Affogato Recipe (VIDEO)
Affogato Coffee Ice Cream is an easy Italian dessert. It’s so good, you won’t believe it’s only 2 ingredients! Affogato looks and tastes fancy but takes seconds to make.
Single serving desserts like Panna Cotta, these Mini Cheesecakes or Chocolate Eclairs are so classy, elegant and perfect for parties. Affogato coffee ice cream is delightful and once you try it, you will crave it often.
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What is Affogato?
Affogato means “drowned” in Italian and it is essentially drowning ice cream in coffee. The hot coffee starts to melt the ice cream and forms a thick foam at the top. My cousin’s wife, Alla shared this delicious idea with me. Watch the video tutorial below and you will see just how easy this is.
What can I Substitute for Espresso?
We love the rich flavor and crema in espresso (and here is the Espresso machine we love) but you can substitute the espresso shots by using:
- Strong brewed coffee (hot)
- Instant Espresso powder in boiling water
The Best Ice Cream for Affogato:
We make affogato with vanilla bean ice cream because it’s easier to find in the grocery store but it is classically made with vanilla gelato so if you want the authentic Italian experience, pour espresso over vanilla gelato and watch the magic happen.
Affogato Coffee Ice Cream Toppings:
There is so much room to experiment with Affogato toppings. You can absolutely serve it with just coffee and ice cream, but if you are feeling adventurous or really want to impress someone, try these:
- Caramel sauce
- Chocolate sauce
- Chocolate shavings from a chocolate bar
- Cocoa powder for dusting
- Grated chocolate espresso beans
- Biscotti or Italian pizzelle cookies, crushed
- Sea salt
- Toasted and chopped hazelnuts or pistachios
- Liquor for adults (Kahlua, Bailey’s or Frangelico)
The Best Affogato Flavor Combinations:
- Vanilla ice cream, chocolate shavings, espresso
- Vanilla bean ice cream, caramel sauce, roasted chopped pistachios, espresso
- Vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate sauce, sea salt, espresso
Can Affogato be Made Ahead?
You can scoop the ice cream into glasses and even add toppings ahead, cover with plastic wrap and freeze. Just before serving, remove from the freezer and pour espresso over ice cream. If espresso or coffee are piping hot, pour over the ice cream and not directly over glass so the glass doesn’t break.
Serving the affogato in chilled glasses or bowls is awesome for hot days or if serving outdoors so the ice cream doesn’t melt right away
More Easy Dessert Recipes You Will Love:
- Cherry Pie – don’t skip the scoop of ice cream
- Cream Puffs – these prove that homemade is best
- Blueberry Pie – pairs perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
- No-Bake Cheesecake – with the best strawberry topping
- Chocolate Cake – the ultimate birthday cake
Watch How to Make Affogato:
This recipe makes 1 affogato dessert. I wrote it out that way intentionally so you can scale up it easily. The ratio is 1 shot (1 oz) of espresso per 1 scoop of ice cream.
- Use an ice cream scooper to add 2 scoops of ice cream to a serving bowl or glass.
- Add desired toppings (see list below).
- Pour over 2 shots of hot espresso or strong brewed coffee and serve right away.
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Affogato Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream, (or vanilla gelato)
- 2 oz espresso, (2 shots), or strong brewed coffee
Instructions
- Add 2 scoops of ice cream to a serving bowl or glass.
- Add chocolate shavings or other toppings if desired.
- Pour 2 shots of hot espresso or strong brewed coffee over the ice cream and serve right away.
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Hi, just wondering what about using cold espresso or just warm espresso so as not to melt the ice cream too quickly?
And should the espresso be sweetened before adding to ice cream?
Many thanks,
Linda
Hi Linda! Yes, you can do that if you’d like. I do not sweetened it.
My Nonna used to have this & I thought it was her little quirk. She put ice cream in her saucer & poured a little coffee on top. She drank it from the saucer. Wondered why she just didn’t put ice cream in the cup with her coffee. LOL
Oh, that’s great, Mary! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
Love it! Heard a comedian say that he was waiter once. For dessert A lady customer asked for affogato for dessert. Having no idea what it was he brought her an avacado 🤣
So I went looking and found your page and made it 👍
Thanks for being there 😊
That is funny! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Bill.
This looks amazing. But I don’t drink coffe. Do you think strong, heated chai tea could be a substitute? Thanks
Hi Dorothy! I have not tested that to advise, but I think it could work. Especially if the the chai is concentrated! 🙂
Where are your cute cups from ? This looks yummy I’m excited to try it
You can find them on my amazon shop but clicking “shop” at the top of this page. CLICK HERE for link. 🙂
I’m still learning from you, as I’m improving myself. I certainly liked reading all that is posted on your site.Keep the posts coming. I liked it!
Thank you for your kind comment, Charlie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I’ve actually made this before without realizing it! However, your topping additions are a must try!! Thank you for the video!
Hi Meg! You’re very welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed this.
Will try it soon but a little hesitant that the hot coffee to cold glass and ice cream will cause the glass to break.
Has this ever happened to you or anyone out there?
Hi Linda, if you have a hot drink-safe cup, it should not crack. I haven’t had that experience. If you’re worried, you can use a ceramic mug also.
I made this with my coffee (Death Wish Coffee). Delicious and very satisfying!
Nice, great to hear that you loved it!
Oh my Natasha, you should have your own TV show!! ❤️
Awww thank you for that sweet compliment.
Natasha I used normal coffee but it was so good and refreshing and that foamy top mmm. I loved it
Great to hear that you loved it!
I too am anxious to create a recipe box on your website
Thank you for the suggestion. I will keep checking with my developer and if a good option comes available, we will add it.
Also try hazelnuts. Classic Italian and is delicious in this.
Sounds like a good addition to the recipe, thanks for sharing!
Is there a way to save your recipes to a recipe box on your site?
I love your videos and recipes…thanks for sharing.
Hi Victoria, we don’t have that feature available on our website yet. That’s a good idea though, hopefully, we can add that in the future.
Thank you for being there with all your great ideas Happy New year
You are most welcome, Jan. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thanks for the tip with adding some sea salt to the choice to use chocolate syrup. I made one this morning to try it out, next time will add sea salt! Loved your video.
You are so welcome!
Natashas can I just use normal coffee
Hi Asantha, we recommend a Strong brewed coffee (hot) or Instant Espresso powder in boiling water.
Thank you
hi Natasha! i love the combination of coffee and ice-cream together! (should 12-year olds be drinking coffee? LOL!) can i replace the vanilla ice-cream with strawberry flavored? how will the taste be like?
Oh, that sounds delightful! I have not tested that with strawberry to advise but I bet its delicious! If you experiment I would love your feedback!
Decaff espresso or brewed coffee would work fine.
hi natasha i am koniah i am 9 years old ilove u so much
Thank you and so glad to know that you’re already so interested in learning how to cook. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for watching our videos Koniah!
Hi Natasha, I love your recipes and videos so much, lately when I watch videos there’s a lot of music in background which is hard to hear what you are saying, is there a way I can shut off music but still hear what your saying? This is probably a stupid ?
Hello Mary, thank you for your feedbck. If you’re referring to the videos in the background, you should see an x button for you to close that window. Hope this helps!
I love this coffee shop, we discovered it on brewstr and checked it out. Great atmosphere
Thank you for sharing that with us Isela!
I love the choices you make on what recipes you share, and I appreciate your recommendations. One piece of advice: less is more. This video could have easily been under 2 minutes but you stretched it out to over 4 with lots and lots of unecessry extra comments. Just want you to have more viewers! Because you’re on to something
Thank you for that feedback, Donna.
I’m from the UK but really love the coffee machine you use? can you tell me if this is available in the UK?
Hi Alison, it is available for purchase online. I would recommend doing a local online search.
thank you and sorry to be a pain, what’s the machine called you have? I have one but no where near as good as yours. sorry to bother you know your busy helping us learn to cook!
lol…..p.s. great recipes! x
Hi Alison, here is the espresso machine we have and love.
Thank you for the great idea of adding pistachios!
I have got to ask where is your vase with hydranges from? The combination is beautiful.
Also what beans do you use for your coffee machine?
Hi Sarah, thank you so much! The vase is from Fred Meyer and the hydrangeas are from our own backyard. They are so beautiful and in full bloom right now, plus we have a ton so I’m utilizing them in videos :). The beans we use currently are organic beans from Fred Meyer. I tossed the bag and don’t have a backup to tell you what brand it was.
Coffee addict here I can’t start a day without coffee and this just might make a good replacement. I’m having my mom and sisters over after the weekend, will make it for them. They love anything coffee just as much as I do
We love our morning coffee around here. I hope your family like this recipe!
This is so delicious! Thanks Natasha. After watching the video I just had to make one. Haha, is it wrong that I had it for breakfast?
That sounds perfect for a summer breakfast!
This ice cream treat is absolutely amazing. Thanks for sharing
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Great idea to have a great drink in different way. Will try it for sure, I hope it will be delicious as you describe here.
Just a tip:
I miss old you, and your old videos and recipes. Your previous recipes were tested very well and delicious. Few recipes I was making from here didn’t end up delicious as it was described.
Thank you for sharing your feedback Kate!
so I tried it, and it is delicious. by the way I tried with regular coffee and it is delicious. thanks
I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
Ice cream and coffee are 2 of my favorites!
You can’t go wrong with that Krissy!
Wow, this looks like the perfect way to treat myself after dinner tonight. Love how easy it is to put together.
I hope you love this recipe Jen! It is our favorite quick treat!
I love making this! It’s so easy to prepare and delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that Lauren!
Now this is my kind of dessert! I know what I’m making this weekend.
I hope you love this Julie!!
This definitely looks fancy enough for a dinner party and I love that you can just put it together within a couple of minutes. I remember growing up in Europe they had a kid-friendly version of this where they just used hot chocolate instead of coffee and lots of toppings. One of my favorite desserts as a kid
Hi Jenny! I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!