Affogato for the Espresso Aficionado
With temperatures rising and spring rain steadily giving way to the dog days of summer, it’s the perfect time to experiment with cold coffee treats. Today, we’re talking affogato, a traditional Italian dessert, with countless possibilities.
Effectively, an affogato is a shot of espresso poured over gelato (ice cream). You can keep it simple, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and your favorite espresso, or shake things up a bit with an exotic flavor -- think pistachio, caramel swirl, chocolate, mint, etc. This treat is great for spring and summertime entertaining. Instead of an ice-cream or coffee bar, why not give guests the chance to enjoy the best of both worlds? If you’re looking for an affogato that’s a bit out of the ordinary and will impress, consider giving this recipe a try:
Ingredients:
Makes 6 Servings- 3/4 cup heavy cream, chilled
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1 pint coffee-flavored ice cream
- 1 pint vanilla ice cream
- 9 savoiardi or ladyfingers, crumbled
- 10 ounces of fresh espresso
- 1 piece of bittersweet chocolate, grated
Instructions:
Combine the cream and sugar. Beat the mixture until it holds stiff. Portion the vanilla and coffee ice cream into six glasses and sprinkle with the ladyfinger crumbs. Pour espresso over the ice cream and crumbs. Top with cream and grated chocolate.