I have a story for you.
Once upon a time, a woman sprinkled espresso powder on her burgers, formed them into small sliders, and served them without mentioning the coffee. Her husband—who insists he hates coffee so much he leaves the room when it’s being brewed—ate them without knowing. He loved them.
While he gushed over the sliders, she finally revealed, “They’re rubbed with coffee!” He was dramatic about it, but the truth was he enjoyed every bite. If you follow this blog, you know how Eddie reacts to coffee. This time, his fake-gag in the sink lasted all of five minutes before he admitted he liked the burgers.
Maybe the lesson here is to hide things he dislikes in or on a burger.
These brunch sliders are wonderfully over-the-top. The patties are coated with an espresso spice rub and finished with jam, spring greens, and vanilla-rubbed bacon.
Yes—vanilla bacon. Thick-cut bacon rubbed with brown sugar and real vanilla bean seeds, baked until crisp. It adds a sweet, fragrant crunch that sings with the savory beef.
There’s a lot of sweet-and-savory contrast happening here, and it’s brilliant. The espresso powder brings deep, rich flavor to the rub—intense in a way that enhances savory dishes as well as desserts.
Another star of these sliders is the cheese: havarti melts beautifully into a gooey, creamy layer that complements the espresso-seasoned beef and the sweet jam. Using small Hawaiian-style rolls gives a soft, slightly sweet bite that balances the bold flavors.
These are sliders, which means you can eat more than one. That’s always a bonus.
Espresso Rubbed Brunch Sliders with Vanilla Bacon
8 sliders (depends on your bun size)
45 mins
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Ingredients
Vanilla Bacon
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out
Burgers
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
- 1/2 tablespoon butter
- Slices of havarti cheese for topping
- 1/3 cup cranberry or cherry jam
- Spring greens
- Slider rolls (dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls)
Instructions
Vanilla Bacon
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
- Mix the brown sugar and vanilla bean seeds together. Place bacon on the rack and rub the sugar mixture over each piece lightly. Bake for about 20 minutes, until crispy.
- Let bacon cool completely, then break into pieces sized for your buns and burgers.
Burgers
- In a bowl, season the ground beef with salt and pepper, mixing gently. In a separate bowl, combine espresso powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Form the beef into small patties to match your rolls (about 2 inches diameter). Sprinkle the espresso spice over each patty and gently press it into the meat.
- Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium. Cook sliders until browned and cooked to your preference (about 3–4 minutes per side for medium-well). Place a slice of havarti on each patty a minute before they’re done to melt.
- Assemble sliders by spreading jam on the bottom buns, topping with spring greens, the burger, and pieces of vanilla bacon. Add the top bun and serve.
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Is this not the most perfect bite ever?