Do you know what kinds of desserts are the best? The ones that are both mouthwatering and easy to make! Affogatos certainly fall into this category, as they taste super delicious even though you can make them with only 2 main ingredients. This fancy – sounding Italian dessert takes only a few minutes to make and can be found in a lot of coffee shops & dessert houses.
Once you give it a try, we guarantee you will crave it for life!
What Is An Affogato?
In its simplest form, an affogato is ice cream submerged in hot espresso. The word “affogato” itself means “drowned” in Italian, perfectly describing how the ice cream is drowning in coffee.
Also, a velvety foam will appear on top when the heat of the coffee and the coldness of the ice cream clash, creating a dessert that perfectly blends sweetness, bitterness, and creaminess.
Steps To Make A Delicious Affogato
Making an affogato is really simple, making it perfect for a quick snack or for a last minute dessert to serve guests. Here are the ingredients you need to prepare:
- Two shots of freshly brewed espresso
- Two scoops of vanilla ice cream
- Other additional toppings you want
Steps for making affogato:
- Add your two scoops of vanilla ice cream into a bowl or large glass
- Add any topping of your liking
- Pour your two shots of espresso into the bowl or glass, and serve immediately for the best flavour
Ratio: 1 shot of espresso for 1 scoop of ice cream
How To Store Affogato
You cannot store a fully made affogato. If you want to make an affogato ahead of time, you can just add the ice cream and the toppings into your glass or bowl. Then, cover it in plastic wrap and place it in the freezer. When you wish to serve, take out the glass or bowl and remove the plastic wrap, before then pouring your freshly made espresso.
Tip: if your coffee is very hot, make sure to pour it over the ice cream and not the glass or bowl to prevent it from breaking.
Best Ice Cream For Affogato
Most people use store – bought vanilla bean ice cream as it is both affordable and easily accessible. If you wish for a more authentic Italian dessert, you can instead opt for vanilla gelato. You can also experiment with ice cream of other flavours if you want.
Best Affogato Ice Cream Toppings
A simple affogato with ice cream and coffee is already pretty delicious, but if you want to elevate it to another level you should add a few toppings. These are some of the most popular affogato toppings out there:
- Shaved chocolate (from a chocolate bar)
- Chopped pistachios or hazelnuts
- Chocolate sauce
- Caramel sauce
- Sweetened cocoa powder
- Biscotti
- Sea salt
- Alcohol (Bailey’s, Kahlua, etc)
Espresso Substitutes For Making Affogato
An affogato is best made with espresso and we highly recommend you choose this option. However, if you don’t have access to freshly brewed espresso, you can use any other strongly brewed hot coffee. You can even use instant coffee! But do note that the texture and flavour will be considerably lower than if you had used an espresso.
