Entrees Italian

Affogato Trifles

Affogato Trifles brings cups coarsely crushed biscotti, amaretti, or other, cups vanilla ice cream, and the rest of the crew together in a recipe that is practical enough for a normal kitchen but still has enough personality to avoid tasting like committee food.

Affogato Trifles

What It Is

Layer crushed biscotti or amaretti with softened vanilla ice cream, a cloud of whipped cream and strong, hot espresso. A light dusting of cinnamon adds a hint of sharpness. Espresso, ice cream and biscotti proving dessert can also be caffeinated.

Origin

This version is connected to as: Italy (Saronno).. I keep that connection as part of the recipe’s personality without pretending every dish arrived with a notarized birth certificate.

Fun Fact

The cookbook version really does pair 2 cups coarsely crushed biscotti, amaretti, or other with 2 cups vanilla ice cream,. That combination comes straight from the original recipe, not from a late-night refrigerator séance.

Prep
10 min
Cook
5 min
Temp
Hot espresso
Total
15 min
Servings
4 trifle glass
(assuming no one present is secretly a moose)
Difficulty
easy
Gluten-Free Nut-Free
Diet
Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free
Away Mission
80 min walk
(or beam directly past it, if the transporter's working today)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups coarsely crushed biscotti, amaretti, or other
  • 2 cups vanilla ice cream,
  • 1 cup whipped cream
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 4 shots hot brewed espresso or strong coffee
  • 141

Steps

  1. In each of four parfait or dessert glasses layer ½ cup of the crushed biscotti and ¼ cup of the ice cream. Repeat with the remaining biscotti and the remaining ice cream. 2.Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon. Accompany with shots of espresso to drizzle over the ice cream before eating. Variations: Just love s'mores? Layer coarsely crushed graham crackers, tiny marshmallows, and chocolate ice cream in place of the cookies and vanilla ice cream and serve with shots of hot chocolate instead of espresso. Want a spiked version? Drizzle each layer of cookies with coffee liqueur. Lean to the traditional? Try ladyfingers instead of cookies. To Make Ahead: Prepare as directed in Step 1. Cover and freeze for up to 48 hours. Serve as directed.

Notes

Taste near the end and adjust. Salt, acid and heat are much easier to add than remove, despite what some of my more enthusiastic recipes occasionally imply.

Nutrition Facts
Per 1 trifle glass
Calories 350
Burning this off: one Tragically Hip song, played loud, on a treadmill.
% Daily Value*
Fat 21.0 g 28%
Saturated + Trans 13 g 65%
Cholesterol 65 mg
Sodium 25 mg 1%
Carbohydrate 40.0 g
Fibre 0.5 g 2%
Sugars 39.0 g 39%
Protein 1.5 g
Potassium 80 mg 2%
Calcium 50 mg 4%
Iron 0.1 mg 1%
*5% or less is a little, 15% or more is a lot. Sodium levels calculated in a country with universal healthcare — and it's free, so don't worry about it too much.
A genuinely respectable nutrition profile. No red flags here — go ahead and feel a little smug about it.

Substitutions

No specific substitution note is given in the cookbook. Spoon & Scribble option: use comparable nuts, fruit or flavourings where the structure of the dessert stays the same.

Storage

Cool leftovers promptly and refrigerate in a covered container. Keep crisp garnishes separate whenever possible so tomorrow’s lunch does not become damp architecture.

Freezing

Freeze cooked components in meal-sized airtight portions where practical. Dairy-heavy sauces and fresh garnishes may change texture, so add those fresh after reheating when possible.