In this matcha affogato recipe, we up the ante with matcha. You got it – we drench the ice cream with matcha, rather than espresso!
Since my new-found obsession with matcha, I’ve been brewing up ways to enjoy this vibrant green delight in more and more ways. I first started with a classic Matcha Latte, then the Iced Matcha Latte, even serving up the Strawberry Matcha Latte.
What’s better than all of those matcha lattes? A matcha affogato! Never heard of it? Our matcha affogato is the perfect sweet treat for any matcha lover and for folks seeking something new to indulge in this season!
What is Affogato?
Of course, before we dive into our main recipe, we have to explain what an affogato is. Affogato is an Italian dessert. It is a a coffee-based dessert where you place a scoop of gelato (in this case, ice cream) in a bowl, then pour hot espresso over it. We’ve experimented with affogato recipes and created our very own here at Umamiology – so check out our delicious Affogato recipe too!
In this matcha affogato recipe, we’re pouring matcha instead of the espresso coffee. The result is a new delight and is a whole new way of enjoying the smooth, grassy notes of matcha!
Key Elements Of This Recipe
- Ceremonial Grade Matcha: This premium matcha provides the smooth flavor that we’re looking for. Culinary grade works too, however, since the vanilla ice cream will help cut the slight bitter taste of matcha.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: We have our own homemade vanilla bean ice cream – we think it’s better than any store-bought ice cream. If you don’t end up making the ice cream first, be sure to buy vanilla gelato or vanilla ice cream you love for the affogato base!
What Does Affogato Mean
What does Affogato mean? Affogato means “drowned” in Italian. Probably got its name from how the ice cream gets “drowned” in espresso. In the case of the matcha affogato, the ice cream is “drowned” in matcha!
We’re even pulling out our very own Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and drenching it with matcha. What you’ll find is the perfect pairing of umami from matcha and the vanilla ice cream.
The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
Let’s first dive into my secret weapon, the Cuisinart ice cream maker!
I received this ice cream maker as a hand-me-down, so it was missing a few key elements – the owner’s manual and the handy dandy recipe booklet for the ice cream maker. Yes, I am one of those people who reads both, so you can see how missing not only the owner’s manual, but also the booklet labeled, “Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Recipes” would leave me at a loss!
Enter trial and error and some more trial and error! I’m proud to present my tried and true homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream recipe as an integral part of this recipe! Might I say that it’s the most amazing ice cream recipe for the Cuisinart ice cream maker?
The Ingredients for Matcha Affogato
There are two essential parts to our perfect affogato: (1) The vanilla bean ice cream and (2) the matcha tea.
- Umamiology’s Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (or other vanilla ice cream of choice)
- 2 oz Matcha Tea (made from Ceremonial Grade Matcha or Culinary Grade Matcha)
The Equipment Needed for Matcha Affogato
If you’ve already made your ice cream or purchased it and have your matcha tea ready, you really only need two things for this recipe:
The Ingredients for Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Base of the Matcha Affogato
If you’re trying out our Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, you’ll find an abridged version in this recipe. For more details, you can check out the Vanilla Bean Ice Cream recipe.
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 2 Tbsp Condensed Milk
- 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 pod Vanilla Bean
- 1 pinch Salt
Pro Tip: This recipe yields about 5 servings. However, depending on your scoop size, it could fluctuate to 3-7 servings.
The Equipment Needed for Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Base of the Matcha Affogato
- Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
- Stainless Steel Bowl
- Whisk
- Silicone Mixing Spoon
- Stainless Steel Breading Pan (or other freezer safe container for ice cream)
- Cutting Board
- Knife
How to Prepare Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Base
Prep for the vanilla ice cream base by setting the Cuisinart ice cream maker’s freezer bowl in the freezer for at least 1-2 hours.
Pro Tip: For best results, I recommend freezing the inner freezer bowl overnight.
Extract the vanilla seeds from the vanilla bean pod by splitting the vanilla bean pod in half with a knife, then scraping out the vanilla seeds with the knife.
Next, whisk together the whole milk, condensed milk, salt, and sugar in a bowl and let it all dissolve into the mixture.
Once dissolved, add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and vanilla seeds into the mixture.
Pro Tip: We highly recommend using heavy cream for the perfect creaminess. We’ve tried using half & half, and it leaves you with a more icy ice cream.
Cover your mixture and refrigerate for 1-2 hours, or overnight. This is to ensure the mixture gets extra cold!
How to Make Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Base of the Matcha Affogato
Prepare by inserting the freezer bowl into the ice cream maker. Bring the chilled mixture and pour it into the freezer bowl. Turn on the machine and let your Cuisinart ice cream maker churn the mixture for 20 minutes or until the mixture has reached the desired creamy texture.
As the ice cream maker churns the mixture, you’ll notice it getting more and more solidified over time. It will slowly turn into real, delicious ice cream, perfect for the affogato!
Once the mixture reaches the desired consistency, creamy and soft, take the mixing paddle out and scoop the ice cream into a freezer-safe container, like a stainless steel breading pan.
Note that when the ice cream first comes out, it will be very soft – like soft serve ice cream. This is why we freeze the ice cream further in the freezer for 1-2 hours or overnight. This will allow the ice cream to solidify even further for that firm, but creamy texture.
The Ingredients for Matcha Tea to Pour Onto the Ice Cream
- 1/2 tsp Ceremonial Grade Matcha (Culinary Grade Matcha is OK too)
- 2 oz Filtered Water
The Equipment Needed for Matcha Tea to Pour Onto the Ice Cream
- Tea Kettle
- Matcha Bowl (or other bowl with round base)
- Bamboo Whisk
- Bamboo Scoop
- Small Sifter
Pro Tip: Re recommend a Matcha Starter set to make things easier!
How to Prepare Matcha Tea to Pour Onto the Ice Cream
Prepare your matcha tea when you’re ready to “drown” your ice cream in matcha for your perfect matcha affogato.
To prepare, we recommend soaking your bamboo whisk in warm water – this is to help soften the bamboo prongs. If you’d like to learn more about matcha, you can check out our Matcha article.
First, take your small sifter and place it over the matcha bowl. Use your bamboo scoop to add matcha powder. Using the same bamboo scoop, gently push the matcha powder through the sifter. This will leave you with a fine matcha powder without any clumps.
Next, heat some filtered water to 175 degrees Fahrenheit – or anywhere from 140-176 degrees Fahrenheit. Our electric tea kettles has a temperature setting for green tea, which is what I used here. We mainly want warm water, not boiling water.
Once your water is heated, pour about 2 oz of the water into the matcha bowl.
Start whisking the matcha powder into the water by moving the bamboo whisk back and forth in an “M” or “W” shape for about 10-20 seconds until froth forms and all of the powder is dissolved.
Pro Tip: Don’t let the bamboo prongs touch the bottom of the matcha bowl – this will prevent them from breaking.
How to Make Matcha Affogato
Now, let’s put it all together!
Take a generous scoop of your homemade vanilla ice cream (or 2 smaller scoops) and place it in your affogato dessert bowl. Typically, affogato ratios are 2 small scoops of ice cream to 1 shot of espresso. As you know, we’re upping the antes with 2oz of matcha tea instead of the espresso shot!
Pour your matcha onto your vanilla bean ice cream and marvel at the vibrant green mixing with the creaminess of the vanilla ice cream!
What a delicious blend of cultures – Japanese and Italian! Enjoy!
P.S. We enjoy our affogatos with other delicious toppings like Baileys Chocolate Liqueur or Nespresso’s Roasted Hazelnut Coffee. Yum!
If you liked this recipe, you’ll love these too:
Equipment
- Stainless Steel Breading Pan, (or other freezer safe container for ice cream)
- Matcha Bowl, (or other bowl with round base)
Ingredients
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 2 Tbsp Condensed Milk
- 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 pod Vanilla Bean
- 1 pinch Salt
Matcha Tea
- 1/2 tsp Ceremonial Grade Matcha, (Culinary Grade Matcha is OK too)
- 2 oz Filtered Water
Matcha Affogato
- 2 oz Matcha Tea
- 1 scoop Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, (1 generous scoop or 2 small scoops)
Instructions
How to Prepare Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Base of the Matcha Affogato
- Prep for the vanilla ice cream base by setting the Cuisinart ice cream maker’s freezer bowl in the freezer for at least 1-2 hours.
- Pro Tip: For best results, I recommend freezing the inner freezer bowl overnight.
- Extract the vanilla seeds from the vanilla bean pod by splitting the vanilla bean pod in half with a knife, then scraping out the vanilla seeds with the knife.
- Next, whisk together the whole milk, condensed milk, salt, and sugar in a bowl and let it all dissolve into the mixture.
- Once dissolved, add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and vanilla seeds into the mixture.
- Pro Tip: We highly recommend using heavy cream for the perfect creaminess. We’ve tried using half & half, and it leaves you with a more icy ice cream.
- Cover your mixture and refrigerate for 1-2 hours, or overnight. This is to ensure the mixture gets extra cold!
How to Make Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Base of the Matcha Affogato
- Prepare by inserting the freezer bowl into the ice cream maker.
- Bring the chilled mixture and pour it into the freezer bowl.
- Turn on the machine and let your Cuisinart ice cream maker churn the mixture for 20 minutes or until the mixture has reached the desired creamy texture.
- Once the mixture reaches the desired consistency, creamy and soft, take the mixing paddle out and scoop the ice cream into a freezer-safe container, like a stainless steel breading pan.
- Freeze the ice cream further in the freezer for 1-2 hours or overnight for a more firm ice cream texture.
How to Prepare Matcha to Pour Onto the Ice Cream
- Prepare your matcha tea when you’re ready to “drown” your ice cream in matcha for your perfect matcha affogato.
- To prepare, we recommend soaking your bamboo whisk in warm water – this is to help soften the bamboo prongs.
- First, take your small sifter and place it over the matcha bowl. Use your bamboo scoop to add matcha powder.
- Using the same bamboo scoop, gently push the matcha powder through the sifter.
- Next, heat some filtered water to 175 degrees Fahrenheit – or anywhere from 140-176 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pro Tip: Use hot water, not boiling water for matcha.
- Once your water is heated, pour about 2 oz of the water into the matcha bowl.
- Start whisking the matcha powder into the water by moving the bamboo whisk back and forth in an “M” or “W” shape for about 10-20 seconds until froth forms and all of the powder is dissolved.
- Pro Tip: Don’t let the bamboo prongs touch the bottom of the matcha bowl – this will prevent them from breaking.
How to Make Matcha Affogato
- Take a generous scoop of your homemade vanilla ice cream (or 2 smaller scoops) and place it in your affogato dessert bowl.
- Pour your matcha onto your vanilla bean ice cream and marvel at the vibrant green mixing with the creaminess of the vanilla ice cream!
Notes
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is just an estimate derived by an online calculation tool.
FAQ
What is affogato?
Affogato means “drenched” in Italian. From a dessert perspective, it’s a coffee-based Italian dessert where hot espresso is poured over gelato. We take a fun twist on this Italian dessert with the Japanese matcha, instead of the espresso coffee. The result is a new delight and is a whole new way of enjoying the smooth, grassy notes of matcha!
What is matcha?
Matcha is a Japanese word that means “powder tea.” It refers to Japanese green tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis tea plant that have been ground into fine powder for consumption. It’s also our key ingredient for the matcha affogato, where we substitute the espresso coffee with matcha tea!
Does matcha have caffeine?
Yes, matcha has caffeine! Depending on the variety of the matcha and how much matcha powder you use, a cup of matcha green tea can have up-to or even more caffeine than coffee.
Emily
Oh wow! I didn’t know you could do this. Thanks for the tip!
Umamiologist
I’m so glad! Enjoy!