Jelly that is coffee flavored? That either sounds good to you or makes you want to throw up. Coffee jelly is a unique and popular dessert that has its roots in Japan.
This dessert was popularized by the Japanese after Westerners introduced it. The recipe for coffee jelly can be first found starting in 1817 in England. It then made its way over to the United States. It was invented in the late 19th century when instant coffee was first introduced to the country.
Coffee jelly has become renowned in Japan, and since then it has spread all over the world, with many countries now offering their own versions of the dessert. It is a beloved treat that continues to captivate the taste buds of many. It was trendy in the Northeast of the U.S., such as in Boston. However, its popularity has died down since the mid-1900s. A theory that explains how coffee jelly made its way to Japan is when a Japanese journalist visited the U.S. and took a home economics class. The recipe became a hit when it was served at a cafe back in Japan.
The origins of this dessert lie in the combination of three ingredients: coffee, gelatin, and sugar. The mixture is chilled to create a solid jelly-like consistency that can be enjoyed as is, topped with cream or served with ice cream.
Butter-Nut’s own recipes gave me a push to recreate the Japanese coffee jelly. I found on their website a recipe for a coffee soufflé. Instead of dealing with eggs, I wanted to make it more simple. Their recipe is also more of a firm soufflé, whereas the recipe I created is jelly-like. For the coffee base, I absolutely love the dark chocolate taste in Butter-Nut’s instant espresso. Its smooth taste and rich and full-bodied flavor enhance the deliciousness of the coffee jelly. It is so convenient to use because of how quickly you can make instant coffee with this. It is also great for baking & cooking. There are so many yummy desserts you can make with Butter-Nut’s instant espresso such as tiramisu, rich mocha brownies, chocolate cakes, and ice cream. Try it in blended iced lattes, smoothies, Americanos, dalgona (whipped) coffee, and more! From its Nebraska roots in 1913, it grew to become one of the most sought-after brands nationwide. Now, more than a century later, Butter-Nut continues to deliver a delicious cup of coffee – rich in flavor and history. I highly recommend making my coffee jelly with Butter-Nut’s instant espresso!
With a twist, I used agar-agar powder to substitute the gelatin to make the dessert vegan-friendly. You can also adjust the jelly consistency easier with agar-agar powder. I bought my agar-agar powder from my local Asian supermarket. You can find it in other brands and grocery stores if you don’t have an Asian mart around you. If you are using gelatin, make sure you follow the instructions on the package. You may not need to boil with gelatin.
My favorite topping for coffee jelly is sweetened condensed milk. I love the Longevity brand, which I have grown up using in Asian desserts. This condensed milk is the best to make Vietnamese coffee with as well! Any brand of sweetened condensed milk works for this recipe.
The serving size in this written recipe is scaled down to about 3 compared to the video I recorded which can serve a minimum of 6 people.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp agar-agar powder
- 1 cup hot water for the agar-agar powder
- 1 cup boiling water for coffee
- 1 cup Butter-Nut instant espresso
- 1 tsp sugar
- sweetened condensed milk
Recipe
- Boil hot water with the agar-agar powder for 5 minutes. Let it sit while you make the coffee. Don’t let it sit for too long or it will set.
- Make your favorite coffee or instant espresso. Stir in about a teaspoon of sugar or more depending on how sweet you like it.
- Pour the agar-agar liquid and coffee together in a big bowl. Give it a stir to blend the liquids together. You can scoop it into small serving cups.
- Refrigerate for about 20 minutes or until the jelly is firm.
- Top with condensed milk or whipped cream.
Video
Fun Fact
Did you know that coffee is healthy for you? The caffeine in coffee contains health benefits that help your liver, prevent skin cancer, lift your mood, and promote overall health. However, be aware to not go over more cups of coffee than your body can handle. Too much of anything is never good. You can also adjust the sweetness to your taste. I like the taste of espresso so I didn’t add too much sugar to the coffee. You should make the coffee to your liking.
Shop
- Butter-Nut instant espresso (2oz) – Pack of 1, Pack of 2, or Pack of 12.
- Telephone agar-agar powder (25g) – Pack of 2
- Longevity sweetened condensed milk (14oz) – Pack of 4
References
My recipe was inspired by:
- I Need Coffee: Coffee Jelly: Delicious Caffeinated Protein
- Atlas Obscura: Make a Historic Boston Dessert That Became a Japanese Favorite
- Just One Cookbook: Coffee Jelly (Video) コーヒーゼリー
- pickled plum: The Best Coffee Jelly (コ-ヒ- ゼリ-)
Since coffee jelly is not often found in cafes anymore in the U.S., I hope this at-home treat satisfies your craving for cool new desserts to try!
Sincerely,
Amy♡
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