But first, what is Kafe Hawaij?
We often refer to Kafe Hawaij (pronounced ha-why-adge) as our Middle-Eastern version of Pumpkin Spice. With Yemenite roots, Kafe Hawaij is made of cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and clove. Hawaij means “mixture” in Arabic and traditionally, it’s added to coffee, making it exceptionally indulgent and aromatic. Hence the name, Kafe Hawaij - a spice mixture for coffee. But there are SO many other ways to incorporate Kafe Hawaij into your daily cooking. From baked goods and desserts to savory recipes.
What's the difference between Kafe Hawaij and Hawaij you ask? Head over here.
34 WAYS TO USE KAFE HAWAIJ
1. COFFEE
Add Kafe Hawaij to your morning brew - simply, stir 1/8- 1/2 teaspoon of Kafe Hawaij to 1 cup of coffee. Or mix in the spice blend directly with your coffee grinds. [Kafe Hawaij fans are known for traveling with a jar of the magic spice so they can sprinkle it on any cup of coffee they encounter for an instant & perfect cup of joe
2. TEA
If you prefer a cup of hot tea in the morning, make it extra special with Kafe Hawaij.
3. HOT CHOCOLATE
Rich, sweet hot chocolate becomes more elegant with a few sprinkles of Kafe Hawaij. It’s the perfect family-friendly drink to indulge in on these cozy, winter nights. Try our Hot Chocolate recipe.
4. EGGNOG
Kafe Hawaij makes eggnog even more festive (who knew that was even possible?). Try our family recipe for Kafe Hawaij Eggnog.
5. APPLE CIDER
Spice up your Apple Cider with Kafe Hawaij and you’ll get all the cozy, seasonal flavors in a cup. Try our spiked Apple Cider recipe.
6. MUFFINS
Humble muffins suddenly feel fancy with a pinch of Kafe Hawaij, like these no-fuss Apple Muffins.
7. PIE
Take full advantage of pie season with a pinch of Kafe Hawaij! Spice up your pumpkin pies, sweet potato pies, pecan pies, or, honestly, any pie!
8. ICE CREAM
A scoop of vanilla/chocolate/coffee ice cream sprinkled with a few dashes of Kafe Hawaij. *chefs- kiss *
9. BANANA BREAD
Sweet loaves! A simple loaf of good, ol’ banana bread turns into something more delectable with the addition of Kafe Hawaij. If you’ve hit your banana bread limits at the times of quarantine, how about spiced Zucchini bread?
10. COOKIES
The wonderful aroma of cardamom and ginger makes even the simplest biscuits more enticing. Add Kafe Hawaij to your favorite cookie recipe, from oatmeal raisin to chocolate chip and anything in between.
Cookies are double the fun when made into a giant cookie cake, and triple the fun when spiced with Kafe Hawaij. So, don’t miss out on our Kafe Hawaij Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake recipe.
Kafe Hawaij pairs beautifully with the flavors of chocolate and hazelnut in these Baci di Dama, our version of the Italian sandwich cookies. Disclaimer: They’re quite dangerous…once you eat the first one, it’s hard to resist going back for more. Oh, and the cookies tend to disappear during the assembly process (weird, right?)
We added Kafe Hawaij to the Alfajores classic Argentinian cookies, and yep, spiced dulce de leche should become a thing.
The cookies underdog, aka a humble snickerdoodle, suddenly becomes the star on the cookie tray thanks to a few shakes of Kafe Hawaij.
11. OATMEAL
Zhuzh up a bowl of oats or overnight oats with a sprinkle of Kafe Hawaij. If you’ve got more time on your hands, try making this Apple Spice Baked Oatmeal recipe by Laura Wright (@thefirstmess)
12. CINNAMON ROLLS/ STICKY BUNS
It’s hard to resist the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls, and adding Kafe Hawaij to the mix makes them even more tempting. LeeAnne Shor’s (@lions.bread) Kafe Hawaij Spiced Sweet Rolls will impress everyone at your next Sunday brunch, guaranteed.
13. SCHUG
Remember that we mentioned that Kafe Hawaij belongs in savory recipes? We use it to make Schug, a herbaceous spicy Yemenite condiment. Give our Schug recipe a try, this condiment will brighten any dish you'll slather it on.
14. SWEET POTATOES (OR CARROTS)
Mix your favorite fall veggies with a few dashes of Kafe Hawaij & olive oil, and toss them in oven (or air fryer) for the perfect fall side dish. Or give sweet potato casserole a much-neededdashes update with Kylie’s Pierotti’s recipe.
15. PANCAKES & WAFFELS
A bit of Kafe Hawaij does magic to these breakfast staples.
16. French Toast
French toast is a rich & decadent breakfast option, make it extra special by adding Kafe Hawaij. The spices add an autumnal flare and balance out the richness of the dish. For a perfect fall breakfast, serve your spiced French Toast with cooked apples or pears.
17. PB & J
Jazz up this childhood favorite w/ a bit of spice! And don’t be afraid to switch out the toppings too. Try using apple butter or pear preserved in place of grape jelly, add in some caramelized bananas, and swap out peanut butter for a different spread like almond butter or tahini spread.
18. DOUGHNUTS
Sure, plain glazed doughnuts can be good, but we prefer these round lil’ treats with a bit more oomph. Molly Yeh’s Hawaij doughnuts w/ spiced glaze recipe is right up our alley.
19. CAKES
From the layers of sponge & fillings to frosting to a playful sprinkle on top, Kafe Hawaij adds that extra va va voom to carrot cakes, chocolate cakes, honey cakes, vanilla cakes, or even tiramisu.
Add Kafe Hawaij to cheesecake for a perfect Holiday dessert.
Here’s a breakfast idea - Kafe Hawaij Coffeecake enjoyed w/ a freshly a cup of freshly spiced coffee, of course.
20. CHAROSET
For your next passover, add Kafe Hawaij to your Charoset, it makes it truly addictive.
21. CHOCOLATE
Chocolate (milk, dark and white) and Kafe Hawaij are perhaps the perfect pairing. Chocolate sauce, chocolate cakes, mousse, puddings, and even chocolate milkshakes.
22. PUMPKIN OR SQUASH SOUP
Ok, just trust us on this one, and instead of pumpkin spice, add Kafe Hawaij to this autumn icon.
23. GRANOLA
Elevate any plain store-bought granola by adding a few shakes of Kafe Hawaij to the bag. Or, better yet, make your own spiced granola at home, it’s a delicious & healthy addition to your breakfast bowl (or a midnight snack).
24. BANANA
Unsure how the chemistry between bananas in any shape & preparation & Kafe Hawaij works, but we don't question it. Caramelized in a pan, mixed in smoothie, or frozen & blended to make a nice cream, add Kafe Hawaij and you won’t be looking back.
25. APPLES (& PEARS)
Stewed apples, baked apples, applesauce or apple butter, apple cider, and so much more! If there’s an apple, add Kafe Hawaij to it w/ no fear.
26. RICE PUDDING
Make rice pudding extra comforting with a dash of Kafe Hawaij. And, while you’re at it, top it off with some stewed apples or caramelized bananas.
27. MARSHMALLOW BASED TREATS
Our rule is - if you can stick a marshmallow in it, you can add Kafe Hawaij too. In the summer, infuse your s’mores and rice krispy treats with extra flavor. In the fall, it’s sweet potato casserole time. And in the winter, mix it in w/ your hot cocoa.
28. CREAMISCLE
Boost this cooling summer treat from creamsicle to dreamsicle with a sprinkle of Kafe Hawaij.
29. SOUPS & STEWS
Any sort of soup would work great, from pumpkin soup to a minestrone type of situation.
30. BEEF &LAMB
You can use Kafe Hawaij as a rub for your favorite cut of meat before you roast or braise, or mix it in the burger patties for extra flavor.
31. SWEET BREADS
Any loaf would benefit from a few shakes of Kafe Hawaij. For a festive, cozy bread - try adding in apples, honey, candied ginger, and dried fruit to the batter.
32. CREPES & BLINTZES
Either sprinkle Kafe Hawaij on top of your crepes (or blintez) or mix it in the filling as an alternative to the typical nutella & fruit combos.
33. DATES
Date shakes, energy balls, any type baked goods made from dates - all can benefit from the addition of Kafe Hawaij. An easy snack idea - stuff your dates with a nut butter and top it off with Kafe Hawaij.
34. COCKTAILS (or MOCKTAILS)
Infuse simple syrup with Kafe Hawaij and add it to your favorite cocktails. You can also top off an Espresso Martini with a few shakes of Kafe Hawaij.
No-fuss Apple Muffins w/ Kafe Hawaij
Hawaij Spiced Sweet Rolls by LeAnne Shor
Spiced Donuts by Molly Yeh
Apple Pie by Molly Yeh