An Easy Dessert That Feels Slightly More Special

There’s something about hot poured over cold that never really loses its appeal.

This affogato-style dessert swaps espresso for rich malted hot chocolate, poured over cold ice cream until everything melts together into something halfway between a pudding and a drink.

Made with the Peak & The Pantry Malted Hot Chocolate Kit, it’s deeply chocolatey, smooth and comforting, with the malt adding a toasted richness that works particularly well with vanilla or salted caramel ice cream.

It looks impressive, takes almost no effort, and works just as well for quiet evenings as it does at the end of a dinner party.

Serves 4

You’ll Need

• 1 pack Peak & The Pantry Malted Hot Chocolate
• 750ml milk
• 4 scoops good-quality ice cream
• Wafers, biscotti or shortbread, to serve

To Make

• Warm the milk gently in a saucepan until steaming but not boiling.
• Whisk in the malted hot chocolate until completely smooth and velvety.
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly for a minute or two.
• Place scoops of ice cream into serving glasses or small bowls, then pour over the warm hot chocolate just before serving.

Serve immediately with something crisp on the side for dipping or scooping.

Why This Works

The hot chocolate melts the ice cream slowly as you pour, creating a smooth, creamy mixture somewhere between melted pudding, mousse and an affogato.

Using malted hot chocolate instead of coffee makes it softer, richer and slightly nostalgic - comforting rather than sharp.

The contrast between the cold ice cream and warm chocolate is what makes the whole thing feel far more impressive than the effort involved.

Best Ice Creams to Use

Vanilla works beautifully, but salted caramel, malted ice cream or even chocolate ice cream all work well here too.

The better the ice cream, the better the final dessert tastes.

Best Served With

Shortbread, biscotti, wafers or anything crisp enough to cut through the richness.

And ideally, spoons straight away before everything fully melts together.

FAQs

What is an affogato?

Traditionally, an affogato is an Italian dessert made by pouring hot espresso over ice cream. This version swaps coffee for rich malted hot chocolate.

Can I make this dairy-free?

Yes - use plant milk and dairy-free ice cream.

Can I make the hot chocolate ahead?

You can make it slightly ahead and gently reheat before serving.

What’s the best ice cream flavour for this dessert?

Vanilla is classic, but salted caramel and malted ice cream work particularly well with the chocolate.