and mouth to create a spooky ghost cupcake.