Vegan Coffee Based Recipes From Drinks To Dessert (2024)

These 20+ vegan coffee based recipes include everything from cupcakes to co*cktails!

By Lora O’Brien

Ooh, but I live for my morning coffee. I love the taste of coffee, the aroma of coffee, and I even use a few coffee based beauty products, like exfoliators. Okay, you get it right? I am a coffee fiend.

I used to be under the illusion that I needed to break up my love affair with coffee to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but I’ve since learned that coffee actually brings health benefits. Hurray! It reduces your chances of getting Alzheimer’s, dementia, heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, liver cancer, cirrhosis and gout, for example.

Coffee’s benefits stem from more than just caffeine content. Decaffeinated coffee can help prevent prostate cancer. Coffee’s antioxidants help prevent free radicals from damaging the body’s cells, and guess what? As a result of this, your morning cuppa can actually be good for your skin! This is not only because it protects it from the free radicals that result in wrinkles, but also because coffee can lend your skin some protection from the sun’s damage. Yep, apparently coffee drinkers have lower chances of developing skin cancer than those who don’t indulge.

But just make sure you enjoy it in moderation, and drink the best cuppa you can by following these guidelines.

Choose FairTrade

Coffee is seriously global, which makes it one of the most valuable and widely traded agricultural product on earth. Around 125 million people worldwide depend on coffee for their livelihoods. For years, many of coffee farmers failed to earn a reliable living from growing it, so Fairtrade came in to ensure those guys are getting at least the Fairtrade minimum price for their coffee. Whilst you might pay a little bit extra for your coffee if it’s Fairtrade, I’d say it feels great to know that you’re drinking a cup of good karma!

Go Organic

Just like with fruit and veggies, I’d highly, highly recommend sourcing out an organic brand of coffee. Many of you may be surprised to learn that coffee beans tend to be sprayed rather heavily with pesticides and herbicides. Organic is healthier for us in the long run, as it means the growing and processing methods are done so without the use of toxic ingredients.

Ditch the Sugar

I think the worst habit many of us possess is the need to heap spoonfuls of sugar into our coffee. Whilst I sometimes crave the combination of strong coffee with a little sweetness, I try to not add the white stuff, and neither should you. When craving something sweet for your java, why not add some pure Stevia, Xylitol or cinnamon instead?

Grind Yourself

Though it can be quick and easy to buy coffee already ground, nothing beats freshly grinding those coffee beans yourself. Coffee beans can very easily become stale when exposed to both oxygen and moisture, and there’s a heck load of both in any kitchen. The best way to enjoy coffee is to grind enough for a single serve brew each time.

Drink in Moderation

I think this one really speaks for itself. But moderation, as with anything, is key. You should really try to limit your intake to one or two cups a day, preferably in the morning. Many of us hit the caffeine as soon as we wake up, but we should wait until we have some food inside us first. Why? Caffeine causes our bodies to release sugar in into the bloodstream. On an empty stomach, this can cause a drop in blood sugar, which later brings on some horrid sugar cravings! Also caffeine can work as an appetite suppressant, meaning we can go longer without feeling hungry.

Enjoy!

There’s such a lot of pressure put on what we should and shouldn’t enjoy. Sometimes, it can feel like we can’t really take pleasure from any of our wee vices! But as mentioned above, coffee comes with quite a few of its own health benefits. And, it can do wonders for us in the gym, as caffeine is a natural fat burner – it works by stimulating the nervous system and causing it to send signals to the fat cells in the body to break down body fat. But of course, an extra shot will also make you move your butt all that longer and quicker, too!

So, in the spirit of celebrating coffee, why not try some of these great vegan coffee recipes and find new ways to enjoy java? Whether you switch your morning cuppa for a coffee smoothie, or you fancy some mocha ice cream as a sweet treat after dinner, this article is full of one thing and one thing only: coffee! LOTS OF COFFEE!

Image credit below by coffeegeektv.

20+ Vegan Coffee Based Recipes

1. Coffee Smoothie

Some of us simply can’t start our day without the coffee. Well, ok – maybe it’s just that we don’t want to. But you can still enjoy coffee as a part of a healthy, nutritious breakfast with recipes like this coffee smoothie. The liquid base is coconut water, which is great for hydration first thing in the morning, or even post-workout if you fancy making this after the gym.

Get the recipe here.

2. Coffee Chia Breakfast Pudding

I am was so thrilled to come vegan coffee based recipes for breakfast! And this chia pudding is one of the best. I love chia seeds for their hit of Omegas and weirdly delightful texture, but usually stick to a basic berries-and-almond milk recipe. So you can imagine I was pretty excited to mix some java into my chia pud! Plus, if I make this in the morning, I kill 2 birds with 1 stone – no need to make a cuppa coffee.

Get the recipe here.

3. Mocha Java Granola

In a hurry in the mornings? Save some time by eating your coffee! This is one of the easiest vegan coffee based recipes, and it packs a lot of crunch! Just imagine how awesome this is going to taste doused in almond milk or dolloped with heaps of vegan yogurt…

Get the recipe here.

4. Single Serving Coffee Pancakes

The fact is that most pancake recipes yield enough to serve a small army. Ok – literally, a small family. But for we single girls, that just spells out too much temptation to EAT THEM ALL. So thank heavens for this recipe that was made for one. Of course it’s got that rich coffee flavour, but the best part? Only 165 calories per serving!

Get the recipe here.

5. Coffee Frappuccino Oatmeal

Some like it hot, and frankly, that’s the way coffee should be. So this frappuccino bowl is the perfect perk-me-up on a chilly morning. It’s got the goodness of oats, but the kick of caffeine I personally need in the morning. If you’re having a hard time getting out of bed on a miserable, rainy day, just knowing you can make this will motivate you to get up. It’s a frappuccino in a bowl!

Get the recipe here.

6. Vegan Spice Latte Crepe Cake

This is one of the best vegan coffee based recipes on my list! Whilst some cakes can be pretty heavy, this one is a surprisingly new way to still have your cake and eat it, too. And the main ingredient? Crepes. Yes, crepes! If you’ve known the delight of tucking into a stack of pancakes, then this is pretty similar. The filling is pumpkin spice and the ‘cake’ is smothered in a coffee frosting. OMG, right?

Get the recipe here.

7. Hazelnut Cupcakes with Rich Coffee Frosting

Who doesn’t feel happy whilst devouring a delicious cupcake? Cupcakes just have that effect; maybe because most of us remember them from our childhood. This recipe starts with a moist and decadent chocolate base, mixed with slithers of coconut and a little hazelnut. And that delicious mountain of frosting in top? It has a deep, delicious coffee flavour.

Get the recipe here.

8. Coffee Glazed Chocolate Hazelnut Cake

I don’t know what it is about coffee and nuts, but they just seem to go together, especially when it comes to gooey, chocolate cake. I mean, just look at that icing. Isn’t that a thing of beauty? And with a little coffee liqueur optional, this will be the perfect cake to make for brunch with the girls!

9. Mocha Cheesecake

This vegan mocha coffee cheesecake looks absolutely decadent, right? So you may be surprised to learn that it’s actually pretty much a health bomb: it’s raw, refined sugar-free and gluten-free. And it looks so gorgeous, this could be the perfect cake to celebrate something like a birthday, anniversary, or you know, life.

Get the recipe here.

10. Vegan Paleo Coffee Pecan Pie Bars

Pecan pie is normally so sweet, recipes for it should probably come with a gym membership. However, this recipe has turned that sinful treat into one that contains no dairy, no refined sugar or flour and is instead made from plant-based goodies. Being healthy has never tasted more delicious!

Get the recipe here.

11. Raw Vegan Coffee Tiramisu Bars

Tiramisu is the perfect recipe for those that love both chocolate and coffee, but if you’re vegan, you may have given up on eating it thanks to all the dairy in it. Well, now you enjoy the flavour of tiramisu again! These raw vegan coffee tiramisu squares embody all that we love about tiramisu: they’re rich, they’re decadent. And there’s coffee, yo.

Get the recipe here.

12. Vegan Coffee Macarons

This is one of my favourite vegan coffee based recipes! The best thing about macarons is the flavour inside, if you ask me. It’s what separates the macaron from your basic sandwich cookie. The inner ganache should pack a serious flavour punch, and this one does – and of course, it’s coffee! What a treat, especially with a cuppa Joe!

Get the recipe here.

13. Hazelnut-Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

I don’t know a soul who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie. More so when it’s dunked into a piping hot mug of coffee! Hazelnuts here add a wonderful flavour and a little more crunch, and these will smell so heavenly when they’re fresh out of the oven. The hardest part will be not scoffing them all before they’ve cooled off!

Get the recipe here.

14. Vegan Tiramisu

Oh my, who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned tiramisu dessert? This is one of the best vegan coffee based recipes ever! It’s rich and decadent and of course you know ‘tirame su’ means ‘lift me up’ in Italian. And that’s just what this does! This one’s started off by making a vanilla cake, soaking it in coffee syrup and adding a vegan vanilla ‘mascarpone cheese’.

Get the recipe here.

15. Espresso Glazed Donuts

Any time I see a fresh, vegan glazed donut, I may just drool a little. But when they’re glazed with espresso? I go full on Homer Simpson! These little bites are so moreish, I DARE you to eat just one!

Get the recipe here.

16. Cappuccino Vegan Cups

We’ve heard of peanut butter cups, and even nutella cups – but cappuccino cups? What a time to be alive! They may be small, but they pack an almighty coffee punch, so go easy on ’em. These decadent little treats store well in the fridge or freezer as a go-to sweet treat whenever you like. They also look pretty fancy, right? Perfect for gifting in a pretty box!

Get the recipe here

17. Raw Coffee Truffles

Like bliss balls, these little truffles are packed full of healthy plant based ingredients that are going to give you a pick-me-up when you really need it, whether it’s before a workout or to combat an afternoon slump. And yet again, these could be a sweet (literally!) gift, when packaged prettily!

Get the recipe here.

18. Coffee ‘Cheesecake’ Mousse

Coffee cravings are full-on satisfied with this tasty dessert. It’s not only incredibly creamy, but contains just five ingredients and two steps to make it. But the best part? You’d never imagine just how good for you this pretty little dessert is!

Get the recipe here.

19. Coffee Banana Soft Serve

Remember that delicious soft-serve ice cream you’d get as a child? It melted in the mouth and was so cool and refreshing. Now, if you’ve not yet made nana-ice cream (it’s literally just blended bananas!) then you’re in for a real treat. This one has added coffee flavour, a vegan chocolate syrup, and a granola crunch.

Get the recipe here.

20. Vegan Chocolate Espresso Sorbet

No churning. No bananas. No nonsense – this light sorbet is refreshing as heck, and if you’re feeling lethargic and sweaty on a hot summer’s day, nothing will lift you up as fast as this. One of the most refreshing vegan coffee based recipes, for sure!

Get the recipe here.

21. Espresso Martini

Of all the vegan coffee based recipes for drinks, an espresso martini is possibly ‘the’ perfect co*cktail! When you want the buzz of vodka but also want to stay alert, this is the perfect drink to have when you’re in party mode. And it’s a heck of a lot classier than a Red Bull and vodka. Just saying.

Get the recipe here.