Panna Cotta is a classic Italian dessert known for its silky smooth texture and rich, creamy flavor. This indulgent treat is surprisingly simple to make yet never fails to impress with its elegant presentation. With just a few key ingredients, you can create a delightful dessert that is perfect for any occasion.
Panna cotta
Panna Cotta is a classic Italian dessert known for its silky smooth texture and rich, creamy flavor. This indulgent treat is surprisingly simple to make yet never fails to impress with its elegant presentation. With just a few key ingredients, you can create a delightful dessert that is perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 vanilla bean split and seeds scraped out (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons powdered gelatin
- 3 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, and vanilla bean seeds. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it comes to a gentle simmer. Remove from heat.
- In a small bowl, sprinkle the powdered gelatin over the cold water. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to bloom.
- After the gelatin has bloomed, whisk it into the warm cream mixture until completely dissolved.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps or vanilla bean particles.
- Divide the mixture evenly among your serving glasses or ramekins. Cover each with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until set.
- Once set, you can serve the panna cotta directly in the glasses or ramekins, or unmold them onto serving plates. To unmold, run a knife around the edge of each panna cotta and dip the bottom of the container in hot water for a few seconds to loosen it.
- Serve chilled, optionally garnished with fresh berries, fruit coulis, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.