
Affogato
EVENT: SHHH COOKING SECRETLY
THEME: FEAR NOT THE BITTER
RECIPE: AFFOGATO
Affogato looks like a fancy dessert but is so easy to make and delicious. You’ll probably be left craving for some more especially if you’re a coffee lover like me. Affogato is a classy dessert that can easily be served in individual portions during a party. You just need some vanilla ice cream and strong brewed coffee or espresso.
Affogato – Italian Dessert
More traditionally known as affogato al caffe, it is a coffee based Italian dessert. Italians prefer to enjoy it as a dessert while many places outside Italy label is as a beverage. Hot espresso or strong brewed coffee is poured over scoops of ice cream. This results in the ice cream melting. Enjoy the dessert with a spoon and also sip it through a straw.
Sometimes, a shot of amaretto, kahlua or any other liqueur is added to the dessert. I added a shot of Baileys Irish Cream and tasted so good.
The name affogato comes from the Italian word ‘affogare’ which means to drown. In affogato, the gelato or ice cream is drowned in espresso.
Italy and Dessert
I tasted this dessert for the first time when we went to Italy in 2014. Yes, seems like a long time ago but some of the memories of this trip are so fresh. Hubby and I enjoyed the dessert in Positano. It was pretty hot and we wanted to try out a cool dessert.
Walk any where in Italy and the delicious different flavoured gelato, the creamy dreamy pastries all call your name out! From cannoli, tiramisu, panna cotta to the crispy crunch melt in the mouth sfogliatelle.
Recipes Using Bitter Ingredients
There are quite a number of naturally bitter food ingredients. We all know that cocoa beans or cacao is bitter. Coffee, fenugreek, bitter melon (karela), green tea, kale, etc.
- Karela Nu Shaak – Gujarati style of making stir fried bitter gourd.
- Using bitter arugula I like to make cherry tomato and avocado salad.
- Chocolate Truffles – I like to use dark chocolate to make the truffles and then roll them in unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Did you know eggplant is classified as bitter? I like to use eggplant to make a roasted eggplant dip.
- Fenugreek leaves too are bitter on their own. But when added with other ingredients you hardly taste the bitterness. Whenever I have fresh fenugreek at hand I like to make bajri na dhebra (fenugreek millet flatbread), methi bateta nu shaak (fenugreek potato vegetable).
- My favorites – Coffee and Walnut Cake and Homemade Cold Coffee
A bit about the group:
Every month a new theme is chosen by members. Then the participants are paired up. In turn, they give each other 2 secret ingredients to use in their recipe which is prepared fitting the theme. As soon as their dish is ready, the photo is shared on our Facebook group and other try and guess the secret ingredients. Finally, towards the end of the month the recipe is shared on the group. Furthermore, this way members get to know each other and interact with each other.
This Month’s Theme
For the month of June Seema who blogs at Mildly Indian suggested the theme Fear Not The Bitter. She wanted us to use any natural bitter ingredient to prepare any dish from soups, condiments, main meal to desserts. What I like about Seema’s blog is she introduces her followers to traditional recipes from Kerala and also she uses some rare ingredients like wattle seed. Every time I get guava, just want to bite into it but Seema sometimes uses it to make a delish chutney or to make a creamy Sago Guava Pudding. Seema used bitter gourd to prepare Karela ka bharta. Now that sure looks so tempting. Go on check out the recipe.
My Partner
My partner this month is Meera who blogs at Exotic – N – Easy Cooking. I’m going to try out her Pizza Bun recipe, so easy and looks so yummy. While having a conversation with Meera, I mentioned that I’d love to make something with coffee and she suggested I use coffee and water. Meera, wanted to experiment with green tea, so gave her green tea and sugar. With those ingredients she has made Peach Iced Tea using fresh peaches and green tea. No artificial colors or flavors in her recipe, so please do check out the recipe. Makes a perfect refreshing summer time drink.
Ingredients Required For Affagato Recipe:
Vanilla Ice Cream/ Gelato – use good quality ice cream
Coffee – espresso or any kind you prefer. Since I didn’t have espresso, I made a batch of strong coffee for this recipe.
Water – tap water to brew the coffee
Baileys Irish Cream – or any other liqueur. This is optional.
Topping – I have used dark chocolate. Can use crushed biscotti, amaretti cookies, cacao nibs, cocoa powder, etc.
Most recipes call for 1 shot of espresso or strong brewed coffee. 1 shot is about 30-50ml.
Please Note:
Hubby and I love Spring Valley Coffee. Their blends are so aromatic and flavorful. This is not a paid post.

AFFOGATO RECIPE
Ingredients
- 4 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 100 ml hot water
- 3 tsp ground coffee
- 2 shots Baileys Irish Cream optional
- dark chocolate shaving for topping
Instructions
- Add ground coffee to the hot water. Allow it to brew for 3-5 minutes.
- Add 2 scoops of ice cream into each glass.
- Top it with 1 shot (50 ml) of strong coffee or espresso.
- Top with 1 shot of Baileys Irish Cream.
- Sprinkle chocolate shaving on top and serve immediately as the ice cream begins to melt quickly.
Notes
- Brew the coffee according to how strong you like it.
- Adding liqueur is optional.
Pin For Later:
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
41 Comments
Preeti Shridhar
July 5, 2021 at 12:51 pm
Mayuri , I am so fascinated by this exotic sounding but simple and easy to make dessert. I am sure Bailey’s Irish Cream would take it to next level. Would make it when my son is home….more people to enjoy it 😊. Will let you know then.
mayurisjikoni
July 5, 2021 at 9:08 pm
Thank you so much Preeti. With Baileys Irish cream it tastes really good. I’ve even tried with amaretto too.
Meera Girdhar
July 5, 2021 at 8:29 pm
Mayuri I am a fan , a big fan of coffee and Irish coffee is in my bucket list. But this Affogato dessert looks so tempting that just now I ordered Vanilla ice cream so this weekend special is Affogato at my place. Keep sharing
mayurisjikoni
July 5, 2021 at 9:04 pm
Thank you so much Meera. Let me know how it turned out for you.
The Girl Next Door
July 7, 2021 at 9:36 pm
I had the opportunity to try out Affogato very recently, and absolutely loved it! Your version with Bailey’s Irish Cream sounds so very delightful. Would love to try it out some time.
mayurisjikoni
July 21, 2021 at 9:45 pm
Thank you so much Priya. If you love Bailey’s Irish cream then am sure you’ll like this version.
Seema Sriram
July 7, 2021 at 1:08 am
Affogato is the perfect treat and your simply looks fabulous. What coffee powder do you use? i will love to try this.
mayurisjikoni
July 8, 2021 at 9:13 pm
Seema thank you so much, usually I buy Kenyan medium roast coffee either the beans and grind it at home or medium grind. We are lucky to get some really good coffee here in Kenya. You can use espresso too.
Shobha Keshwani
July 7, 2021 at 2:44 am
I am totally in love with this Italian dessert. I am not an ice cream lover but I am sure this way with hot coffee I will love it. The addition of liquer adds to the flavours. In Brazilian Cuisine also we have a similar dessert. Papaya puree blended with vanilla icecream and a special liquer is added.
mayurisjikoni
July 8, 2021 at 9:10 pm
Thank you so much Shobha and interesting to learn about a papaya dessert from Brazil. Will check out the recipe.
Swati
July 9, 2021 at 9:15 pm
I love affogato and have had it several times at the cafes here.. years back when Barista opened in India me and my cousin visited that often and it was always on the menu we ordered… Your post took me back to time.. though I never made it at home, don’t know why… and now I am planning to make it soon for my family this weekend.. Thanks for all the tips and pointers and different combinations that we can use.. as you rightly said such an elegant dessert!!
mayurisjikoni
July 10, 2021 at 11:03 am
Thank you so much Swati. Enjoy the dessert when you make it for your family.
Renu
July 10, 2021 at 11:47 pm
I have never tried Bailey’s Irish cream until this year, when I got one during Easter and made an Ice Cream from it. Loved it completely and I can only imagine this affogato will taste so nice with the addition of this. I loved this super simple and quick dessert. Perfect for some surprise treats or guests.
mayurisjikoni
July 16, 2021 at 2:23 pm
Try the affogato with the Bailey’s Irish cream. Tastes so good. I’m a big fan of it.
Archana
July 11, 2021 at 2:59 pm
Ahh! Affogato! The ultimate pleasure of icecream and coffee. Will love this yum and delicious dessert anyday. I am sure the Irish bailey took it to the next level.
Its raining here and we can definitely make some the pleasure of affogato during monsoons is totally different. Thanks Mayuri will make it soon.
mayurisjikoni
July 21, 2021 at 9:44 pm
Archana the Bailey’s Irish cream definitely took it to the next level 🙂 We love it, go on try the recipe out.
Sujata Roy
July 14, 2021 at 4:33 am
I love coffee and chocolate both. And with icecream this Italian dessert definitely taste heavenly. You always come out with a new recipe. Totally loved it and can’t wait to try.
mayurisjikoni
July 16, 2021 at 2:15 pm
Thank you so much Sujata, please go ahead and try it.
Poonam Bachhav
July 15, 2021 at 8:03 pm
Affogato, as you rightly mentioned sounds fancy but the recipe sounds super easy. Can imagine how delectable the combo.of vanilla flavored icecream must have been with strong brewed coffee.
mayurisjikoni
July 16, 2021 at 2:14 pm
Thank you Poonam, try it, it is so delicious.
Rafeeda – The Big Sweet Tooth
July 15, 2021 at 9:20 pm
I recently made the Affogato and loved how simple this dessert is! Cold ice cream and hot coffee with a sprinkling of something extra like grated chocolate, is just the apt treat to have on a hot afternoon. Totally loving your clicks…
mayurisjikoni
July 16, 2021 at 2:14 pm
Thank you so much Rafeeda for trying out the recipe. Recently, made it again with melted chocolate and it tasted sooo good.
Preethicuisine
July 17, 2021 at 4:18 pm
Affogato is a hot Favourite at my place since I first tried it. I would like to try your version with Bailey’s Irish cream. One of best Italian desserts . So beautifully presented .
mayurisjikoni
July 21, 2021 at 9:43 pm
Thank you so much Preethi. Try it with Bailey’s Irish cream….it is delicious.
Vasusvegkitchen
July 17, 2021 at 4:52 pm
Affogato sounds very interesting, I felt it as very tough to prepare. But as you said it’s very to prepare and surely it will disappear in jiffy. Love to learn many new recipes from you, this Italian dessert looks amazing. Wanna grab one portion from screen, loved it a lot.
mayurisjikoni
July 21, 2021 at 9:41 pm
Thank you so much Aruna. Go ahead and try this dessert out. Can’t wait to try it with our typical South Indian Kapi.
Priya vj
July 17, 2021 at 7:01 pm
The name of the dessert sounds complicated but the recipe is a breeze . Just like you am also a coffee lover and here I go to place an order for family pack vanillai ice cream
mayurisjikoni
July 21, 2021 at 9:40 pm
Priya thanks, though the name is complicated the dessert is so simple. Go on try it out.
Jayashree T.Rao
July 18, 2021 at 2:23 pm
Affogato’s been on my list and I think I must make it now. It looks so easy and makes a good treat. Loved it.
mayurisjikoni
July 20, 2021 at 3:45 am
It definitely is a wonderful treat Jayashree, make it for your family.
Anu
July 19, 2021 at 8:33 am
Hot coffee with ice cream sounds very interesting. Also, the chocolate shavings on top of it make it look so delicious. Definitely going to try it.
mayurisjikoni
July 20, 2021 at 3:41 am
Thank you so much Anu, it is the easiest dessert to make.
Narmadha
July 21, 2021 at 2:32 am
Affogato has all my favorites like coffee, ice cream, cream, and loads of chocolate. Perfect treat for chocolate lovers like me. Wish to grab it right away.
mayurisjikoni
July 21, 2021 at 3:42 am
Thanks Narmadha.
Sasmita Sahoo
July 25, 2021 at 6:59 am
Ahaaaa love this classy dessert ‘Affogato’ . Seems fancy but the whole process of preparation sounds super easy. I wish I could taste this delectable glass.
Lovely combo of vanilla-flavored ice cream with strong brewed coffee here !!!!!
mayurisjikoni
July 25, 2021 at 2:45 pm
Thanks Sasmita…try the recipe.
Azlin Bloor
August 15, 2021 at 4:11 pm
I adore affogato, Mayuri, and have such fond memories of my first time tasting it in Florence way back in the 90s. Being a huge fan of Bailey,s I know I would totally love this version!
mayurisjikoni
August 15, 2021 at 7:22 pm
Thank you so much Azlin. Try it am sure you’ll love it. I’ve had one with limoncello in Italy.
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