Matcha Affogato

This matcha affogato combines warm and earthy matcha green tea with creamy vanilla ice cream for such a simple yet decadent dessert. All you need are 2 ingredients and it can be done within 5 minutes. Plus, this version shows you how to make this classic recipe vegan by using dairy-free oat milk ice cream.

Matcha affogato is such a delicious and fun twist on the classic Italian coffee-based affogato dessert. In this case, the espresso coffee is swapped for a matcha shot, then served over creamy vanilla ice cream the traditional way.

The combination of earthy matcha green tea paired with sweet vanilla tones from the rich oat milk ice cream is a must-try. Matcha + vanilla is a classic pairing in flavors that I featured in these matcha white chocolate cookies and this matcha vanilla latte, and again here in this recipe, it proves to be such a strong match in flavors.

And the best part is that this recipe is so simple it hardly qualifies as a recipe, but it stands more as an inspirational way to enjoy matcha.

Matcha affogato makes for the perfect treat or dessert to enjoy on a hot summer day that has a healthy kick, thanks to the impressive amount of antioxidant matcha powder carries.

Hope you give it a try! ❤️

Why you will love this recipe

• Ultra-fast and easy recipe
• Makes for a great last-minute treat to cool off during the summer
• Features earthy green tea flavor perfectly balanced by the sweet vanilla ice cream
• Provides a nice little boost of energy that's more sustained compared to coffee
• Decadent eye-catching blend of bright green syrupy matcha shot on smooth white ice cream
• Suitable for a speedy and straightforward (yet elegant) dessert for date nights and dinner parties
• This recipe uses plant-based oat milk ice cream for a dairy-free and vegan dessert

What you will need

(more details and measurements in the recipe card at the end of the post)

• Matcha green tea powder: I highly recommend using a high-quality ceremonial-grade matcha for making affogato. Ceremonial (best for making drinks) has a more bright green color and a more mellow taste compared to culinary-grade matcha (perfect for baking in recipes). I love the matcha green tea from the brand Kettl that I find at my local Asian store, but you can also easily get it online.
• Ice cream: I used the oat milk vanilla ice cream from the brand Oatly, but feel free to use any brand of plant-based ice cream that you like. For a special treat, then you can also make your own vegan oat milk ice cream!

How to make matcha affogato

(full recipe details at the bottom of the post in the recipe card)

It does not get easier than this: make a matcha shot and pour over ice cream. It literally takes 5 minutes to whip up together!

Prepare the matcha shot

To a small bowl, sift the matcha green tea powder and then, pour the hot water over.

Use a bamboo whisk to combine the matcha + water until smooth: whisk vigorously while following a "W" shape in the bowl (as opposed to circular motion) for at least 20-30 seconds or more. You should have some foam forming over the water as the matcha dissolves.

Serve over ice cream

Scoop the ice cream into a bowl or a jar, then pour the matcha shot over. Garnish if you wish, then enjoy right away. That's it!

Helpful tips

• If possible, take the ice cream out of the freezer 20 minutes ahead of time: some brands of vegan ice cream are super hard when fully frozen but quickly become ultra creamy once melting for a bit.
• For dissolving the matcha powder, aim for a water temperature of 158-176ºF or 70-80ºC. Avoid boiling water as it can make the matcha taste bitter! If you don't have a thermometer, then you can bring a kettle of water to a boil and then let it sit for a few minutes before using it so the temperature can go down a bit. This makes for a more mellow flavor.

Serving suggestions

You can serve your green tea affogato treat garnished with more yummy ingredients. Here are some of our favorite toppings to try:

• Shredded coconut
• White chocolate chips (we love the vegan white chips from the brand Enjoy Life)
• Extra dust of matcha powder
• Coconut whipped cream
• Mini vegan marshmallows (the ones from the brand Dandies are completely vegan)

You can also serve it with a splash of oat milk to make it more creamy and thin. If you are looking for a creamy but drinkable result, then add just enough of the milk to reach the desired consistency and serve with a straw + spoon.

A side of mochi or biscotti would pair well with the mixed Japanese-Italian ice cream treat. We loved ours served with dark chocolate, give it a try!

Variations

Such a simple recipe gives lots of room for personalization. Here are a few variations you can try:

• Vanilla: for a boost in vanilla flavor, then you can add ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract to your matcha shot.
• Sweetness: if you are new to the natural bitterness from matcha green tea, then feel free to add a small amount of maple syrup to smooth out the result.
• Creamier: you can also use warm oat milk instead of warm water to make the matcha shot.
• Spiced: add some powdered ginger or ground cinnamon to the matcha shot for a delicious spiced twist!

More matcha recipes you might like

• Matcha white chocolate cookies
• Matcha chai latte
• Mango matcha latte
• Matcha brownies
• Matcha chocolate oatmeal
• Matcha granola
• Raspberry matcha mocktail
• Matcha coconut energy balls
• Matcha strawberry oat milk latte
• Matcha blueberry latte
• Lavender matcha latte
• Iced matcha lemonade

I hope you like this matcha affogato recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

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📖 Recipe