If you cannot start your day without sipping a cup of Joe before you even open both of your eyes, then this coffee cheesecake recipe will be right up your alley. There is nothing better, besides drinking a fresh cup of Java, of course, then using fresh and delicious coffee to cook with to complete the flavors and depth of what you are making. Coffee is not just for drinking anymore because there are so many creative options available to you in making and cooking with complex and bold coffee flavors.

Let's begin by innovatively using coffee in a traditional cheesecake to give you an explosive range of taste. Here are the ingredients that you will need:

• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 3 tbsp. melted butter
• 3/4 cup crushed chocolate chip cookies
• 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 32 oz. softened cream cheese
• 1/3 cup instant coffee
• 1 tub Cool Whip
• Chocolate shavings

You may have noticed that sugar has been repeated in this recipe twice, but that is because we will use it for different components, including the crust and the filling of the coffee cheesecake. Begin your preparation by preheating your oven to 325°. You will then use foil to line the inside of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Start mixing your cookie crumbs and 1 tbsp. of sugar in a bowl, and then gently stir in your melted butter. Pour in your graham cracker crumbs, and mix well. You will use this as your crust to press into the bottom of the foil lined pan firmly with the back of a spoon. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, and allow it to cool.

To make your coffee cheesecake filling, use a handheld mixer to blend the softened cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, and lemon juice thoroughly. You can then add your eggs and continue to mix on low until the mixture is well blended. Slowly pour in your instant coffee and continue to blend. Pour your mixture into the crust, and bake for 60 minutes. You can also check the progress of your coffee cheesecake by seeing if the center is firm and the top looks to have a flat and set appearance. Refrigerate your coffee cheesecake overnight, and you can finish by topping it with a layer of Cool Whip and sprinking with chocolate shavings.

This is a very simple coffee cheesecake recipe that you will love to enjoy again and again, as well as to share with your family and friends. The truth of the matter is that it is so rewarding to explore the complexities of the flavors of coffee because it is a historically and culturally developed taste that has been brought forward through the ages. Using coffee in your baking and cooking will give a deep and rich texture to everyday desserts that you have enjoyed for years. Be creative because the coffee cooking options are limitless!