How to Make Matcha Affogato (Easy Green Tea Dessert)
A bright, gently sweet dessert that will delight your green-tea-loving guests. Matcha takes the place of classic espresso in this simple, indulgent ice cream dessert. Like the classic affogato, this has a perfect balance of sweet and bitter notes for the non-coffee folks in your life. It comes together in 5 minutes, perfect for a weeknight or a little night cap dessert.
If you love the lively, earthy flavor of matcha green tea and have enjoyed the classic Italian affogato dessert (fresh, hot espresso poured over a generous scoop of cold vanilla ice cream), this Matcha Affogato recipe will delight you. The contrast in flavor between the bitter notes of the matcha and the sweet, delicate vanilla ice cream – not to mention the hot tea against cold cream – is something to enjoy year-round as a special after-dinner treat. Also, it comes together in less than ten minutes. What’s not to love about that?
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a Japanese green tea that has been ground into a fine powder. When the green tea powder is mixed with hot water, it becomes a magic elixir of antioxidants and goodness. It is a go-to flavor in specialty ice cream shops and giant coffee chains alike around the globe, and for good reason. It’s delicious.
Matcha offers a generous alternative to espresso for those less obsessed with coffee or interested in a more subtle caffeine-kick. In my barista days, I remember early mornings of opening the cafe to the tunes of Fleetwood Mac and whisking matcha and hot water into an almost espresso-like consistency for matcha lattes. I can still smell the fresh, earthy fragrance.
To develop this recipe, I took the same technique I used in creating a ‘shot of matcha’ for coffee drinks to mimic the espresso consistency and quantity generally used in a latte or cappuccino. The results? A decadent play on the affogato, absent of coffee and full of lively green tea flavor. Can I just say the outcome is a delight? Just… YUM.
While this may be controversial to traditionalist matcha-lovers, here I’ve added the tiniest amount of honey to the matcha to cut the bitterness a bit and to compliment the vanilla notes in the ice cream. I’ve found this really helps enhance the flavor of the tea without upsetting the balance of flavors. Even the matcha neigh-sayers in my house love the the subtle addition of a touch of local honey.
Ingredients – Here’s what you need to make it:
This recipe will generously serve one for a sweet little pick-me-up. Double it up to share with a friend.
- 2 teaspoons high quality, ground matcha green tea powder
- 4 Tablespoons hot water
- ¼ teaspoon local honey
- 1 generous cup / scoop vanilla ice cream
How to make Matcha Affogato
Step 1: Boil hot water in an electric kettle or sauce pan. Once it reaches a boil, set aside to allow to cool slightly before whisking into the matcha powder.
Step 2: Add your matcha powder to a small bowl. Add 4 tablespoons of hot water to the matcha powder and whisk gently until all of the powder has been incorporated and you have a bright, green liquid free of any lumps or clumps. Add ¼ teaspoon of honey and whisk again. Set aside.
Step 3: Scoop a generous amount of your favorite vanilla ice cream into your serving bowl or mug. *A tighter scoop will mean the ice cream melts more slowly once the matcha is poured over top.
Step 4: Pour your shot of matcha over the scoop of ice cream, just before serving. You can also serve the hot matcha alongside in an espresso cup and allow your guest to pour over at their discretion, a thoughtful touch when hosting.
As always, don’t be afraid to make a mess. Life’s more fun that way!
Matcha Affogato
Equipment
- Tea kettle
- Small bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Whisk
- Small serving dish coupe glass, mug, or small dish
- Ice cream scoop
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons high quality, ground matcha green tea powder
- 4 Tablespoons hot water
- 1/4 teaspoon honey
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Boil water in an electric kettle or sauce pan. Once it reaches a boil, set aside to allow it to cool slightly before whisking into the matcha powder.
- Add matcha powder to a small bowl. Add 4 tablespoons of hot water to the matcha powder and whisk gently until all of the powder has been incorporated and you have a bright, green liquid free of any lumps or clumps. Add ¼ teaspoon of honey and whisk again. Set aside.
- Scoop a generous amount of your favorite vanilla ice cream into your serving bowl or mug. *A tighter scoop will mean the ice cream melts more slowly once the matcha is poured over top.
- Pour the “shot” of matcha over the scoop of ice cream, just before serving. You can also serve the hot matcha alongside in an espresso cup and allow your guest to pour over at their discretion, a thoughtful touch when hosting.
Notes
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I use regular green tea if I don’t have matcha powder?
A: This recipe really requires a more concentrated “espresso-like” consistency of tea. I fear if you attempt to use steeped green tea, you will end up with a “float” vs. a true affogado and the result may be disappointing. In short: I wouldn’t.
Q: What if I don’t like green tea? Will I like this?
A: If green tea isn’t your favorite flavor, I might suggest using espresso (classic Italian affogato). Or, you know, just enjoy that delicious scoop of ice cream just as it is. There’s no losing here.
This Matcha Affogato would be delicious served alongside my Vanilla Sugar Cookies (hello, dipping option!).
If you are a tea connoisseur or want to learn more about tea, check out Oh, How Civilized where Jee Cho, a coffee and tea master, has dozens of tea recipes to delight your pallet and expand your knowledge. Also, she’s a good human making high quality recipes and we love to support her!
