Coffee Desserts

Coffee adds intriguing complexity to many a dessert. Here are a few treats to try.

Sixth Street Bistro: The one here is chocolate ravioli--four two-inch squares of wonton skin filled with chocolate espresso mousse. They’re fried and served on creme anglaise with a rich chocolate sauce. (Chocolate ravioli, $5.50.) Sixth Street Bistro, 354 W. 6th St., San Pedro, (310) 521-8818.

Antonello: Owner Antonio Cagnolo has been making his grandmother’s tiramisu for 22 years. Her version layers ladyfinger cookies soaked in milk and espresso with egg yolks, mascarpone and Marsala. Before serving, it’s dusted with chocolate powder and sprinkled with raspberries. (Tiramisu, $7.95.) Antonello, South Coast Plaza Village, 1611 Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 751-7153.

Sweet Lady Jane: These dark chocolate brownies are spiked with walnuts and flavored with espresso and a secret ingredient (perhaps Amaretto liqueur). They’re so moist and delicious that people drive from far and wide just for one (or two or three). (Espresso brownies, $1.50.) Sweet Lady Jane, 8360 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (323) 653-7145.

vermont: The mascarpone and coffee charlotte is layers of sponge cake soaked in espresso alternating with whipped mascarpone cheese. It’s finished off with a chocolate sauce and topped with creme fraiche. (Mascarpone and coffee charlotte, $7.) vermont, 1714 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz, (323) 661-6163.

Chadwick: Pastry chef Mauricio Guerra makes warm Valrhona chocolate cakes with a molten center, and there’s coffee not only in the white chocolate mocha sauce but also in the espresso ice cream served on the side. (Warm bittersweet chocolate cake, $9.) Chadwick, 267 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, (323) 205-9424.

La Conversation: The mocha boat is an almond cookie shell filled with coffee buttercream icing and dipped in chocolate. There’s also a sort of chocolate-dipped mocha eclair known as the “religious” (la religeuse). And a cake of hazelnut sponge cake, espresso whipped cream mousse and espresso butter cream comes in sizes feeding as many as 16. (Mocha boat, $1.75; religious, $3; mocha hazelnut cake, $21, $28 and $40.) La Conversation, 638 N. Doheny Drive, West Hollywood, (310) 858-0950.

Jessica Strand