Gluten-Free Affogato
By the Gluten Free Recipes team ·
A scoop of cold vanilla gelato drowned in a shot of hot espresso. The contrast of temperatures and the bittersweet coffee soaking into the ice cream is the entire dish — no baking required. Done in under five minutes.
At a glance: This easy desserts recipe yields 1 servings in about 5 minutes (3 min prep, 2 min cook). It uses 3 ingredients — including vanilla gelato or gluten-free ice cream, freshly brewed espresso, amaretto liqueur — and walks through 4 steps. Updated . Browse more desserts recipes or return to all gluten-free recipes.
Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Affogato: When preparing this desserts recipe, check your gelato brand for any "made on shared equipment with wheat" advisory. Espresso and coffee are naturally gluten-free In a shared kitchen, avoid porous materials — wooden spoons, wooden cutting boards, and scratched non-stick pans can harbor gluten proteins even after washing. Prefer glass, metal, or silicone tools.
Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Affogato: Gelato and ice cream are naturally gluten-free but can contain gluten from add-ins (cookie pieces, cones) or shared equipment. Check labels. Haagen-Dazs vanilla, Talenti, and most plain gelatos are certified safe.
Ingredients
- 2 scoops vanilla gelato or gluten-free ice cream
- 1–2 oz freshly brewed espresso
- 1 tbsp amaretto liqueur
Instructions
- 1
Pull a single or double shot of espresso (1–2 oz) and keep it hot.
- 2
Scoop two balls of vanilla gelato into a chilled glass or small bowl.
- 3
Pour the hot espresso directly over the gelato at the table. Add amaretto if using.
- 4
Serve immediately — the gelato should begin melting into the espresso as you eat.
Nutrition (per serving)
Tips & Notes
- Use the best vanilla gelato you can find — the ice cream is 90% of the flavour.
- A wide, shallow glass shows off the melt effect better than a tall cup.
- Decaf espresso works perfectly if caffeine is a concern.
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