Treat yourself to a delicious Salted Caramel Affogato! This classic Italian dessert is super easy to make with espresso and ice cream, and it's absolutely irresistible. The perfect way to finish a memorable meal!
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Ginnie's Take
Have you ever tried affogato? The word Affogato is Italian for "drowned," and the recipe pairs two of my after dinner favorites into one lovely dessert: a scoop of ice cream drowned in a shot of hot espresso. This tasty Caramel Affogato is a fun twist on the traditional recipe. A cross between a drink and dessert, this flavored Affogato is sweet, creamy, and delicious. You won't be able to resist the decadent salted caramel flavor, which truly puts this classic dessert over the top!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make - First and foremost, this famous Italian dessert is simple to prepare with just a few ingredients.
- Unforgettable Flavor - If you enjoy coffee flavored treats, you're going to love this tasty dessert! This is a recipe of wonderful contrasts: hot and cold temperatures, salty and sweet caramel, and strong espresso paired with sweet ice cream. So delish!
- Perfect Dessert After a Big Meal - Serve this simple dessert after any meal! It will satisfy your sweet tooth without being too heavy, and the espresso is the perfect pick me up.
Jump to:
Ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients! Here's what you'll need:
- Coffee - Traditionally, this dessert is prepared with espresso, although you can use strong coffee if you don't have an espresso machine.
- Ice Cream - This recipe calls for vanilla ice cream (or gelato), although you could experiment with different flavors.
- Syrup - You'll add salted caramel syrup to the espresso before pouring it over the ice cream.
- Salt - The finishing touch is a pinch of sea salt. I recommend using Maldon Sea Salt Flakes.
You'll Also Need
You will need something to brew the espresso or strong coffee, such as an espresso machine or moka pot. I love my coffee maker, and it has a specialty brew feature that works perfectly for this recipe! You'll also need an ice cream scoop and a small dish (or mug) for serving the dessert.
How to Make Caramel Affogato
This delicious dessert drink could not be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below with measurements, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Make espresso. Start by preparing the espresso or brewing your coffee.
- Stir in syrup. Mix the salted caramel syrup into the hot espresso.
- Scoop the ice cream. Add a large scoop of ice cream to a mug or small dish.
- Top with espresso + salt. Pour the caramel-flavored espresso over the ice cream, then top with a pinch of sea salt.
Serve your delicious Salted Caramel Affogato as soon as it's ready, then enjoy! You won't be able to resist its delightful sweet - salty flavor.
Variations
This flavored Affogato is fun to customize with different ingredients! Here are a few ingredients to try:
- Ice Cream - Experiment with different ice cream flavors, like chocolate
- Syrup - Swap out the salted caramel syrup for hazelnut or almond syrup, or try this homemade cinnamon brown sugar syrup.
- Boozy - Add a shot of Bailey's, Amaretto, Kahlua, or another liqueur.
- Decaf - Can't handle caffeine after a certain hour? Feel free to make this recipe with decaf instead.
- Vegan - To make this recipe vegan + dairy free, use a plant based ice cream and vegan syrup.
- Topping - Instead of salt, top the dessert with shaved chocolate or chocolate covered coffee beans.
Related Recipes
Looking for more salted caramel treats? Make sure to check out my Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, Salted Caramel Sauce, Salted Caramel Pretzel Cookies, and Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake Parfait recipes next! I've got plenty of other coffee drinks to temp you, too:
- This Australian Iced Coffee also pairs coffee and ice cream together!
- Need an afternoon pick me up? You'll love this delish Dirty Chai Latte.
- Learn How to Make the Perfect Iced Coffee!
- Treat yourself to a classic Irish Coffee.
- Impress yourself by whipping up this trendy Dalgona Coffee!
- Indulge in this decadent Hot Chocolate Coffee.
Salted Caramel Affogato
Ingredients
- 1 double shot espresso (or ¼ cup strong coffee)
- 1 tablespoon salted caramel syrup
- 1 large scoop vanilla ice cream
- pinch Maldon sea salt flakes (or other flaky sea salt)
Instructions
- Make espresso, then stir in salted caramel syrup.
- Add ice cream to a separate mug or small serving dish.
- Pour flavored coffee over ice cream.
- Top with a pinch of sea salt.
- Serve immediately with a spoon. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
