How to Make Coffee Jelly
February 21, 2022 | Kurt Parker
In this article, you’ll know everything about Coffee Jelly.
Coffee Jelly is a Japanese dessert that is made from coffee and agar or gelatin. It is often served cold and can be eaten as a snack or a dessert. It is also known as coffee blancmange, although the recipes for this are very different.
It’s not really jelly-like in the sense that it jiggles. It’s more solid than gelatin desserts, but still soft and easily eaten with a spoon.
This pleasantly simple dessert, firm jelly is sweetened coffee flavored with condensed milk, which makes it very easy to eat for those who don’t generally enjoy drinking black coffee or who are sensitive to bitterness.
Coffee gelatin can be cooked with coffee to create a jelly or molded into various shapes. Some people prefer stronger flavors than others, so there are different recipes for this dish available on the internet. Recipes include adding milk or even using different flavors of coffee or chocolate.
Many cafes in Hawaii offer coffee jelly dessert with ice cream, although some restaurants serve it plain. This dessert is on many convenience stores and restaurant menus in Chinatowns across the world.
What’s in the Article:
Coffee Jelly Origin
Why You Will Love This Coffee Jelly Recipe?
Ingredients for Coffee Jelly
Step-by-Step Recipe on How to Make Coffee Jelly
Nutrition Information
What is the Best Type of Coffee for Coffee Jelly?
Gelatin Powder vs Agar Agar
Is Japanese Coffee Jelly Healthy?
Coffee Jelly Origin
Coffee Jelly is commonly served at coffee houses in Japan where it comes in small cups with a few coffee beans on top. Coffee jelly first began to appear in Japan around the 1970s, and it has steadily gained popularity since then. The dish has spread to other parts of Asia over the past few decades, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and China.
It is also popular in Hawaii, where it is commonly served after the main course at dinner as a dessert. Many bartenders like to serve it with shots of espresso, either poured over the jelly or handed alongside.
Why You Will Love This Coffee Jelly Recipe?
Appetizing and Invigorating
- The perfect combination of coffee and cream with an extra creamy Jello texture.
Easy and Bake Free
- You can prepare this dessert in minutes and let it set for about an hour. It’s a really foolproof recipe!
Hassle-Free Japanese Dessert
- This Dessert cuisine is perfect for a sweet treat at your next party or meeting. Spear them with pride and decorate the top of each one to make it stand out from all others.
Ideal for Coffee Lovers
- Forget about after-dinner coffee—serve this delicious dessert with the coffee already inside!
Easy to get Ingredients
- This recipe is made with ingredients that are available all year round at every grocery store.
Ingredients for Coffee Jelly
1. 1 cup of strong coffee or freshly brewed coffee. You can also use Instant coffee if there is no other brewed coffee around. Make sure you choose the best instant coffee.
2. 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
3. 1 envelope (1/4 ounce) of powdered gelatin (Unflavored if possible)
4. 2 cups of cold water
5. Whipped cream sweetened condensed milk, or ice cream (optional)
Step-by-Step Recipe on How to Make Coffee Jelly
Below is our version of coffee jelly, which may be served in clear shot glasses or small dessert cups. The addition of whipped cream or sweetened cream adds extra richness to the dish.
In a small saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin powder, then add the coffee and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat and stir well.
Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and make sure that the gelatin powder is completely dissolved.
Once cool, pour into a 9×5 inch loaf pan. Place a lid or plastic wrap over the mixture and refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
Cut into 1/2 inch small cubes and top with whipped cream sweetened condensed milk or ice cream (optional).
Nutritional Information
CALORIES: 210KCAL
CARBOHYDRATES: 46G
PROTEIN: 1G
FAT: 5G
SATURATED FAT: 3G
G SATURATED FAT: 2G
CHOLESTEROL: 3MG
SODIUM: 59MG
POTASSIUM: 323MG
SUGAR: 38G
CALCIUM: 42MG
IRON: 0.6MG
What is the Best Type of Coffee for Coffee Jelly?
When it comes to making coffee jelly, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. The first is the type of coffee you use. Many people prefer to use a strongly brewed coffee or a dark roast coffee for this recipe, as it will give the jelly a richer flavor. However, any type of coffee will work well. Try to avoid using instant coffee, however, as it will dissolve in water and not create jelly.
We have a list of the best dark roast coffees in here.
Also, make sure you are using fresh coffee when making this recipe. Leftover strong coffee can also be used; just make sure you let it cool before adding it to the mixture.
Another thing that is important to note when making coffee jelly is the temperature of the coffee. When mixed with water, hot coffee will dissolve the gelatin more quickly. This can cause problems when layering because it may not be set up properly. For best results, use room temperature or cold-brewed coffee for this recipe to ensure that each layer sets correctly.
Gelatin Powder vs Agar Agar
What are the similarities and differences between Gelatin Powder vs. Agar Agar? Understanding each of these products will help you make a better choice when deciding which one to buy. You will have a much better experience in your kitchen if you use the right product.
Gelatin Powder and Agar Agar are different ingredients that both jellify when added to water. They are used for many different applications such as frostings, gelatin desserts, jams & jellies, marshmallows, gelatin capsules and much more. This article will look at these two different ingredients to determine which one is better in each application.
Gelatin Powder
A gelatin powder is a product that is made from the hide or bones of an animal. It is usually made from cows, pigs, or sheep. The hide or bones are boiled in water, which causes the collagen in the tissue to dissolve. This results in a gelatin solution. The solution is then strained, cooled, and packaged for sale.
A gelatin powder is simply dehydrated (dried) gelatin that has been ground into a powdered form. Most of the time, you will see it labeled as “gelatin” or sometimes “powdered gelatin.” The process for making it is pretty straightforward: the protein (gelatin) is dried and ground into a fine powder.
Some uses for gelatin powder include:
-A gelling agent in foods such as yogurt and Jello. It is also used to make capsules for medication and nutritional supplements. Gelatin powder can also be found in some juices and ice cream.
-It can be added to cosmetics to form a gel, which gives the product more body
Gelatin powder comes in both flavored and unflavored varieties. Both are available in powder form for cooking or in bromide sheets that are used to produce photographic film. Powdered gelatin is also sold in bulk, but this may contain gluten.
Agar Agar
Agar agar is a gelatin substitute made from seaweed that’s used in vegetarian recipes. This plant-based gelatin was invented by the Japanese and it’s been used in Japan since the late 1800s to jell foods. Agar agar, or kanten, is prepared from seaweed in much the same way as Traditional Chinese medicine is often made using plants. It is used as a vegetarian alternative to gelatin and is also employed as a thickener in various food applications. You can make jelly desserts, mousse, salad dressing, and fruit salad with agar agar.
Is Japanese Coffee Jelly Healthy?
In moderation, Yes, Japanese Coffee Jelly is healthy. It is a great source of caffeine, which can give you an energy boost. It also contains antioxidants, which can help protect your body from free radicals.
Coffee Jelly is generally low in calories and fat if you choose the right ingredients. This makes it a great snack for people trying to lose weight or maintain their current weight. Coffee Jelly also has no artificial colors and flavors. It’s made from healthy ingredients like water and natural coffee powder extract mixed with Jell-O powder.
Final Thoughts…
Sometimes, the simplest of recipes is the most delectable. Coffee jelly is a delicious combination of two simple flavors that really shouldn’t be so compatible, but when combined are absolutely divine. Jelly, coffee, and sugar aren’t an obvious pairing, but why not? Who says you can’t have your coffee and eat it too? And as for cream instead of milk; well, we may have reached a new brewing zenith.
Hopefully, this blog has inspired you to give the coffee jelly a try! It’s relatively quick and easy to prepare and it’s totally delicious. In fact, it melts in your mouth if prepared correctly, and it’s extremely reminiscent of coffee mousse.
It’s an excellent alternative to real coffee mousse too since it’s more cost-effective and it is so easy to prepare. Overall, I think it can be a refreshing dessert that everyone will enjoy!
For more coffee recipes, read our guides.