Affogato Recipe - an Italian classic (2024)

Published: by Alexandra Cook

For the full recipe including quantities and method, click the "jump to recipe" button, or scroll through and read our helpful tips along the way.

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If you are looking for a simple, easily prepared, delicious dessert look no further than this traditional Affogato Recipe. It is a lesson in simplicity which provides maximum reward for minimum effort. No culinary skills are required to produce this crowd-pleaser.

Affogato Recipe - an Italian classic (1)

Why we love this recipe:

There are few things that are so simple and yet so deliciously satisfying as this dessert and everyone loves it.

This lesson in simplicity provides a maximum reward for minimum effort and is the perfect solution to the post-meal coffee or dessert dilemma. How clever of the Italians to combine the two!

This Affogato Recipe is a great pick-me-up for summertime. The ice cream/gelato cools you down whilst at the same time you enjoy your shot of hot espresso.

I also like to serve a shot of Frangelico with the ice cream. The nut flavours of Frangelico work extremely well with the ice cream and coffee.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Affogato Recipe - an Italian classic (2)

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

This simple Affogato Recipe requires just three ingredients:

  • Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
  • Espresso Coffee
  • Liqueur of choice (optional)

Step by Step Instructions:

Affogato Recipe - an Italian classic (3)
  1. Place the desired amount of ice-cream/gelato in a chilled café latte glass or similar. Then, pour a shot of hot espresso over the ice-cream.
  2. If using, pour over a shot glass of your favourite liqueur. Serve immediately and eat with a spoon.

Tips for Success and FAQs:

When ingredients are as few as this, it is essential that they be of good quality. Use a premium quality ice cream/gelato as this is the base of the dessert.

I prefer to chill the ice cream glasses prior to serving to avoid the ice cream melting quickly when adding the coffee.

If you are making these for a crowd, you can prepare the ice cream an hour or two ahead. Just add ice cream/gelato to suitable glasses and store in the freezer. Top with espresso when you are ready to serve.

Although optional, you may like to serve it with a shot of your favourite liqueur.

What coffee is best to use?

Espresso coffee is traditional and is preferred. Make the shot just as you are ready to pour it onto the ice cream/gelato. Eat immediately with a spoon.

Affogato Recipe - an Italian classic (4)

More delicious recipes for you to try:

Our Affogato Recipe is delicious served with our No-Churn Vanilla Ice Cream.

For a little sweet to enjoy on the side, you could also serve the Affogato with one of these treats:

  • Almond Cookies
  • Chilli Chocolate Clusters
  • Chocolate Almond Cookies
  • Chocolate Orange Bliss Balls
  • Chewy Amaretti Cookies
  • Cinnamon Sugar Puff Pastry Pinwheels
  • Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Pecan Puffs
  • Toffee Crisps

I encourage you to try this classic Italian dessert, Affogato. You could spend hours making something more elaborate but I doubt it would be received as enthusiastically as this simple, delicious dessert.

Alex xx

Affogato Recipe - an Italian classic (5)

Affogato Recipe

If you are looking for a simple, easily prepared, delicious dessert look no further than this traditional Affogato Recipe. It is a lesson in simplicity which provides maximum reward for minimum effort. No culinary skills are required to produce this crowd-pleaser.

4.99 from 76 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 411kcal

Author: Alexandra Cook – It’s Not Complicated Recipes

Recipe Measurements:

For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results.

Ingredients

  • 2 scoops vanilla bean ice cream/gelato See Note 1
  • 1 shot espresso coffee (or very strong plunger coffee) See Note 2
  • 1 shot your favourite liqueur – optional

Instructions

  • Place the desired amount of ice-cream in a chilled café latte glass or similar. – see Note 3

  • Pour a shot of hot espresso over the ice-cream.

    If using, pour over a shot glass of your favourite liqueur.

    Or if you prefer, serve each ingredient separately to your guests for them to add as preferred.

  • Serve immediately and eat with a spoon.

    I like to serve Affogato with a few biscuits on the side for textural contrast.

Notes

  1. Use the best quality ice cream you can buy, or try our delicious No-Churn Vanilla Ice Cream.
  2. Espresso is traditional and is preferred. However, you could try plunger coffee, also known as French press coffee. Don’t use instant coffee, it doesn’t have sufficient strength.
  3. I prefer to chill the ice cream glasses prior to serving to avoid the ice cream melting quickly when adding the coffee.
  4. Please note, thenutritional informationis based on one serving. The nutritional information is an estimate only.

Nutrition Estimate:

Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 263mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 42g | Calcium: 169mg

Tried this Recipe? Please rate and leave a comment!
Nutritional Disclaimer:

The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.

Affogato Recipe - an Italian classic (6)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katy

    Affogato Recipe - an Italian classic (7)
    This has been our go-to dessert for the past week. We use decaf espresso beans and brew a double shot for my husband and me to share this affogato. It’s been such a treat with our favorite salted caramel ice cream. Thank you Alex!

    Reply

    • Alexandra

      Hi Katy, I am delighted to hear that you and your husband have enjoyed the Affogato recipe. It sounds delicious served with salted caramel ice cream! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Emilia

    Affogato Recipe - an Italian classic (8)
    I made this after a weekend brunch with my husband and it was the perfect dessert and afternoon pick me up! We loved the combination of creamy, cold ice cream with that hot shot of espresso! Finally, we found a good use for our espresso machine. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Alexandra

      Hi Emelia, I am delighted to hear that you and your husband enjoyed our Affogato Recipe. It really is a great pick me up and I am thrilled that you are now enjoying your espresso machine. 🙂 🙂

      Reply

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Affogato Recipe - an Italian classic (2024)

FAQs

What is affogato in Italy? ›

Affogato literally means “drowned” in Italian. The word is used to describe when a liquid is poured over a food, usually cold food, but it can also describe cooking techniques using minimal liquid at a temperature of 175-185 °F, which should never reach the boiling point.

What is the correct way to eat affogato? ›

Grab your spoon and dig in! If you prefer, sip it straight from the bowl. The sweetness of the gelato tempers the bitterness of the coffee, while the contrasting temperatures eventually balance each other out. Don't leave it too long, or you will find that you have with coffee-gelato soup!

Which ice cream for affogato? ›

An affogato is most commonly made with vanilla gelato, though a quality vanilla bean ice cream works, too. You can even switch it up to use flavored ice creams such as chocolate or mint chip, or try coffee ice cream or mocha for an extra hit of caffeine.

What does affogato mean in English? ›

Affogato translates to "drowned" in Italian and is one of the simplest desserts you can create. It's a big scoop of vanilla ice cream with a hot espresso shot poured over it. When the affogato is ready to serve, the ice cream looks as if it has drowned in the coffee.

How do Italians eat affogato? ›

Affogati are often enjoyed as a post-meal coffee dessert combo eaten with a spoon and/or drunk with a straw.

What's the difference between gelato and affogato? ›

Affogato, which means “drowned” in Italian, is a scoop of gelato drowning in a freshly made shot of hot espresso. It's drunk/eaten as the ice cream and coffee melt together into a glorious, bittersweet puddle, a fantastic way to finish a meal.

Do Italians eat affogato? ›

In Italy, the Affogato is typically served after lunch or dinner.

What is Fior di Latte in affogato? ›

Traditionally, affogato was prepared with Fior di latte ice cream, which means "flower of milk". It is Italian gelato at its purest, made without any eggs, chocolate, or vanilla: the only ingredients are milk, cream, and sugar.

What gelato flavors are best for affogato? ›

Best with the creamier hand-made gelato flavours, such as vanilla, fiordilatte, coffee or chocolate. Once the chocolate affogato is ready, it can be decorated with whipped cream, covered with a dusting of cocoa and milk, dark or white chocolate chips.

What is a Starbucks affogato? ›

Cold, sweet ice cream meets hot, roasty espresso. The affogato is easy to make and a treat for the senses.

Who invented affogato? ›

The affogato's origin story is suspect. According to Porte, we may owe credit to the 17th-century Franciscan friar Angelico (the same cleric who brought us the hazelnut-based Frangelico liqueur), but more likely, the affogato appeared in Italy sometime in the 1950s when the ice cream industry modernized.

Does Baskin Robbins have affogato? ›

Try a classic affogato with Vanilla ice cream, or customize with your favorite flavor. Now you can get this decadent treat that will transport your taste buds to Italy at Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins combo stores nationwide for only $3.49.

What does affo mean in Italian? ›

1. drowned. è morta affogata she drowned. 2. ( Cookery) (uova) poached.

How to order an affogato in Italy? ›

"Vorrei un affogato al caffè, per favore." The "affogato" could be considered a dessert by many, but it is the perfect choice for a hot summer day. Make sure to order it "al caffè" as there are many variatons of it.

Are you supposed to drink an affogato? ›

The whole idea behind Affogato is for the ice cream to melt and to drink it.

What is the point of affogato? ›

Affogato means “drowned” in Italian, which is the perfect name for this dessert, as it's ice cream drowned in espresso. Affogato also makes an impressive, but easy, dinner party dessert if your guests enjoy an after dinner espresso.

What does an affogato taste like? ›

What does affogato taste like? As a coffee-based dessert, affogato has strong bitter flavours with an after-taste of Frangelico. Thanks to the creamy vanilla ice cream, these strong two flavours mellow out, creating a delectable dessert/drink.

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