Affogato

This affogato recipe proves that dessert doesn’t need to be complicated to feel special. Just espresso and vanilla gelato, and you’ve got a treat that feels sophisticated but takes zero effort.

This classic Italian dessert, called caffè affogato (which means “drowned coffee”), couldn’t be simpler. Just two ingredients (or three if you add a splash of liqueur, which I highly recommend) come together to make something much better than the sum of their parts. Creamy vanilla gelato or ice cream topped with a hot shot of espresso—it’s the perfect after-dinner treat when you want something fancy-ish but don’t want to lift a finger.

• ½ cup (1 to 2 scoops) high-quality vanilla gelato or ice cream
• 1 shot (1.5 oz or 2 tablespoons) hot espresso or very strong brewed coffee

• Shaved chocolate
• Splash (about 1 teaspoon) of liqueur, like amaretto, Frangelico, or Kahlúa
• Biscotti