Amaretto Affogato, dark roasted espresso shots running down a glass of ice cream/gelato until the ice cream has melted into the hot coffee. Topped off with a dash of Amaretto Di Saronno liqueur. Feel free to add these optional ingredients like chocolate shavings, nuts and/or biscotti, this is AMARETTO AFFOGATO!
There is no other way to describe this after dinner Italian dessert!
Looking for something chilled, with ice and not ice cream? Try this Negroni Cocktail.
Classic Affogato Gelato with Amaretto Di Saronno
This amaretto affogato is long over-due on this blog! We are avid Italian liqueur, digestivo lovers! I am not big on dessert unless it's simple so this affogato is a great dessert option!
My family loves it and often make it after any random meal. Ice cream and hot espresso melting into this luxurious hot and cold easy dessert.
There is a short list of Italian liqueurs that I shared in this Mascarpone Cheese Dip recipe incase you would like to take a look.
A quick introduction for anyone who wants to know;
What Is Amaretto Affogato?
Affogato, traditionally known as "affogato al caffè", is an Italian coffee-based dessert. It's ice-cream (usually vanilla) that is topped off (or 'drowned') with a shot of hot espresso.
When Is Affogato Served?
After dinner, can you believe it? It's an after-dinner coffee. When you are full but have space for an easy creamy and fabulous dessert, that's affogato time 🙂 Next time you feel like a boozy amaretto, make this for your after-dinner drink or even late afternoon!
Like I said when I shared a post on Pasta Tuna and Lemon (Pasta con Tonno e Limone)
"you have to love the Italians for making food that speaks to you in multiple dialects it tastes that good 🙂
Slight Recap ... Amaretto Affogato is an after dinner dessert with an Italian digestive or digestivo. This is an alcoholic drink served after dinner.
Amaretto is the ltalian liqueur and 'Affogato' is the Italian word for "drowned" (drowned in coffee).
Amaretto Affogato Ingredients
The ameretto (liqueur) is completely optional because traditionally an affogato is ice cream or gelato and a shot of hot espresso. However, adding Italian liqueurs is very popular, and you can use Frangelico or another good one is Kahlúa which is a brand of coffee liqueur. Our all time favorite for amaretto affogato is Amaretto di Saronno.
Espresso: One shot of espresso per cup since espresso is a very strong coffee. You can make espresso the old fashioned way with the little espresso pot as in the image below. Or make it with the machine, it doesnt matter, just remember, the better the beans the better the coffee.
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Ice cream or Gelato: Vanilla gelato is the classic choice but feel free to use any ice cream. The reason vanilla gelato is the ice cream of choice is because it the perfect balance with the coffee, we love a bit of chocolate in the ice cream with affogato. You can find gelato (Italian ice cream) in your local stores and although everyone says they taste the same, they haven't tasted gelato in Italy 🙂
Use a scoop of vanilla ice cream per shot of espresso for measurements however, we don't measure affogato, some want more ice cream, others don't want the liqueur so go with it.
Liqueur: For a superb and quick dessert you can add a shot of amaretto liqueur (any shot of liqueur will do) to your affogato! Disaranno is a type of amaretto with an almond taste although it does not actually contain almonds. Quite often used is also Frangelico (more of a hazelnut) and my absolute favorite for a perfect dessert. Don't feel tied to these, there are many options that pair well with coffee.
Optional: Dark chocolate and biscotti.
How To Make Amaretto Affogato
Brew hot espresso coffee with any coffee machine or old fashioned espresso maker (still my husbands favorite way on the weekends to have coffee. The older the pot, the better the coffee).
- First pour the amaretto into the glass, a shot or 2 teaspoons in quantity. (feel free to use coffee cups it just looks more appetizing in a glass).
- Add the ice cream into the glass over the amaretto
- This is optional but just to for 'extra measure' add some grated chocolate between the layers.
- Pour hot espresso over the ice cream.
- Top it off with more chocolate bits, coco powder, chocolate sauce and/or biscotti (they are so addictive!)
- Enjoy this next level Italian coffee ice cream!
If not using alcohol, skip that step and move on with the rest of the ingredients
Recipe Notes
You can by all means, serve everything in it's own glass or on a tray and let everyone help themselves as and when they are ready. This way, they can get their espresso hot and watch it melt beautifully into the ice cream and enjoy this after-dinner treat!
What Does Amaro Mean?
Just a note of interest, incase you've heard the word "amaro"
The term amaro, which is Italian for “bitter,” refers to a variety of liqueurs that are savoury and bitter. After dinner as a digestif, it’s customary to drink an amaro.
Italian Inspired Recipes
- Negroni Cocktail
- Vino Cotto And Strawberries
- Mascarpone Cheese Dip
- Italian Caprese Bruschetta
- Italian Caprese Salad (Insalata Caprese)
- Italian Antipasti
- Bacon Tomato Pasta (Zio Michele)
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Amaretto Affogato
Equipment
- Espresso appliance, pot or machine
- glasses
- teaspoons
Ingredients
- 2 shots espresso, a single shot per glass
- 2 scoops gelato or ice cream, 2 scoops per glass (more or less)
- 2 tsps Disaronno liqueur, per glass or a small shot glass
Optional
- Italian biscotti
- chocolate shavings
Instructions
- Prepare to make the espresso coffee so to that it's ready to pour in the last step.
- Pour the Amaretto Disaronno into the glasses
- Scoop the ice-cream and place into the glass over the amaretto. You can also scoop the ice cream out into balls and leave it in the freezer until needed. This helps not strugging to scoop it when you need to serve.2 scoops gelato or ice cream, 2 scoops per glass (more or less)
- Add a layer of chocolate shavings, if using.Italian biscotti
- Add another layer of ice cream to cover the chocolate shavings or if not using chocolate move onto pouring the espresso.2 tsps Disaronno liqueur, per glass or a small shot glass
- Finish off by pouring hot espresso over and serve.2 shots espresso, a single shot per glass, chocolate shavings
- Optional, add chocolate shavings & biscotti. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can use a double shot of espresso per glass if you prefer.
- Use any choice of liqueur or take a look at this list of Italian liqueurs.
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