Four coffee desserts to eat in North Jersey on National Coffee Day

Fill your cups with espresso beans and shake them like maracas; National Coffee Day is Sept. 29.

Colombian roast, Nespresso Pods or Dunkin' Iced Macchiatos, there's no denying that coffee — in whatever form it takes — is a global sensation (which is perhaps why International Coffee Day is also occurring this week). In America, the average person consumes 9 pounds of the energy-stimulating beans per year, and that's barely enough to place us at number 25 on the worldwide per capita consumption list. In Finland, the planet's highest consumer, people drink 26.

So, yeah. Coffee is a big deal.

Now, if I were a normal food writer, I'd make you a list of coffee shops where you can enjoy a nice glass of joe on the upcoming holiday. From the statistics, though, you guys are clearly housing mugs of the stuff a day, so what fun would there be in suggesting that you do something you already do?

Instead, therefore, I have chosen to recommend to you four exceptional coffee-inspired desserts to help reign in the big day.

Because — as good as a styrofoam cup of pumpkin spice can be — nothing says celebrate like a thick slice of cake.

1. Tiramisu Cube, Le Carré Café & Pâtisserie

Tiramisu may be the most iconic coffee-flavored dessert, so it only feels right to start there. Go to Le Carré Café in Hillsdale expecting soaked ladyfingers and cream, however, and you're in for surprise. The bakery's version of the dessert comes in cube shape, and is definitely not your grandma's tiramisu.

To start, the pastry begins with Le Carré's French pastry shell, which is spongy and airy, like a croissant. That exterior is then filled — to the brim — with a creamy espresso and milk chocolate ganache before being finished with a smooth chocolate glaze.

Top that goodness with a pipette of La Colombe espresso, and you've got a killer pastry that's not to be missed.

Go: 94 Broadway, Hillsdale; 201-942-8777, lecarrepatisserie.com.

2. Affogato, Jersey & Co. Gelato

Affogato simply features a shot of hot espresso over vanilla gelato, so is the perfect medium between a coffee drink and a heavy dessert. For those looking to celebrate National Coffee Day with something just a little more special than a typical cappuccino or Americano, therefore, it is a great option.

Though affogato originated in Italy in the 1960s (and made its way to America later that century), the after-dinner treat has recently been making a comeback on the global culinary scene. This means you can find it all over the state, but, for the best, we recommend Jersey & Co. Gelato in Jersey City.

Since the dessert is only comprised of two ingredients, its quality heavily depends on the caliber of the gelato used within it. Jersey and Co's homemade vanilla is top-tier, and melts into the warm coffee in the creamiest, most satisfying way.

Go: 55 Mallory Ave, Jersey City; 201-918-5646, jcgelato.com.

3. Tiramisu Al Forno, Palazzone 1960

Like I said, nothing screams celebration like cake, so it just happens to work for National Coffee Day that Palazzone 1960 in Wayne offers a tiramisu-flavored one.

For those unfamiliar, Tiramisu al Forno is a round, share-sized version of the dessert that is baked in an oven rather than served chilled. This gives the treat a dense, rich consistency similar to a ricotta cheesecake (and makes it easy to cut into cake-like slices). Though it technically shares the same name and flavor profile, Tiramisu al Forno is really quite different than its non-baked counterparts and, personally, I prefer it.

Go: 190 Route 23, Wayne; 973-256-2734, palazzone1960.com.

4. Coffee Oreo Ice Cream, Lake Hiawatha Dairy

As a kid, my favorite way to consume coffee was in a Häagen-Dazs pint. For the most part, I wanted nothing to do with the bitter bean — and I don't doubt that many of you relate.

Today, my tastebuds have grown to appreciate lattes, cold brews and premium roasts, but, if I'm being honest, no cup of joe will ever beat a good scoop of coffee ice cream.

Don't believe me? Try the Coffee Oreo at Lake Hiawatha Dairy. Though it may not have the ability to wake you up for work, it has massive Oreo chunks, which, I'd argue, are even better.

Go: 79 N. Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha; 973-316-6686, dairylakehiawatha.com.

Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, join our NorthJerseyEats Facebook group, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: National Coffee Day 2023: Coffee desserts to eat in North Jersey