Affogato al Cafe
Affogato al Cafe (Affogato Shot) – Once you taste Affogato al Cafe, you will most certainly feel a buckle in your knees, and pull out your best faux Italian accent while muttering aff-o-gaaaato, gel-aaaa-to, es-preeeeess-o… Merda Santa! (Holy Crud!)
Affogato Recipe
Such a simple treat to cause a dramatic response; that is the Italian way.
You may have heard the old story about Julia Child snubbing Italian food because she didn’t believe it was real cooking. Well, no disrespect to Julia but, the simplicity of most Italian dishes is what draws me to them.
Italian food, as a whole, is about celebrating the ingredients, not the chef.
In theory, a tomato-based dish should uphold the integrity of the tomato, straight off the vine. Not muck it up with dozens of other flavors. Italians honor their food by preparing simple meals.
In making this Italian dessert, I did get a tad “stravagante”… Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I combined the gelato and espresso with a nip of Kahlua (mocha liquor) and dark chocolate shavings. Shameful. *wink*
Such a simple yet “stravagante” treat can: save a dinner party, spur on a love connection, mend a broken heart, keep you up at night to finish a project, or get you in trouble. Be careful with this one. Affogato al Cafe is POWERFUL.
What Ingredients You Will Need
Affogato al Cafe, meaning “drowned in coffee”, is a sweet little treat that packs a punch! It’s an adult ice cream float, of sorts.
The two crucial ingredients are
- Vanilla Gelato
- Espresso
But all the ingredients used to make this recipe are
- Few Scoops of Vanilla Gelato – or the GOOD ice cream
- Espresso – just a few ounces of your favorite hot espresso
- Kahlua liqueur
- Dark Chocolate Shavings
All other variations with espresso beans, chocolate, or amaretto are considered Strav-a-gan-te! (extravagant)
How To Make The Best Affogato Gelato
Grab your favorite glassware and your ingredients.
Place two large scoops of vanilla gelato in a glass.
Make a shot of espresso with your espresso machine. (You can make it ahead and allow it to cool to room temperature if you like.)
Pour the one shot of espresso and half a shot of Kahlua liqueur over the gelato.
Use a veggie peeler to shave chocolate curls over the top.
Perfetto! You have made a perfect Italian dessert.
Get the Complete (Printable) Affogato Gelato Recipe (Affogato Shot) Below. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Toppings Can I Add Other Than Chocolate Shavings?
Other toppings that would make a fabulous garnish for this recipe include biscotti, pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds, chocolate sauce, and caramel sauce.
Is Affogato Gluten-Free?
Most gelatos tend to be gluten-free, so yes, this recipe is as well.
What Is The Difference Between Espresso and an Affogato coffee?
These are both coffee-based beverages from Italy, but they are in fact not the same. Espresso is a strong brewed coffee drink made by forcing hot water through ground coffee beans under pressure. Affogato is an Italian dessert made by mixing espresso with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato. So what’s the difference? Gelato!
Other Favorite Italian Treats:
- Best Easy Tiramisu Recipe
- Classic Affogato Cake Recipe
- The Ultimate Chocolate Budding Recipe
- Tasty Tiramisu Cookies Recipe
- Italian Butterscotch Pudding Recipe (Budino)
- Creamy Tiramisu Pops (Popsicle Recipe)
- Panforte ~ Joy of Baking
- La Tavola Della Mia Famiglia ~ Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy
Affogato Al Cafe Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 scoops vanilla gelato or GOOD ice cream
- 1 ounce espresso
- 1/2 ounce Kahlua
- 1 teaspoon dark chocolate shavings
Instructions
- Place two large scoops of vanilla gelato in a glass.
- Pour one shot of espresso and half a shot of Kahlua over the gelato.
- Use a veggie peeler to shave chocolate curls over the top. Perfetto!
I’m not a coffee person, but this is just beautiful. I’d try some. :)
Yum this ice cream looks delicious and truly grown up! :)
Those dreamlike affogato look so tempting and refreshing. What a divine treat!
Congrats on making Foodbuzz’s Top 9!
Cheers,
Rosa
Coffee, chocolate and gelato…how can you go wrong? This looks just heavenly! Thank you for sharing with me tonight. I hope you have a beautiful Sunday full of laughter, love and more good food!
Congratulations on making Food Buzz’s Top 9 – this is amazing! Simple and delicious – my favorite kind of recipe!
Oh MY!! Love this! Actually, I didn’t know there was an actual name to it. I don’t eat ice cream very often, and I haven’t used Gelato, but when I do have ice cream it is just like this! Not always with the kahalua, but always with the espresso and chocolate. LOVE it! Anything “drowned in coffee” is ok by me!
Simply delicious :) I recently made some vanilla ice cream spiced with green and black cardamom, clove, cinnamon, black pepper corns, star anise and nutmeg. I think it would pair nicely with the kahlua and espresso!
Thanks for sharing.
What a fabulous Italian dessert! mmm…kahula..I love it.
I just heard that quote about Italian Cooking by Julia Child from Ina Garten. Although I adore Julia, I too have to disagree.
This is a real picker-upper, cool dessert. You’ve presented it so beautifully in those glass dishes. I’m definitely giving these a try…so grown up and elegant! ;)
Not sure I can properly pronounce it but pretty damn sure I can properly devour it!
Wow, that is one decadent treat for sure!
“Drowned in coffee” really? A coffee addict and I have never had one of these. Must. Have. One. Now. LOVE :)
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Wish I could join you for one of these!! :) I’m not a big coffee fan, but found out that I LOVED tiramisu when I worked at that Italian restaurant last year. Hubby and wife were both Italian and from NY, and as a trained pastry chef her tiramisu was out of this world!!!
Oh YUM! Love the addition of Kahlua!
Bravo Sommer!! Yes, Italian food is really simple food based on fresh, quality ingredients…and not alot of them! Your Affogato looks delicious and is delicious…as I have one about 2x a week during the summer months (ok, if not more)! I’m always “correcting” my espresso with some type of liquor too. Gorgeous photos as always!! Have a wonderful weekend!
I love italian food, they have sooo many diferent pasta recipes and risottos and their desserts made with coffee just make me crazy!! I made a tiramisu lately, i just looooved it! Can’t wait to make that Affogato al cafe!
For me, Italian and French desserts are simply the best, give me a Canoli or a Macaron and I’m totally salivating… pignoli (sp) cookies.. a plus.