Cheese

Affogato

by:
May  6, 2011
4
1 Ratings
Affogato
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

I grew up eating a bastard version of affogato, the Italian dessert that cleverly melds gelato and espresso. At night, I'd pour the leftover coffee from my parent's drip coffee maker over my ice cream. I liked the coffee-flavored ice shell that formed on the ice cream and the puddle of coffee milk in the bottom of the bowl. This caffeinated treat may also explain why, as a child, I was often up with my father watching ice hockey on TV late into the night.

Proper affogato has much more going for it. The mix of hot and cold, the bitter and sweet, and, of course, the fluffy cream cap that pools beneath the gelato.

This is the dessert that you want in your back pocket, ready for guests at a moment's notice. Keep a good stock of ice cream (a good life rule, generally), and I'm sure you have espresso or strong coffee around. If not, let's not discuss it. And spoons. Yes, you'll need spoons! —Amanda Hesser

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 pint vanilla gelato or ice cream (the good stuff!)
  • 4 long shots espresso
Directions
  1. Scoop the ice cream into 4 bowls. Pour a shot of espresso over each mound of ice cream. Serve quickly!
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  • Dina Moore-Tzouris
    Dina Moore-Tzouris
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    Linn
  • Amanda Hesser
    Amanda Hesser
  • eartoday
    eartoday
Amanda Hesser

Recipe by: Amanda Hesser

Before starting Food52 with Merrill, I was a food writer and editor at the New York Times. I've written several books, including "Cooking for Mr. Latte" and "The Essential New York Times Cookbook." I played myself in "Julie & Julia" -- hope you didn't blink, or you may have missed the scene! I live in Brooklyn with my husband, Tad, and twins, Walker and Addison.

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17 Reviews

eartoday
eartoday March 27, 2017
We always add some shaved dark chocolate and a few chopped nuts to the affrogato - it's a great dessert for a dinner party too. DIY affrogato bar with everything set out....
 
eartoday
eartoday March 27, 2017
We always add some shaved dark chocolate and a few chopped nuts to the affrogato - it's a great dessert for a dinner party too. DIY affrogato bar with everything set out....
 
Dina M.
Dina M. June 27, 2013
i like to cut paper straws in half and stick them in the cup(or bowl)--that way you can drink all the delicious resultant latte that remains after you've finished the gelato.
 
bjones70
bjones70 April 30, 2013
Where did you find that little white marble container where the coffee is being poured from? thx
 
Amanda H.
Amanda H. May 2, 2013
Hi there -- it's from ABC Home and I believe it's ceramic. It's a handy little pitcher!
 
bjones70
bjones70 May 3, 2013
Thanks, Amanda. Couldn't located the pitcher on ABC's web site. I live near ABC in Flatiron and would love to see if they have it in the store. Would you happen to know the name of the brand or the name of the manufacturer? Many thanks!
 
Amanda H.
Amanda H. May 3, 2013
I don't know it off-hand, but could look tonight. Let me know if you need me to do this and I'll follow-up.
 
bjones70
bjones70 May 3, 2013
If it's not too much of an inconvenience, I would appreciate that. Thanks again!
 
Amanda H.
Amanda H. May 5, 2013
The pitcher is made by Pordamsa in Spain.
 
bjones70
bjones70 May 6, 2013
Amanda -- thanks so much! Cheers, Ben
 
Linn
Linn May 3, 2012
My first Affogato was a restaurant in Woodstock a couple years. That version was spiked with Amaretto and I highly recommend the addition. Gotta say one of the best endings to a meal out there! At that time I scoured the internet for some background and came up with very little. Thank you Amanda sharing your version and your story.
 
Amanda H.
Amanda H. May 3, 2012
Thanks!
 
culture_connoisseur
culture_connoisseur January 8, 2012
Delicious! I had this years ago at a little coffee shop in Pacific Beach, California. Will make it this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
 
Amanda H.
Amanda H. January 8, 2012
It's a great little treat -- thanks for your comment!
 
Amanda H.
Amanda H. January 8, 2012
It's a great little treat -- thanks for your comment.
 
FoodHabit
FoodHabit July 14, 2011
We like to add skinny curls of a good dark chocolate on top, or fat curls, if you like. You can shave a little on, if you prefer. Really dark chocolate, vanilla ice cream and espresso -- Yum!
 
Victoria C.
Victoria C. May 9, 2011
I love this dessert. If I'm not making my own ice cream, I like Haagan Daz Five Vanilla because it's a lot like gelato since it isn't as creamy as regular Haagan Daz Vanilla.