I have the most delicious holiday dessert to tell you about today.

A boozy holiday dessert! A trifecta!

This Bourbon Eggnog Affogato is heaven in a glass. It is so, so delicious and decadent but very simple to make. Zero cooking or real prep involved. Love when that happens.

It is one of my favorite desserts, actually. I love coffee desserts, and who doesn’t love ice cream? I shared an affogato idea before: this Salted Tahini Carmel Affogato is a stunner as well.

You may be asking yourself some questions.

What is Affogato?

Affogato is an Italian speciality that involves topping a scoop of ice cream or gelato with hot espresso and enjoying it as a hot-cold sweet treat with a coffee kick.

How Do I Make Affogato?

In the most classic recipes, all you need are two ingredients: gelato (or ice cream) and espresso (or strong coffee). That’s it.

Our version today is a touch more exciting, in my humble opinion. We’re using eggnog ice cream (vanilla also works great), eggnog, bourbon, and espresso. It’s like a boozy coffee eggnog latte. OMG yes.

How to Make Bourbon Eggnog Affogato:

Set our ice cream out for a few minutes to take the hard chill off.
In the meantime, brew a few shots of espresso (or make a pot of strong coffee).
Scoop your ice cream into your serving dishes or glasses – just make sure to use something that will not shatter when it goes from cold to hot.
Top the ice cream with a splash of bourbon and some eggnog.
Pour the hot espresso over top of everything, give it a gentle stir, and serve immediately so people can enjoy the hot-cold experience. If you feel so inclined, you can top each affogato with a little whipped cream and freshly grated nutmeg.

What Substitutions Can I Make in Bourbon Eggnog Affogato?

Feel free to switch up the alcohol used. You can use a dark rum (classic with eggnog) or another type of whiskey. You can also skip the alcohol altogether if that’s your preference.
While I love to use eggnog ice cream in these, it’s not always the easiest flavor to find (this is my favorite and the one I can get my hands on). Vanilla bean or even coffee ice cream would be delicious here.
While espresso is traditional and recommended in this recipe, you can use a good, strong coffee in place of espresso. I use my Nespresso pods to make perfectly frothed espresso shots for each affogato.
You can also make this with decaffeinated coffee, if you do not want a coffee kick. All the flavor, no caffeine.

This Bourbon Eggnog Affogato may be the easiest holiday treat you try, but I promise you that it will not disappoint. The boozy warmth of bourbon, the nutty sweetness of eggnog, and the kick of espresso is an absolutely magical combination.

Give these a try this holiday season! They’re ideal for sipping on while watching your favorite Christmas movies.

That’s where you’ll find me this weekend! Blanket in lap (plus a dog or two), affogato in hand, Love Actually on my TV, and a smile on my face.