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Home Bite Size Desserts

Affogato

By:Nagi
Published:23 Jun '23Updated:30 Jul '23
80 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Affogato – coffee, dessert and your after dinner drink, all rolled into one. This is what you have when you’re “too full for dessert”! Just pour espresso coffee over vanilla gelato or ice cream, enjoy the melty swirls and dig in. The Italians are genius.

Pouring coffee over ice cream for Affogato

Affogato

When was your last affogato? It’s my go-to dessert at restaurants. Even if I claim I’m too full, affogato doesn’t count as it’s practically liquid, right? It’s like having a glass of water! (Yes, really, that’s how my mind works – don’t judge me!😂)

For those new to affogato, it’s a traditional Italian coffee-dessert where hot espresso is poured over gelato or ice cream, with the option of adding a splash of liquor. It’s coffee, dessert, and an after-dinner drink, all rolled into one. The contrast of hot, bitter coffee with cold, creamy ice cream is utter perfection. And the fact that it’s so simple with a bonus DIY fun factor? Brilliant!

Eating Affogato
Espresso short black for Affogato

Ingredients in Affogato

All you need for affogato is a shot of hot espresso (coffee), ice cream or gelato and optional half a shot of liquor (Frangelico, amaretto, rum). A little more information on each of these below!

Affogato ingredients
  • Espresso – This is a small concentrated shot of hot coffee. The standard size for a shot of espresso is 30 ml (1 ounce).

    It goes without saying that the better your coffee, the better your affogato!

  • Vanilla gelato or ice cream – Traditionally gelato though ice cream is just as good, in my opinion! More important is the flavour. Vanilla is the classic choice because it pairs so well with coffee. Feel free to experiment!

    How much ice cream – Use one large(ish) or two small(ish) scoops for one shot of coffee, for a good balance of the two. Though if using liquor, I lean towards two medium scoops, as pictured.

  • Liquor (optional) – To roll your after dinner drink into this all-in-one dessert, add half a shot of liquor! Amaretto (almond flavour) and frangelico (hazelnut) are probably the most common. Rum, sambuca and Kahlua are also standard offerings at Italian restaurants, and multiple readers suggested orange liqueurs (such as Grand Marnier and Cointreau). Though really, you can add anything you think/know goes well with coffee!

    PS A shot of liquor is 30 ml / 1 ounce so half a shot is 15 ml / 0.5 ounce which is 1 tablespoon. Though nobody will hold you back from dialling the quantity up. 🙂

Frangelico for Affogato
Frangelico is my favourite liquor for affogato
Pouring Frangelico for Affogato

Optional extras

The traditional affogato is nothing more than espresso, gelato and optional liquor. However, even in restaurants these days there’s all sorts of optional extras. So adapt to your taste and make affogato your own! Here are some suggestions:

  • Chocolate grated or shaved on the ice cream (I did this)

  • Biscotti for dunking (I also did this!) – or Italian Almonds cookies (thank you to the reader who suggested this!)

  • Whipped cream

  • Melted chocolate – I’d drizzle across the ice cream

  • Crushed or chopped nuts – pistachio and hazelnuts would be on theme here

I know I’m missing a stack of other ideas – drop suggestions in the comments below so I can come back and add to the list! 🙂


How to make affogato

I need more recipes with so few steps!

How to make Affogato
  1. Brew hot espresso using your coffee making appliance of choice. That’s 30 ml/1 ounce for a single shot.

  2. Put a scoop or two of ice cream in a glass.

  3. Pour over hot coffee. Enjoy watching the ice cream swirls melting into the hot coffee!

  4. If using liquor, pour that over next. Eat!

Pouring coffee over Affogato

PS I used a small beaker to do the pour shot so I could do a neat pour for the photos. I don’t use a beaker in real life!

Overhead photo of Affogato

Serving – for DIY pour

From a practical perspective, as restaurants do, serve the glass with just the ice cream in it and the espresso on the side. So the eater can pour then dig straight into the affogato before the ice cream fully melts.

Serving Affogato
Dunking biscotti into Affogato

Oh, and a side of biscotti for dunking wouldn’t go astray either. Recipe coming up soon. Never been fully happy with my biscotti attempts! Need to put some time into it, and it’s currently on my radar.

Share your affogato twists! Do you like yours straight up, classic, just coffee and vanilla gelato? Or are you all about the toppings and getting creative with ice cream flavours?? Don’t let anyone tell you how you should or shouldn’t take your affogato – make it your own! – Nagi x


Watch how to make it

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Pouring coffee over Affogato

Affogato

Author: Nagi
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Total: 5 minutes mins
Cocktail, Dessert
Italian
5 from 9 votes
Servings1
Tap or hover to scale
Print
Recipe video above. The world's fastest and smartest dessert, courtesy of the Italians. This is what you make when you claim you're too full dessert! It's coffee, dessert and optional after dinner drink, all rolled into one. Genius.
Hot coffee and melty gelato or ice cream is a match made in heaven.

Ingredients

  • 1 large or 2 small(ish) scoops vanilla gelato or ice cream (Note 1)
  • 1 shot (30 ml/1 oz) hot espresso coffee (short black) – Note 2
  • 1 tbsp frangelico, amaretto or other liquor (optional) – Note 3

Instructions

  • Put ice cream in glass suitable for affogato eating (Note 4).
  • Place shot of espresso and liquor (if using) on the side.
  • Pour the hot espresso then liquor over the ice cream. Enjoy swirls of melty ice cream blending into the coffee. Dig in immediately!

Recipe Notes:

1. Gelato is traditional, ice cream is perfectly acceptable. Vanilla is the classic flavour and a dead-set perfect match with coffee flavour. However, feel free to use any flavour you want!
2. Espresso (short black) – Make sure it’s hot (so it melts the ice cream) and strong (so your ice cream coffee “soup” isn’t weak and bland)
3. Liquor – Kahlua, sambuca, rum and Bailey’s are also common offerings. Use what you know works with coffee!
4. Glass – Fancy restaurants use shallow cocktail glasses which I find impractical and poontsy, just for show. I like the glass taller than wider so you can dig in. Try to find one not too tall, it’s easier to eat out of.
5. Optional extras (not traditional, but nobody can stop you!)
  • Biscotti (excellent for dunking)
  • Chocolate shavings – use microplane or potato peeler
  • Whipped cream
  • Melted chocolate – on ice cream
  • Nuts – roughly chopped pistacchio and hazelnuts on theme
Leftovers – nobody keeps half eaten melted affogato, do they??
Nutrition per serving, assumes 1/2 cup of ice cream which is a little on the generous side.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 183cal (9%)Carbohydrates: 20g (7%)Protein: 2g (4%)Fat: 7g (11%)Saturated Fat: 5g (31%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 29mg (10%)Sodium: 55mg (2%)Potassium: 151mg (4%)Fiber: 0.5g (2%)Sugar: 19g (21%)Vitamin A: 278IU (6%)Vitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 85mg (9%)Iron: 0.1mg (1%)
Keywords: affogato, affogato al caffe, coffee dessert, italian dessert
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

Life of Dozer

Going to town on ice cream garnished with a liver treat and doggie friendly sprinkles (pinched off another doggie treat!).

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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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80 Comments

  1. Namz says

    November 30, 2023 at 4:04 pm

    5 stars
    I love this! So good.
    Every Christmas Eve, I make my kids a kid-friendly one with hot chocolate poured over the icecream (all served in fancy cups and pouring jugs to make them feel extra special as they build their own affogato!). Two scoops of icecream required in the version! 😉

    Reply
  2. Kim Stanton says

    November 2, 2023 at 5:41 pm

    doing these for my Nieces’ 21st Birthday Party ! should be great fun for me too !!!

    Am going for Maltesers (chopped) and honeycomb (home made) – Vanilla and Expresso Meuw Cow Cognac (gifts I have never used), Tennessee Honey and Frangelico – also have an old bottle of strawberry Baileys that I will chuck in (to get rid of) THANKS NAGI !

    Reply
  3. Elise says

    August 12, 2023 at 6:49 pm

    A couple of Ferrero Rocher hazelnut balls chopped into 1/4’s is amazing in these

    Reply
  4. Madelyn says

    August 4, 2023 at 5:42 am

    5 stars
    This is one of my favorite “desserts”. It’s been a while since I’ve had one… this was a good reminder it’s time to have another. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Meta says

    July 15, 2023 at 12:11 am

    5 stars
    Nagi – You are a Star!

    Reply
  6. Vix says

    July 3, 2023 at 8:15 pm

    Try it with Mr Black coffee liqueur! Epic!

    Reply
  7. Douglas G Higgins says

    July 1, 2023 at 12:54 am

    My fav restaurant has this with the option of Chambord. I am hooked. They also sprinkle what seems to be a crumbled nut toffee on top which I haven’t been able to replicate (not for lack of trying). Thanks for this recipe – I will keep trying! 🙂

    Reply
  8. demelza says

    June 28, 2023 at 7:10 pm

    Warning!! Very dangerously addictive and sooo easy to drink!! I think using decaf would be a good idea so you can have more then one and still be able to go to sleep 🤣

    Reply
  9. Hester says

    June 28, 2023 at 1:13 pm

    I’ve made Affogato and used a homemade Kumquat brandy. It was absolutely delicious too.

    Reply
  10. Rehoboth says

    June 26, 2023 at 11:45 pm

    5 stars
    Wonderful recipe

    Reply
  11. Norah McPhee says

    June 26, 2023 at 12:37 am

    Hi lovely Nagi and the very handsome Dozer, I had a chocolate lab Nagi that i called Tia Maria and she loved her ice cream cones, She had such a soft, silky head and ears that you just couldn;t stop stroking. Tia was called that because i don’t drink and never have, but i felt that was just the right name for her. I don’t have my beautiful baby girl any more and i so look forward to my dose of what your gorgeous dog is up to, he is very much Tia’s twin brother in that she was always after food as well. Thank you for sharing your handsome, beautiful dog with us all. Norah, from Scotland

    Reply
  12. Pat says

    June 25, 2023 at 10:01 pm

    5 stars
    Love this this dessert year-round with this versions & other variations.

    Quick note that correct spelling is sambuca not sambuca.

    Reply
  13. Pauline Crimmins says

    June 24, 2023 at 1:56 pm

    For us alcohol free folk. I’m thinking a hot caramel or salted caramel would be delicious with the ice cream & coffee. Salted caramel is under Nagi’s Baked Apple Pie Fries with Salted Caramel Dipping Sauce. Leave out the salt for regular caramel.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 26, 2023 at 7:45 pm

      Mmmmmm yes! What a great idea!! Adding to the list 🙂 N x

      Reply
  14. Marisa says

    June 24, 2023 at 12:28 pm

    Rather than fluffy supermarket ice cream, try the coffee poured over a dense, sea salt caramel swirl gelato – it will blow your mind!!!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 26, 2023 at 7:45 pm

      YEEEEESSS!

      Reply
  15. Rob Martin says

    June 24, 2023 at 9:56 am

    One of those dead simple yet fancy looking dinner party treats (it’s just as good when you’re alone). I’m surprised it wasn’t mentioned that affogato means “drowned.”

    Two other favorites are cafe corretto, or “corrected espresso” — your favorite liquor added to your espresso; and rexentin, where you “rinse” your empty espresso cup with a small amount of liquor (I learned this as resinata, but I don’t see that anywhere online so it must be a mistranslation on our part).

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 26, 2023 at 7:45 pm

      Googling right now!

      Reply
  16. Susan says

    June 24, 2023 at 8:06 am

    Yum, I make this often especially during the summer, even better with homemade easy ‘sweetened condensed milk ice cream’ or a dollop of whipped cream on top. Def a favourite desert!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 26, 2023 at 7:46 pm

      Yes! I was thinking of sharing a vanilla sweetened condensed milk ice cream recipe 🙂

      Reply
      • Raelene says

        June 28, 2023 at 7:49 am

        Yes, please do! I am already drooling!

        Reply
  17. Marilyn Lebowitz says

    June 24, 2023 at 7:21 am

    Love affogato, thanks Nagi for the reminder. Have you tried a Don Pedro? Essentially a whiskey milkshake, another great desert when your guests are too full for anything more
    Just go easy on the whiskey or you’ll have extra house guests.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 26, 2023 at 7:46 pm

      No I haven’t but I’m googling it right now!

      Reply
  18. EJ says

    June 24, 2023 at 4:47 am

    I can’t find the biscotti recipe?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 26, 2023 at 7:47 pm

      Still working on it! Not happy yet – I feel like I’ve tried dozens over the years but nothing concrete yet! 🙂 N x

      Reply
    • Susan says

      June 24, 2023 at 8:23 am

      The recipe is for the affogato, I think the biscotti is just a prop. But I think she mentions she needs to work on a biscotti recipe 🙂

      Reply
  19. AliceK says

    June 24, 2023 at 3:03 am

    I have made this myself by putting the espresso in the bottom of a mug, then spooning the ice cream on top. Does it make a difference if you do it the other way around?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 26, 2023 at 7:47 pm

      It’s just the traditional way I guess! Your way would slow down the ice cream melting – SMART! N x

      Reply
  20. Layla Lazar says

    June 24, 2023 at 2:28 am

    Yum! My last time having Affogato was now o’clock 2:26am 23/06/23 winding down after doing notes for work and I stumble on you, Nagi tempting me and everyone with your way of making affogato. Well done gorgeous girl!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 26, 2023 at 7:48 pm

      2.26am?? *She yells*! Did you sleep!!!! N x

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 26, 2023 at 8:03 am

        That depends. Did her liquor cancel out her espresso? 😋

        Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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