How to wake up your desserts

How to wake up your desserts: Use up the instant coffee you bought at the beginning of the pandemic Story by: Breanna Bruening

We all remember when COVID took over in March 2020 and sent people into their homes to wait out the storm with TikTok videos, Tiger King and of course, whipped coffee. Some of us shook Mason jars, some of us used hand mixers and some of us whisked until our arms hurt. The Dalgona coffee craze sent instant coffee sales skyrocketing, though the drink has been around for years in various countries including India and Greece.

Whipped coffee is simple enough; a chef of any experience level can create a café-worthy drink by frothing instant coffee, sugar and water and then mixing in milk. There’s nothing wrong with the classic, but you may be yearning for other ways to utilize that big container of instant coffee you bought in March. Here are some unique recipes to add in some instant coffee and put an extra pep in your step while you work from home.

Chocolate coffee mug cake with Dalgona whipped topping Mug cakes are well-loved for good reason; you can satisfy your sweet tooth with a comforting cake but avoid going overboard. Cardinal Eats recipe developer Lauren Unzen created a caffeinated spin on the gooey, chocolatey classic — basically a café mocha in cake form. Make this mini treat for your next study session or movie night to satisfy your sweet tooth and give your energy level a boost.

“[Mug cakes] are really good, quick and easy, and satisfy late-night cravings,” Unzen said. “I thought it would be fun to incorporate instant coffee into a mug cake since so many people have that right now, and when you have a late night studying, adding a hint of coffee to a late night treat is always a good choice.”

For an extra kick of coffee flavor, whip up the special vanilla Dalgona frosting to top off your cake.