Affogato is an Italian dessert that’s perfect for coffee lovers! It’s incredibly simple to make – just ice cream and coffee or espresso.
My love for affogato runs long and deep. It’s a dessert that is seemingly too simple to possibly deserve the strong devotion it has from food-lovers everywhere.
And yet, affogato does just that.
It’s the first spoonful of cold ice cream with still-hot espresso, down to the last bits, when all that’s left is luscious coffee-cream that just begs to be poured directly into your mouth so as not to waste a drop.
All of this from just two ingredients: ice cream and espresso.
What is affogato?
Authentic Affogato is a delicious Italian dessert that consists of a combination of espresso and gelato. It is traditionally made by pouring a shot of hot, freshly brewed espresso over a scoop of high-quality vanilla gelato. pouring a shot of hot, freshly brewed espresso over a scoop of high-quality vanilla gelato. To preserve the chill of the ice cream, affogato is typically served in a chilled glass or bowl.
In American versions of affogato, it is common to substitute gelato with ice cream and espresso with strong coffee, aka affogato coffee. There are also numerous creative affogato variations that build upon the simplicity of the original two ingredients.
What Does affogato mean?
The Italian meaning for the word affogato is “drowned” or “drowned in.” The dessert is therefore aptly named since the ice cream or gelato is “drowning” in espresso.
Affogato Ingredients
The Italians know how to keep things simple. Affogato is no different. Use high-quality ingredients without any fluff. Your taste buds will thank you for it.
- Vanilla ice cream or gelato: Vanilla gelato or ice cream offers a smooth and velvety texture to this dessert.
- Espresso or very strong coffee: The espresso infuses the dessert and provides a robust and aromatic foundation that intertwines with the creamy gelato.
How to Make Affogato Coffee
- First, be sure to chill your glass and make sure your ice cream is very cold. You don’t want the hot espresso to drown your ice cream too quickly.
- Don’t use too much espresso. The ratio of ice cream to espresso should roughly be one large scoop of vanilla ice cream to an ounce of espresso or strong coffee.
- Just as you want your ice cream to be very cold, be sure your espresso is very hot. Make it immediately before pouring over the ice cream or gelato for the best results.
Affogato Variations
Many creative variations have emerged, offering exciting flavor combinations and unique twists. Here are a few optional ingredients:
- Flavor-infused Gelato/Ice Cream: Instead of vanilla, you can use different flavors of gelato or ice cream such as chocolate, salted caramel, hazelnut, cookie dough, dulce de leche, or fruit flavors. Spumoni is another unique twist.
- Affogato Toppings: Elevate this dessert with a range of affogato toppings like crushed cookies, chocolate shavings, a sprinkle of cocoa powder, whipped cream, cotton candy, nuts, toasted coconut, dried fruits or sprinkles.
- Affogato Sauces: Drizzle it with sauces like chocolate syrup, fudge, caramel, or fruit compotes for added texture and flavor.
- Affogato Cookies: Serve with Amaretti, Savoiardi (Ladyfingers), Baci di Damaor Biscotti cookies.
- Liqueur Additions: Consider adding a splash of liqueur such as amaretto, Baileys Irish Cream, or Kahlua.
- Beer & Liquor: For an adult twist, add Guinness, chocolate stout, vodka, bourbon or whiskey.
- Unique Coffee Blends: Try using flavored or specialty coffees like mocha, caramel, or nut-infused blends to complement the gelato or ice cream.
- Add a Base: Crumble cake, cookie, brownie, pie or pudding into the bottom of the glass or dish. Perfect use for leftover desserts.
- Kids Version: Just substitute the espresso with hot chocolate.
- Seasonal Inspirations: Add seasonal elements by adding spices like cinnamon, pumpkin spice, or peppermint to your affogato, depending on the time of year. Enjoy a seasonal twist on the classic dessert!
Affogato Recipe - Italian Dessert
Affogato is an Italian dessert that's perfect for coffee lovers! It's incredibly simple to make - just ice cream and coffee or espresso.
Ingredients
- 1 large scoop vanilla ice cream or gelato, very cold
- 1 oz freshly-brewed espresso or very strong coffee
Instructions
- Chill a glass, small bowl or mug until very cold.
- Scoop the ice cream into the chilled glass, then immediately pour the hot espresso on top.
- Enjoy with a spoon or slowly sip it.
Notes
Make sure to use high-quality ingredients.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 501Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 201mgSodium: 220mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 1gSugar: 48gProtein: 9g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
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