Flavorful Fourth of July Cookout Recipes

The 4th of July is a holiday that everyone looks forward to all year long. The afternoon is filled with family, friends, fun, and a whole lot of delicious food. The 4th of July is meant to be spent outside with family and friends while your dad, or whoever the grill master of the family is, cooks up tasty food on the grill for everyone to enjoy. This year, spice up your 4th of July food by adding coffee to some cookout classics. Cooking with coffee enhances the flavor of whatever you’re making, and results in a more powerful flavor that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at your 4th of July cookout!

Coffee-Rubbed Bacon Burgers with Smoked Gouda

The first item on our 4th of July cookout menu has to include an all-American classic, so we put a twist on this classic: coffee-rubbed bacon burgers with smoked gouda. This coffee rub brings out a rich flavor in the burgers, combined with smoky bacon and gouda and you’ve got a melt-in-your-mouth burger that you won’t be able to put down. Check out the recipe below!

Coffee rub Ingredients:

• 1 Tablespoon freshly ground coffee
• 2 teaspoons (packed) golden brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Burger Ingredients:

• 10 slices applewood-smoked bacon
• 1 pound ground chuck (80% lean)
• 1 pound ground sirloin (93% lean)
• 6 slices smoked Gouda cheese (about 8 ounces)
• 6 buns for 1/3 lb burgers
• 6 slices red onion
• 6 slices tomato

Instructions

For coffee rub: Mix all ingredients in small bowl. Can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

For burgers: Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Break in half. Gently mix chuck and sirloin in large bowl. Form meat into 6 patties for 1/3 lb burgers.  Using thumb, make slight indentation in center of each burger. Burgers and bacon can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover separately and chill.  Prepare grill (medium-high heat). Sprinkle 1 teaspoon coffee rub on top side of each burger. Place burgers, rub side down, on grill rack. Sprinkle rub on other side.  Grill until slightly charred, about 4 minutes; turn.  Place 3 bacon slice halves atop each burger. Cook 3 minutes.  Top each with 1 cheese slice. Cover and cook until cheese melts, about 1 minute longer. Place burgers atop bottom halves of buns. Top with onion slices and tomato slices. Spoon dollop of barbecue sauce over. Cover with bun tops and serve, passing additional sauce alongside.

Recipe adapted from Bon Appétit

Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

You have to finish strong with a mouth-watering dessert at the end of your 4th of July cookout-and by strong we mean we’re using espresso. These espresso flavored cookies are rich and packed with flavor, and they make the perfect ending to an all-star lineup of delicious 4th of July food.

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons espresso coffee powder
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

 Directions

This recipe yields 2 dozen cookies. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and beat into the butter mixture at low speed for about 15 seconds. Stir in the espresso coffee powder and chocolate chips.

Using a 1-ounce scoop or a 2-tablespoon measure, drop cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart. Gently press down on the dough with the back of a spoon to spread out into a 2-inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges. Bake a little longer for a crispier cookie.

Recipe courtesy of Executive Chef Kevin Garvin, Neiman Marcus - Las Vegas, NV

So whether you decide to go all-out this 4th of July and cook up all of these delicious classics with a twist or you just choose one of these items, we hope your cookout is flavorful and fun!

Cream the butter with the sugars using an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, approximately 30 seconds. Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract for another 30 seconds.