So simple, but sooooo good!

What constitutes a recipe?

Does taking just two simple ingredients and pouring one over the other qualify?

If it does, then what follows is the recipe for Affogato.

If not, then what follows is just how to pour coffee over ice cream.

Huh?

Affogato is probably the simplest desert on the planet (with the possible exception of peeling a bit of fruit).

In Italian, the word ‘Affogato’ literally means ‘drowned’, and that is just what it is, either ice cream or gelato drowned in hot espresso.

Optionally you might like to pour a splash of Amaretto, or other alcohol of your choice over the ice cream before drowning it, but that is totally up to you.

Make affogato

1. Use whatever kind of coffee maker makes you the most happy, and make yourself a good stong shot of espresso.

2. Take a nice big scoop of good quality vanilla ice cream (one that actually tastes of, and contains real vanilla), and put it into a nice cold bowl, or coffee cup.

3. (optional) Pour a splash of Amaretto (or whatever you fancy) over the ice cream.

4. Pour the hot cup of espresso over the top of the ice cream.

That’s all there is to it, now just watch it all start to mingle in a warm swirl of brown and white, and quickly stick a spoon in and enjoy.

Alternatives

Although that is the classic affogato, there is no reason why you can’t do something else very similar with different hot liquids.

Maybe try a flavoured coffee, a hot chocolate, or maybe even a flavoured tea. Basically, anything that is robust and has a strong enough flavour of its own to offset the vanilla of the ice cream will work.