Nothing says summer like a delicious, cool treat, and this homemade affogato recipe, adapted from Taste of Home, is sure to delight your taste buds. Affogato, which means "drowned" in Italian, is traditionally made with a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with a shot of hot espresso. But this recipe gives it a unique twist with a homemade coffee ice cream base that’s both rich and refreshing.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, coffee, and melted butter until well blended. Stir in the whole milk.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let it cool completely.
3. Once cooled, stir in the sweetened condensed milk.
4. In a large bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold this into the milk mixture.
5. Pour the mixture into a 9-inch pan, cover, and freeze until firm, about 6 hours.

This creamy coffee ice cream can be enjoyed on its own, but for the full affogato experience, serve a scoop of it in a glass and pour a shot of hot espresso over the top. The result is a delightful blend of hot and cold, sweet and bold, perfect for a summer afternoon. Enjoy your homemade affogato and savour every spoonful! As a good friend always says, the best kind of coffee is the one you enjoy the most.

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home.