Coffee Jello & Coffee-Break Muffins (Wake Up Care Package)

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Coffee Jello - The Food Librarian
Question: How can you help friends turn from night people into early morning people?
Answer: Caffeine.

Coffee Break Muffins
I have some friends who switched their work schedule and now start really early in the morning. By the second day of the new schedule, it looked like everyone just got off a transatlantic flight and had some major jetlag.

Coffee Jello - The Food Librarian
So, I made a Wake Up Care Package. Everything with sugar. Everything with caffeine. That's how I roll. Well, that's how I gift.

I made Coffee Jello. Since I first created and posted this recipe, it has been much clicked on and made. And I must say, It. Is. Fantastic. If you are a coffee drinker, you'll like it.

Coffee Break Muffins
I also made Dorie Greenspan's Coffee-Break Muffins.

Coffee Break Muffins
The only problem with this care package is that as I was preparing it for delivery, I kept eating the end pieces of the Coffee Jello and had to try one of the muffins (quality control people, quality control). But I don't drink caffeine so I got so. freaking. wired. My heart was racing and I was talking a mile a minute. I already talk fast, so I was like that "vintage" FedEx commercial guy.

Then I got a big headache and remembered why I don't have caffeine. Anyway, make these treats for a friend (who is accustomed to caffeine) as an edible wake up call.

P.S. Come back on Saturday as I lurch toward my 40th birthday. I'll be 39 8/12 and I'll be having another giveaway!

Recipes:
Coffee Jello (blog entry and printable recipe)

Coffee-Break Muffins
Adapted from Dorie Greenspan
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup strong coffee, cooled
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled (1 stick)
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (I added)

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Prep 12 muffin cups.
2. In a big bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, espresso powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Stir in the brown sugar, making sure there are no lumps.
4. In a large glass measuring cup, whisk the coffee, melted butter, egg, and vanilla until combined. (I used Starbucks VIA (one packet). Since the coffee needs to be cool, I used about 1/3 cup boiling water, mixed til dissolved, and filled it with 2/3 cup cold water.)
5. Add mini chocolate chips. Pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients and, with a whisk, gently but quickly stir to blend; don't overmix.
6. Scoop into muffins. I use an ice cream scoop.
7. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a pick comes out clean. Transfer pan to a rack and cool for 5 minutes before carefully removing each muffin from its mold.
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18 comments:

Memória said... [Reply to comment]

Oh, how I wish what you said about the caffeine were true for me! I am not a morning person with or without coffee. In fact, hot coffee makes me sleepy! I think the pressure to keep my job is what wakes me up, though haha. As an instructor, I think of my 24 students sitting in the classroom waiting for me to arrive, and that thought makes me jump out of the bed.

Anyway, this jello and muffins look fantastic!! I would love these at any moment of the day!

Katie said... [Reply to comment]

What a lovely surprise for your friend. those muffins look amazing

Sara said... [Reply to comment]

Mmmmm, coffee jello. I will have to give this a try! Those muffins look terrific as well!

Eliana said... [Reply to comment]

What do I have to do to snag myself a care package like this from you? Looks awesome :)

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

The cookies sound great. Love Dorie's recipes.

The Urban Baker said... [Reply to comment]

I'm a sucker for this jello! It is one of my all time super-big cravings! These muffins don't look so bad either!

eatme_delicious said... [Reply to comment]

What lucky coworkers you have! You're so sweet to make them this delicious wake up care package.

Jessica said... [Reply to comment]

I've been wanting to make coffee jello ever since you first posted about it, but want to try it with agar agar instead of gelatin. Found some in the bulk section at my snooty grocery store recently! :D

And mmm, those muffins look and sound good...

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

Oh my goodness these look delicious. I'd love to receive your care packages.

Damaris @Kitchen Corners said... [Reply to comment]

you're the queen of jello. they should pay you they should pay you A LOT

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

I want it ALL. I am eating coffee mochi right now.

sophanne said... [Reply to comment]

Having just discovered the magic of jello, I am ALL OVER that coffee jello- I melted 3 oz. of Baker's semisweet chocolate into the sweetened condensed milk before mixing it together! I also put it in a couple of small molds because I think molds are magic. Tomorrow we shall see. It's been so hot here- this will be awesome! THanks so much for the idea.

Mary said... [Reply to comment]

How cute are you?! I love the caffeine care package. As a fellow non-coffee drinker, I can totally relate..I tried ONE SIP of my husband's weird coconut coffee thing on vacation and was bouncing off the walls. I guess we are lucky we don't need extra energy in life.

yuko said... [Reply to comment]

I do want this "edible wake up call." As you may remember, i cannot start a day without coffee...

The Cilantropist said... [Reply to comment]

Wow that coffee jello definitely looks like something I would want to try! I can feel my heart racing already... :)

CaSaundraLeigh said... [Reply to comment]

This is sooo creative--I love the "wake-up" theme :-)

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

my husband would love these. i think they sound delicious too. i like the addition of the chocolate chips, as i don't like straight coffee flavor.

Marla (family fresh cooking) said... [Reply to comment]

These muffins sound amazing & I am a caffeine junky so they would fit into my life perfectly.....with a cup of coffee!

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