Affogato is an iconic Italian dessert that combines cold vanilla gelato with strong hot coffee in a quick, satisfying, and perfectly balanced bittersweet treat.
Discover more delicious Italian recipes, or check out our biscotti recipe, apple cake, pistachio custard and Italian almond cookies.
A simple Italian pleasure…
Affogato al caffè means “drowned in coffee” in Italian. Yes please ☕️!
This might be the quickest, easiest Italian dessert. It’s also one of the most popular as it combines two ingredients Italians and most people around the world can’t resist: gelato and coffee.
Where I am from in Italy (near Rome), affogato is made with two scoops of gelato alla crema (custard ice cream) or fiordilatte (milk-flavored ice cream).
Outside of Italy, the closest substitute is plain vanilla ice cream, which works just fine.
And because more is more, we often top it with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream—because why not? 🤤
As for the coffee, you’ll need something strong and bold. Either a shot of espresso or a small cup of coffee made with an Italian moka (caffettiera) will do the trick 🇮🇹.
Just make sure it’s short and intense—not long and watery.
You guys, the contrast of hot and cold, sweet and bitter, creamy and bold—it’s absolute perfection. If you’re short on time but still want to impress, this is the dessert to make!
Ingredients
- Coffee: you’ll need a strong, bold Italian coffee. Best if made with an Italian moka (caffettiera) or espresso.
- Ice cream: if you can find Italian crema (custard) or fiordilatte (milk-flavored) gelato that’s most authentic. Alternatively, a good quality plain vanilla ice cream works just fine. Substitute non-dairy vanilla ice cream to make the recipe vegan.
Topping Variations
- Whipped cream: This is the most common topping and more often than not, Italians like to add a dollop of sweetened vanilla flavored whipped cream on the ice cream before pouring the coffee. Substitute non-dairy whipped cream.
- Crushed nuts: Sprinkle crushed pistachios or hazelnuts for a delicious crunch.
- Chocolate shavings or cacao.
- Liqueur: make affogato “corretto” by adding a splash of amaretto or coffee flavored liqueur.
How to make affogato
Step 1: Make the coffee. Whip cream with sugar and vanilla if using.
Step 2: Scoop ice cream into glass or ice cream bowls. Two scoop per portion. Optionally, add a dollop of whipped cream.
Step 3: Pour hot coffe onto cold ice cream and serve immediately with a small spoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Affogato is a dessert enjoyed after lunch or dinner, or in the afternoon on long hot summer days. It’s eaten with a teaspoon.
As the hot espresso melts some of the ice cream, you can sip the last part of the affogato straight from the glass. That’s why some might consider it a drink.
Yes! Simply, use non-dairy ice cream and non-dairy whipped cream to make a vegan affogato.
Absolutely! Vanilla and fiordilatte are ideal choices because they let the coffee’s rich flavor shine. Italians love keeping food simple, avoiding too many competing flavors. That said, feel free to experiment with pistachio, hazelnut, or chocolate gelato if you’d like. I’d just steer clear of fruit-based ice creams—they don’t pair as well with coffee.
Sugar isn’t added because the sweetness of the ice cream perfectly balances the bold bitterness of the coffee.
More Easy Desserts…
If you tried this Affogato recipe or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!
Affogato
Ingredients
- 1 espresso cup strong Italian coffee best if espresso or from a stovetop Moka pot (caffettiera)
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream *see notes below
- 1 dollop whipped cream sweetened (optional)
Instructions
- Make the coffee. Whip cream with sugar and vanilla extract if using.Scoop ice cream into glass or ice cream bowls. Two scoop per portion. Optionally, add a dollop of whipped cream.
- Pour hot coffe onto cold ice cream and serve immediately with a small spoon.
Video
Notes
- Ice cream: Substitute non-dairy ice cream to make the recipe vegan. Traditionally, crema (custard) or fiordilatte (milk-flavored) gelato is used. Plain vanilla ice cream works just fine.
- Coffee: You need a short, bold, strong coffee. Italian espresso or coffee made in a stove top coffe maker like a moka pot are recommended.
- Whipped cream: Often sweetened whipped cream flavored with vanilla is added on top of the ice cream (see video). Whip 1/2 cup whipping cream with 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract. That’s enough for 4 people.
- Crushed nuts: Add crushed pistachios, hazelnuts, or shaved almonds for a delicious crunch.
- Chocolate shavings or cacao.
- Liqueur: make affogato “corretto” by adding a splash of amaretto or coffee flavored liqueur.
Nutrition
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We’re here to share delicious, easy, and healthy vegetarian recipes. 🌿✨ Welcome to our blog, we are glad you are here.
Works well with a healthy slug of Grand Marnier on top – as discovered in Treviso.
Great recipes! Very interesting cooking. Love the recipes are plant-based.
Fantastic, Priscilla! So happy that you like our recipes.
I wish you a great weekend when you get there 🥳. Best, Louise
We love affogato!
Our favourite coffee, which I happen to be drinking right now (March 14), is made with our maple sap. Just as it comes to boil to make maple syrup, we make coffee with it, not very sweet but a hint of maple flavour.
Next time we make affogato, it might well have a little hit of maple syrup too!
Fantastic, David. I love that you are writing a comment on affogato while sipping affogato 🥰.
It also sounds delicious with a hint of maple syrup! Thank you for taking the time to write a comment, we appreciate it ❤️.
Have a great weekend when you get there. Best, Louise