Have you stared at an Italian menu, wondering what an affogato is? Affogato translates to “drowned” or “poached” in Italian so this dessert is a combination of rich vanilla ice cream and dark espresso coffee, where the ice cream is drowned with coffee. It looks super fancy but comes together in a flash, making it the perfect last-minute dessert.
Easily made at home, you probably already have both the ingredients! It’s such a delicious way to finish off your meal. If you’re looking for another Italian dessert, try my Tiramisu or Panna Cotta.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
Vanilla ice cream — the key to rich and delicious affogato is using good quality ice cream. Full-fat ice cream will yield the creamiest dessert. Low-fat ice cream just isn’t the same!
Espresso — 100% arabica is best, but you can use the strongest coffee you have.
HOW TO MAKE AFFOGATO
1. Scoop 1 to 2 scoops of ice cream.
2. Add the scoops to a small glass.
3. Pour espresso over the ice cream.
4. Garnish the affogato with shaved chocolate or chopped pistachios if desired.
PRO TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE
- The trick to keeping the espresso from melting the ice cream immediately is to serve it in an ice-cold glass. Place the glass in the freezer ahead of time to chill it.
- To get the prettiest scoops of ice cream, run the ice cream scoop under some hot water. This way, the ice cream will scoop into perfectly round balls and release into the cups without sticking.
- When purchasing ice cream, make sure you buy real 100% dairy ice cream. There are ice creams labeled as “frozen desserts” made with vegetable oils. It won’t melt as nicely into your coffee.
- Swap vanilla ice cream for vanilla gelato.
- This affogato is simple enough not to make ahead of time but to save time, try pre-scooping the ice cream into individual glasses and keeping them covered in the freezer to save time.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I enjoy this?
Enjoy the ice cream in the affogato with a spoon and once the ice cream has fully melted, simply drink it!
What are some toppings I can put on?
Try it with a drizzle of chocolate ganache and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Crushed biscotti or Italian pizzelle cookies are a delicious option as well. Chopped hazelnuts and pistachios are another great option that adds texture. And for adults, a splash of liqueur like amaretto.
Can I use a different ice cream?
If you’re not a fan of vanilla ice cream, you can try chocolate, caramel, cookies and cream, and even coffee flavor ice cream! Play around with it until you find your favorite combination for your affogato.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this Affogato recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Affogato
Equipment
- Ice cream scoop
Ingredients
- 1-2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 1 double shot espresso
Instructions
- Add 1-2 scoops of ice cream to a small glass then our the espresso over and enjoy! Garnish with shaved chocolate or chopped pistachios if desired.
Notes
- The trick to keeping the espresso from melting the ice cream immediately is to serve it in an ice-cold glass. Place the glass in the freezer ahead of time to chill it.
- To get the prettiest scoops of ice cream, run the ice cream scoop under some hot water. This way, the ice cream will scoop into perfectly round balls and release into the cups without sticking.
- When purchasing ice cream, make sure you buy real 100% dairy ice cream. There are ice creams labeled as “frozen desserts” made with vegetable oils. It won’t melt as nicely into your coffee.
- Swap vanilla ice cream for vanilla gelato.
- This affogato is simple enough not to make ahead of time but to save time, try pre-scooping the ice cream into individual glasses and keeping them covered in the freezer to save time.
Leave a Reply