After Dinner Affogato (with or without booze!)
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Coffee and ice cream are the perfect pairing for this decadent, after-dinner Italian dessert. Is Affogato a drink? Is it dessert? It’s both! (and it’s delicious).
With such a simple recipe, the ingredients are super important. The better quality ingredients, the better it will be!
Sometimes with booze involved, sometimes not. In this case, I use Kahlua, or sometimes a shot of my Homemade Amaretto but you don’t have to!
No espresso machine? No problem! I like to use a french press for coffee, and freshly grind the beans right before I use them. I make it pretty strong – because traditionally you’re supposed to use a shot of hot espresso, which is strong.
This dessert is not too heavy – which is perfect if you’ve had a big meal just prior!
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below. Jump to the recipe card if you wish!
Why you’ll love this
- Easy to make. Seriously.
- Quick prep time. If you scoop the ice cream ahead and keep in the freezer, you can be making and eating this FAST! However long it takes you to brew coffee.
- Only 3 ingredients. 1 of them is optional!
If you love this (and of course you do), you’ll also love my Bailey’s Chocolate Mousse and Kahlua Cheesecake
What is affogato?
It means “drowned” in Italian, and is a dessert eaten after dinner, sometimes with liquor added.
How do you eat affogato?
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With a spoon, ideally – but if you leave it too long and it all melts, you’ll drink it up!
Is affogato hot or cold?
It’s both, really! But predominantly cold, since the ice cream melts the coffee and makes it all creamy and sweet.
What does affogato taste like?
A creamy, dreamy coffee milkshake, or coffee ice cream.
Key Recipe Ingredients
Note: This highlights some ingredients. Full list is in the recipe card.
How to make Affogato:
This is a step-by-step photo guide. Full ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
Jump
Kylee’s Notes
- Like when cooking with wine, use a good quality scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream.
- If you don’t have access to espresso, strong brewed coffee will work super well.
Change it up:
- Add more booze. Enough said. (Baileys, Whiskey, Kahlua… all good choices)
- Change out the ice cream flavors – how about chocolate for a more mocha flavor?
- Play around with quantities. Like it creamier? More gelato! Like it stronger? More coffee!
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After Dinner Affogato
Ingredients
- 16 ounces vanilla ice cream
- 16 ounces fresh brewed strong coffee
- 6 ounces kahlua or other liquor of your choice
Instructions
- Divide 16 ounces vanilla ice cream between 4 dessert glasses.
- Pour a shot (1.5 oz) over the top (if using)
- Pour hot coffee over the top of the gelato.
- Devour.
Notes
Kylee’s Notes
- Like when cooking with wine, use a good quality scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream.
- If you don’t have access to espresso, strong brewed coffee will work super well.
- Use chilled glasses to keep the ice cream from melting too fast (add scoops of ice cream and freeze the glasses ahead if you want to be clever)
Change up this After Dinner Affogato:
- Add more booze. Enough said. (Baileys, Whiskey, Kahlua… all good choices)
- Change out the ice cream flavors – how about chocolate for a more mocha flavor?
- Play around with quantities. Like it creamier? More gelato! Like it stronger? More coffee!
Would you like to save this recipe?
We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
Make sure to follow @kyleecooks on Instagram for more and tag me #kyleecooks so I can see!Update: This recipe was originally published in February 2018. It was republished with an updated recipe and photos in August of 2020.
About Kylee Ayotte
I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee
Love this and have prepared before without the Kaluha. I think though that the hot espresso would break the dessert glass if it were frozen.
Since the glass is chilled and the coffee is hot, won’t it shatter the glass? Want to try it but confused if it will break the glass.
Thank you for sharing this! I would love to try this one day. Who doesn’t love coffee AND ice cream?
Although I’m not a coffee drinker, I’d be totally into this! I’d give myself an extra scoop of gelato. 🙂
You’re hanging out with the wrong crowd. Every dinner party I’ve ever hosted or been to, even as a child, had after dinner coffee. And most restaurants offer it.