Heisse Liebe
A playful Alpine dessert drink of cold vanilla ice cream under hot raspberry sauce, spiked with vodka and crowned with whipped cream.
Ingredients
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 150 g raspberries — fresh or frozen
- 2 tbsp caster sugar — or to taste
- 50 ml vodka — or white rum
- 60 ml double cream — lightly whipped, to top
Method
- Put the raspberries and sugar in a small saucepan with a splash of water.
- Warm over a low heat, crushing the fruit, until it forms a loose, hot sauce.
- Pass the sauce through a sieve if you prefer it smooth, then keep it warm.
- Place a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream into each heatproof glass.
- Pour over the vodka, then spoon the hot raspberry sauce over the ice cream.
- Top with lightly whipped double cream and serve immediately with a long spoon.
How to serve
- Glassware
- Heatproof glass
- Serve temperature
- Warm sauce over cold ice cream
- Garnish
- Whipped cream
Heisse Liebe, or hot love, is one of the more theatrical drinks in the Alpine repertoire. The idea is gloriously simple: a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream sits in the glass, hot raspberry sauce is poured over the top, and a measure of vodka ties the two together. It is part drink, part dessert, and the contrast of temperatures is the whole point.
The raspberry sauce
The sauce is where the magic happens, so it is worth getting right. Warm your raspberries gently with sugar and a little water, crushing the fruit as it softens until it loosens into a vivid, pourable sauce. Fresh or frozen berries both work well. Pass it through a sieve if you prefer a smooth finish without seeds, then keep it warm so it stays fluid when poured. Taste as you go, since raspberries vary in sharpness and you can adjust the sugar to suit.
Assembling and serving
Build the drink at the last moment so the ice cream stays firm. Set a scoop or two in each heatproof glass, add the vodka, then spoon the hot sauce over the top so it begins to melt the edges of the ice cream. A swirl of lightly whipped cream finishes it. Serve at once with a long spoon, and let everyone enjoy the moment where hot and cold meet in the glass.
Frequently asked questions
What does Heisse Liebe mean?
It translates from German as hot love, a nod to the contrast between the hot raspberry sauce and the cold vanilla ice cream beneath it. It is a popular dessert drink across the Alps.
Vodka or rum?
Vodka keeps the focus on the raspberry and vanilla, while white rum adds a touch more warmth and sweetness. Both work well, so use whichever you have to hand.
Can I use shop-bought raspberry sauce?
Yes, simply warm it through gently before pouring. Making your own from fresh or frozen raspberries gives a fresher, less sugary result, but a good ready-made sauce is a quick shortcut.
Related recipes
Spiked Hot Chocolate
Deep, glossy hot chocolate made with real dark chocolate and a measure of your favourite spirit — the ultimate grown-up winter treat.
Lumumba
A rich hot chocolate laced with brandy and crowned with softly whipped cream, a classic continental warmer for cold nights.
Warm Amaretto Sour
A cosy warm amaretto sour, with almond-rich amaretto, fresh lemon and honey lengthened with hot water and finished with lemon and a cherry.
More like this