Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. On a sheet pan, place raw hazelnuts. Roast until browned and fragrant- about 8-10 minutes. Place warm hazelnuts in a clean dry dish towels and rub vigorously until the skins peel off. Set aside.
In a heavy bottomed saucepan, bring water to a simmer, add in sugar and salt. take care to remove any sugar from the sides of the pan with a pastry brush. Bring to a boil until sugar is dissolved- about 2 minutes. With a slotted spoon, gently add in hazelnuts and stir to coat. Remove from heat. Using the same slotted spoon, place the hazelnuts on a rimmed sheet pan lined with parchment paper (I just use the pan for easy cleanup). Roast in an oven for 5-6 minutes until golden brown. Remove the pan from the oven and let the nuts cool completely. Place in an airtight container until ready to serve.
To assemble the Affogato:
Place the gelato or ice cream scoops into the chilled glass. Pour the frothed espresso over the gelato. Sprinkle with crushed hazelnuts and whole hazelnuts. Garnish with cookie. Serve immediately.
Notes
Try using different kinds of cookies for your dessert.
Be bold with your flavor choices- try toffee ice cream or banana gelato
Scoop out the ice cream in advance for an easier assembly when having guests over