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Looking for a super simple dessert for your next dinner party? You can never go wrong with and Affogato. And if you love an after dinner coffee with dessert, an affogato kills two birds with one stone. An affogato is elegant yet extremely low maintenance dessert that is sure to be a great night cap to any dinner. And best part is, it just takes a couple minutes to make!
Traditional affogatos are made with fresh brewed espresso and a couple scoops of gelato or icecream. Our twist on a traditional affogato has espresso spiced with cardamom and vanilla bean to add a bit of sweet, citrusy flavor to this ice cream dessert. For this cardamom vanilla bean affogato has a couple fresh brewed espresso shot infused with cardamom and vanilla bean delicately poured over scoops of creamy vanilla bean ice cream.
Don’t have an espresso machine? No worries! We’ll tell you how you can make an affogato at home without a fancy machine to achieve the same great taste.
Looking for more easy desserts? Check out these!
Loaded Peanut Butter Oreo No-Churn Ice Cream
New York Style Banana Pudding (Magnolia Bakery Recipe)
The Best Lucky Charms Rice Krispie Cereal Treats
Mango Pineapple Cobbler with Biscuit Crumble
Cardamom Vanilla Bean Affogato
Tips for making an Affogato
Affogatos are very low maintenance dessert option, but the biggest hurdle is to make sure the ice cream doesn’t completely melt the ice cream before it makes it to the table. If you’re prepping for a group of 8+ or a small group of 3 or 4. These steps will come in handy to make sure your ice cream is still mostly intact when you serve.
- Place serving glasses/mugs in freezer to get extra cold. If the ice cream is being scooped into a cold glass vs a room temp glass, it will help to slow the melting of your ice cream scoops before serving.
- Cool espresso shots after making. You can portion espresso shots into espresso cups or shot glasses. After you make the espresso shots in shot glasses and let them cool at room temperature for 5 minutes.
- Scoop ice cream before adding espresso. Some recipes call to brew espresso over the ice cream, which can instantly melt the ice cream. If you don’t want your ice cream to turn into cream instantly, we recommend scooping ice cream out before pouring espresso shots over top.
- Have toppings readily available. Set out chocolate shavings, whipped cream, nuts for topping so they you have quick access to top each affogato.
At-home espresso makers
Smeg Espresso Machine – We have had this machine for almost ten years and it has to be one of our all time favorites. It is a manual espresso machine that super simple to use. It also is smaller in size and is great if you lack counter space or don’t want a bulky machine. Also, the retro look is so adorable!
Breville Barista Touch – This machine has more bells and whistles and is a higher price point. But it makes a great cup of espresso. One thing that we like about this machine is that the grinder is attached. It is also semi automatic, making it super easy to make a variety of drinks – like cappuccinos, lattes, americanos.
Nespresso Vertuo Next – If you’re all about speed and convenience, a machine that takes espresso pods may be the option for you.
Stovetop espresso machine – Don’t want to spend a lot of money on an espresso machine? A stovetop espresso machine makes a delicious espresso and at fraction of the cost.
Do I have to have an espresso machine to make an affogato?
No! You can easily make an affogato with strongly brewed coffee. The strength of the coffee is the important thing to maintain so that rich coffee flavor comes through when you pour it over the ice cream.
You can also use a stovetop espresso maker for a fraction of the price of an espresso machine.
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Cardamom Vanilla Bean Affogato
Description
Fresh brewed espresso shot infused with cardamom and vanilla bean delicately poured over scoops of creamy vanilla bean ice cream.
Ingredients
- 2 scoops vanilla bean ice cream or gelato
- 2 shots of espresso
- 1 dash cardamom
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste/vanilla extract
- Dark chocolate shavings (for topping)
Instructions
- Place serving cup in freezer to get it very cold. This will help to slow the melting of the ice cream after you scoop.
- Add cardamom and vanilla to bottom of espresso cup. Make your espresso shot. Let it set to cool for 3-5 minutes.
- Scoop two ice cream scoops into a chilled cup. Pour cardamom espresso over ice cream scoops.
- Top with chocolate shavings. And enjoy!
Notes
More toppings to try: Slivered almonds, chopped hazelnuts, espresso powder, cardamom, whipped cream.
