Affogato... a quick Italian dessert fix!

Photo by Rustic Kitchen

As the summer draws closer and our departure day for Italia pushes further down the calendar year, we're looking for ways to still get a taste of "la dolce vita" while we're sitting in our apartment stateside. 

One of the easiest desserts for both a taste of Italy and a quick sweet fix is an Affogato. The word affogato means "drowned" so think of it as gelato (or ice cream) drowned in the deliciousness of espresso! (Note the lack of an 'x' in espresso, per favore ;) ) And whatever toppings you want to toss on top. 

This is an incredibly easy recipe...like, 2 ingredient easy and I-almost-feel embarrassed-typing-it-out easy. You can of course modify it to fit your tastes or customize it just for fun but it's a great one to have in your back pocket. While we think it's tasty just with gelato and espresso, it could be fun to make an "Affogato Building Station" for a summer bbq party!

Affogato

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Ingredients:

• Freshly brewed Espresso, about a shot per person. Can be decaf, of course! Or strongly brewed coffee if that's easier.
• Vanilla gelato or ice cream (tiramisu or hazelnut flavors are also VERY tasty with this)
• Optional ingredients: a splash of Bailey's liqueur or other nut flavored liqueurs, chopped toasted hazelnuts, shaved chocolate, fresh whipped cream, caramel or chocolate syrup. 

Recipe:

1. Brew espresso or strong coffee
2. While the espresso is brewing, scoop 1-2 scoops of *very cold* gelato into short glasses. Stemless wine glasses are a great option. 
3. When the espresso is ready, pour about 1-2 shots (or ounces) of espresso over the gelato in the glass. This will melt the gelato and make a sweetened cream that's delicious! 
4. Top with any other toppings, grab a spoon and enjoy! 

​See? We told you it was crazy easy! Enjoy, amici!