An affogato, which means "drowned" in Italian, is a simple dessert of gelato that gets topped with a shot of espresso. It creates a dessert that's creamy, decadent, and hot and cold all at once for a really lovely contrast of temperatures. 

This is my holiday spin on the Italian sweet. It starts with a simple syrup that I infuse with some of my favorite seasonal flavors: cinnamon, fresh ginger, and cloves. It adds a great fall-and-winter flair to the dessert that I just love.

Top off your favorite vanilla gelato or ice cream with a bit of the spiced syrup, a bit of espresso, and even some hazelnut liqueur if you happen to have it - and there you go. A delicious, festive dessert! Serve with seasonal cookies or biscotti to make it really feel like a "complete" dessert.