Affogato – coffee, dessert and your after dinner drink, all rolled into one. This is what you have when you’re “too full for dessert”! Just pour espresso coffee over vanilla gelato or ice cream, enjoy the melty swirls and dig in. The Italians are genius. Affogato When was your last affogato? It’s my go-to dessert... Get the Recipe
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]]>Affogato – coffee, dessert and your after dinner drink, all rolled into one. This is what you have when you’re “too full for dessert”! Just pour espresso coffee over vanilla gelato or ice cream, enjoy the melty swirls and dig in. The Italians are genius.
Affogato
When was your last affogato? It’s my go-to dessert at restaurants. Even if I claim I’m too full, affogato doesn’t count as it’s practically liquid, right? It’s like having a glass of water! (Yes, really, that’s how my mind works – don’t judge me!😂)
For those new to affogato, it’s a traditional Italian coffee-dessert where hot espresso is poured over gelato or ice cream, with the option of adding a splash of liquor. It’s coffee, dessert, and an after-dinner drink, all rolled into one. The contrast of hot, bitter coffee with cold, creamy ice cream is utter perfection. And the fact that it’s so simple with a bonus DIY fun factor? Brilliant!
Ingredients in Affogato
All you need for affogato is a shot of hot espresso (coffee), ice cream or gelato and optional half a shot of liquor (Frangelico, amaretto, rum). A little more information on each of these below!
Espresso – This is a small concentrated shot of hot coffee. The standard size for a shot of espresso is 30 ml (1 ounce).
It goes without saying that the better your coffee, the better your affogato!
Vanilla gelato or ice cream – Traditionally gelato though ice cream is just as good, in my opinion! More important is the flavour. Vanilla is the classic choice because it pairs so well with coffee. Feel free to experiment!
How much ice cream – Use one large(ish) or two small(ish) scoops for one shot of coffee, for a good balance of the two. Though if using liquor, I lean towards two medium scoops, as pictured.
Liquor (optional) – To roll your after dinner drink into this all-in-one dessert, add half a shot of liquor! Amaretto (almond flavour) and frangelico (hazelnut) are probably the most common. Rum, sambuca and Kahlua are also standard offerings at Italian restaurants, and multiple readers suggested orange liqueurs (such as Grand Marnier and Cointreau). Though really, you can add anything you think/know goes well with coffee!
PS A shot of liquor is 30 ml / 1 ounce so half a shot is 15 ml / 0.5 ounce which is 1 tablespoon. Though nobody will hold you back from dialling the quantity up.
Optional extras
The traditional affogato is nothing more than espresso, gelato and optional liquor. However, even in restaurants these days there’s all sorts of optional extras. So adapt to your taste and make affogato your own! Here are some suggestions:
Chocolate grated or shaved on the ice cream (I did this)
Biscotti for dunking (I also did this!) – or Italian Almonds cookies (thank you to the reader who suggested this!)
Whipped cream
Melted chocolate – I’d drizzle across the ice cream
Crushed or chopped nuts – pistachio and hazelnuts would be on theme here
I know I’m missing a stack of other ideas – drop suggestions in the comments below so I can come back and add to the list!
How to make affogato
I need more recipes with so few steps!
Brew hot espresso using your coffee making appliance of choice. That’s 30 ml/1 ounce for a single shot.
Put a scoop or two of ice cream in a glass.
Pour over hot coffee. Enjoy watching the ice cream swirls melting into the hot coffee!
If using liquor, pour that over next. Eat!
PS I used a small beaker to do the pour shot so I could do a neat pour for the photos. I don’t use a beaker in real life!
Serving – for DIY pour
From a practical perspective, as restaurants do, serve the glass with just the ice cream in it and the espresso on the side. So the eater can pour then dig straight into the affogato before the ice cream fully melts.
Oh, and a side of biscotti for dunking wouldn’t go astray either. Recipe coming up soon. Never been fully happy with my biscotti attempts! Need to put some time into it, and it’s currently on my radar.
Share your affogato twists! Do you like yours straight up, classic, just coffee and vanilla gelato? Or are you all about the toppings and getting creative with ice cream flavours?? Don’t let anyone tell you how you should or shouldn’t take your affogato – make it your own! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Affogato
Ingredients
- 1 large or 2 small(ish) scoops vanilla gelato or ice cream (Note 1)
- 1 shot (30 ml/1 oz) hot espresso coffee (short black) – Note 2
- 1 tbsp frangelico, amaretto or other liquor (optional) – Note 3
Instructions
- Put ice cream in glass suitable for affogato eating (Note 4).
- Place shot of espresso and liquor (if using) on the side.
- Pour the hot espresso then liquor over the ice cream. Enjoy swirls of melty ice cream blending into the coffee. Dig in immediately!
Notes
- Biscotti (excellent for dunking)
- Chocolate shavings – use microplane or potato peeler
- Whipped cream
- Melted chocolate – on ice cream
- Nuts – roughly chopped pistacchio and hazelnuts on theme
Nutrition
Life of Dozer
Going to town on ice cream garnished with a liver treat and doggie friendly sprinkles (pinched off another doggie treat!).
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Cosmopolitan Cocktails are a classic, elegant vodka cocktail made famous by the ladies of Sex and the City! Not to sweet, not too tart, super quick to make made with cranberry juice, lime juice, vodka and cointreau. Serve this for elegant pre dinner drinks, to ring in the New Year or an evening in with the... Get the Recipe
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]]>Cosmopolitan Cocktails are a classic, elegant vodka cocktail made famous by the ladies of Sex and the City! Not to sweet, not too tart, super quick to make made with cranberry juice, lime juice, vodka and cointreau.
Serve this for elegant pre dinner drinks, to ring in the New Year or an evening in with the girls!
Cosmopolitan Cocktails
I love Cosmos for how easy they are to drink – and how I always feel like I’m channeling the New-York-Gal within as I daintily sip away!
Truthfully though, I live in the Northern Beach of Sydney. I spend my days in flip flops, denim shorts and comfortable tees, a whirlwind of activity between the kitchen, shooting area and my computer.
About as far from NYC-like as you can get.
But with a glass of Cosmo in my hand? I feel a little bit closer to the glitz and glam of NYC! 😂
What do cosmos taste like?
Cosmos are sweet with a touch of tang from lime. They taste of cranberry juice with orange (from the Cointreau), and though there’s a considerably slug of alcohol in it with equal parts alcohol to non alcohol, you can’t taste it very much. They are dangerously drinkable!
What you need for Cosmos
Here’s what you need:
Cranberry juice, SWEETENED – be sure not to use unsweetened cranberry juice, it’s very tart…. too tart! You need the sweet cranberry juice to get the right balance of sweet. Accidentally got unsweetened? Save it – make a simple syrup with equal parts sugar and hot water to dissolve, cool, then add as needed.;
Vodka – plain, unflavoured vodka. Use mid shelf because there’s quite a lot of vodka in Cosmos. Top shelf if your budget stretches that far….but I typically serve top shelf vodka straight.
Cointreau – this is a clear orange flavoured liquor called triple sec. Cointreau is a brand of triple sec, the best, in my opinion (certainly the most well known).
Lime juice – fresh!
With 3 full shots of alcohol, Cosmos are pretty potent!!
How to make Cosmopolitan Cocktails
Just pour everything into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake well to chill, then strain into a martini glass.
The classic garnish is orange peel. The extra little fragrance you get as you drink the Cosmopolitan drives home the orange flavour and is really lovely!
When to serve Cosmopolitan Cocktails
Cosmos are one of those cocktails that are quite elegant so they’re ideal to serve at dinner parties as a pre dinner drink. Plus, it’s a pretty short drink (as opposed to large volume tall drinks like Tequila Sunrises) so you don’t fill up on cocktails before dinner.
And while I say they’re a classy drink, I also think of Cosmos as fun too! Think – Girls’ Nights Out (well, nights IN!), Bachelorette Parties, Christmas (on theme colour!), Thanksgiving, and other holiday occasions!
What to serve with Cosmos
I think Cosmos are the sort of cocktail that are ideal to serve with finger food. Try Crostinis with your choice of toppings, Mini Quiche or Smoked Salmon Appetizer Bites, or have a browse through all my Party Foods.
Cosmopolitan Cocktails would also pair beautifully with a homemade Gravlax. It’s easy – impressive! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Cosmopolitan Cocktails
Ingredients
- 60ml/ 2 oz Vodka (Note 1)
- 30ml/ 1 oz Cointreu
- 90ml/ 3 oz cranberry juice , sweet (not unsweetened, Note 2)
- 2 tsp lime juice , fresh
- Ice
- Orange peel , optional garnish
Instructions
- Fill cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add vodka, cointreau, cranberry juice and lime. Shake vigorously 10 times.
- Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with orange peel.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published October 2019. Writing refreshed in December 2021. No change to my Cosmos!
Life of Dozer
“Play with me, play with me!!” (A daily vision…)
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Celebration Fruit Punch recipe is the cocktail you make for celebratory and holiday gatherings like Christmas, parties, Easter, Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day. It’s sparkling, it’s colourful, it’s refreshing rather than overly sweet, and it’s as boozy as you want it to be – or non alcoholic! It’s great for parties because it’s a big batch... Get the Recipe
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]]>Celebration Fruit Punch recipe is the cocktail you make for celebratory and holiday gatherings like Christmas, parties, Easter, Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day. It’s sparkling, it’s colourful, it’s refreshing rather than overly sweet, and it’s as boozy as you want it to be – or non alcoholic!
It’s great for parties because it’s a big batch help-yourself drink – unlike most cocktails which need to be made one by one!
Celebration Fruit Punch!
I’ve been mocked for naming this a “Celebration” Fruit Punch – but try telling me this doesn’t look bright, cheerful and celebratory!! So much more than just any old fruit punch, right?? 😉
Punch is nothing more than a drink made with a mix of fruit juice. There are no rules about what goes in it, and it comes in all sorts of colours ranging from orange to yellow, pink and even clear ones.
This one is bright red – name appropriate, feel!!
What goes in Fruit Punch
Here’s what goes into this Celebration Fruit Punch. It’s the cranberry juice that gives it that beautiful bright red colour!
Alcohol is 100% optional. It’s just as fabulous with and without. In fact, I make punch so you can’t taste the alcohol – so in theory, there’s not any difference in flavour!
You’ll love how this fruit punch has a nice sparkling fizz – and that it’s more refreshing than sweet!
And here’s the fruit I put in it – for colour, dramatic presentation and all round punch drinking experience!
How to make Fruit Punch
Just pour it all in and give it a gentle mix. Ice is optional – go easy on it, because if it’s going to be sitting out for a while, you don’t want the ice to dilute the flavour of the punch.
Try freezing the fruit instead! This will keep the punch cold without diluting the flavour.
Punch serving dish
Traditionally, fruit punch is served in punch bowls which are nothing more than giant bowls with a matching ladle for serving.
I do not have such a bowl. I cannot justify the storage space when there are alternative serving vehicles that serve just as good a purpose – and a duel purpose at that! Such as the pictured trifle bowl. It’s perfect for serving punch!
I’ve also used glass vases in the past and I’ve attended a party where it was served in a fish bowl!! I laughed so hard there were tears – but it was 100% perfect! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Celebration Fruit Punch!
Ingredients
Fruit Punch
- 4 cups (1 L / 1 qt) cranberry juice or cranberry pomegranate juice , chilled (NOT light, Note 1)
- 2 cups (500ml) ginger ale , chilled (not ginger beer, Note 2)
- 4 cups (1 L / 1 qt) sparkling apple juice , chilled (non alcoholic, Note 3)
- 1 1/2 cups (375ml) white rum (Bacardi) (can omit)
Add Ins (Mix and Match!)
- 1 orange , halved, sliced then halved again
- 1 lemon , small, sliced into rounds
- 1 cup strawberries , halved or quartered
- 3/4 cup mint leaves
- 1/2 cup raspberries
- Ice , if desired (be mindful of dilution, consider using no-melt ice cube options)
Instructions
- Pour Fruit Punch ingredients into a large jug, punch bowl or, as I did, trifle dish!!
- .Add the fruit in, stir gently (don't agitate too much)
- Serve immediately, using a ladle or mug to scoop and serve. To keep fizz alive for longer, best to make this just prior to serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Life of Dozer
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Stop spending a fortune on Margaritas when you’re out! Bring the party IN this weekend with homemade margaritas! It’s as easy as 1-2-3: 1 part Cointreau, 2 parts lime juice, 3 parts tequila. Shake, pour, sip! Margaritas If, like me, it makes you ill thinking how much you’ve spent on cocktails in your lifetime, it’s... Get the Recipe
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]]>Stop spending a fortune on Margaritas when you’re out! Bring the party IN this weekend with homemade margaritas! It’s as easy as 1-2-3: 1 part Cointreau, 2 parts lime juice, 3 parts tequila. Shake, pour, sip!
Margaritas
If, like me, it makes you ill thinking how much you’ve spent on cocktails in your lifetime, it’s time to get onto the band wagon of making margaritas at home! Ridiculously easy, it’s a party starter that’s fresh and zingy with just enough sweet, and certainly with a good kick of alcohol that’s going to get you buzzing in no time!
What goes in Margaritas
Here’s what you need – it’s easy as 1-2-3:
-
1 part Cointreau (or other triple sec)
-
2 parts lime juice
-
3 parts tequila
(With “parts” being anything from a shot glass, a tablespoon, a mug or a bottle – just use the same measuring vehicle for each ingredient!)
No sugar! Cointreau is sweet enough as it is – and proper margaritas are meant to be fresh and zingy, not crazy sweet!
What’s Triple Sec?
Triple Sec is an orange flavoured alcoholic syrup. The most well known brand is Cointreau which is made in France. Triple Sec brands vary in sweetness and intensity / quality of orange flavour. Cointreau is less sweet than most, with a better orange flavour.
SKINNY Margaritas
Skinny Margaritas are all the rage nowadays – and compared to the outrageously sugary margaritas that some places serve, they are much lower in calories. It’s made with orange juice and agave syrup instead of Cointreau.
But here’s what they don’t tell you – Skinny Margaritas only have 15 calories less than classic margaritas made properly with no added sugar.
So, here’s what you need for the Skinny version – and I’ve included the quantities in the recipe card below. It’s a tasty alternative, but I personally don’t make it as a lower cal alternative of classic Margaritas!
Both normal and skinny Margaritas can be served in any type of glass, but for the sake of distinguishing between them, here is the Skinny version in a tumbler, served with ice.
When to serve Margaritas – and what to serve it with!
Margaritas are a classic drink of choice for parties and all things Mexican! A backyard BBQ with friends, Friday night Nachos, a Sunday Mexican fiesta!
Kick off a party with Margaritas, chips and dip – everybody’s favourite Guacamole or my infamous Pig-Out-Salsa that everyone goes bonkers over.
They’re dangerously drinkable – fresh and zingy rather than ridiculously sweet which means you don’t get sugared out, you can literally drink them all night. You can’t taste the alcohol but they are pretty darn potent!
Plus, they’re easy to make in big batch quantities – just mix up a jug and keep it in the fridge to pour on demand. Now that’s a way to keep the party going!! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Margaritas (plus SKINNY margaritas!)
Ingredients
Margaritas:
- 45 ml / 1.5oz tequila
- 30 ml / 1 oz lime juice
- 15 ml/ 0.5 oz Cointreau (or other Triple Sec) (Note 1)
Skinny Margaritas:
- 60 ml/ 2oz tequila
- 45 ml / 1.5 oz lime juice
- 30 ml / 1 oz orange juice
- 1 tsp light agave nectar (Note 2)
For serving / salt rim:
- 1 lime wedge , plus extra for serving
- 1/4 cup coarse salt
Instructions
Salt rim:
- Chill glasses in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Place salt in small dish.
- Rub rim lightly with lime wedge, then press rim down into salt.
Margarita (both versions):
- Place ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake 15 times to chill well.
- Strain into cocktail glass or tumbler. Ice in glass is optional.
Notes
Nutrition
Life of Dozer
Dozer taking on the (little) waves!
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