What is Panna Cotta?
Panna cotta is a creamy, elegant Italian dessert that is enjoyed around the world. Its name, which in Italian means “cooked cream”, describes the dessert accurately. It’s made with heavy cream, sugar, and gelatin. Often served with fresh fruit, this luxurious dessert is a simple yet impressive treat. Read on for an easy and delicious panna cotta recipe.
Ingredients for Panna Cotta
This basic panna cotta recipe only requires a few ingredients, though you can customize it to your liking as well. Just make sure to have the following on hand:
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon unflavored powdered gelatin
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- Fruit for garnish (optional)
How to Make Panna Cotta
This panna cotta recipe is simple and can be made in just a few steps.
- Pour the Heavy Cream: In a saucepan, pour the heavy cream and heat it over medium heat until it is warmed through, but not boiling.
- Add the Sugar and Vanilla Extract: Once the cream is warmed through, add the granulated sugar and vanilla extract and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- Sprinkle the Gelatin Over the Cold Water: In a small bowl, sprinkle the unflavored powdered gelatin over the cold water and let it stand for a minute.
- Dissolve the Gelatin: After a minute has passed, stir the gelatin and water together and then pour it into the warm cream mixture. Stir well to ensure the gelatin is completely dissolved.
- Pour the Mixture into Ramekins: Divide the panna cotta mixture among 4 ramekins or custard cups and cover them with plastic wrap. Place the ramekins in the refrigerator to chill for at least 4 hours, or until the panna cotta is set.
- Serve the Panna Cotta: Once the panna cotta is set, remove the ramekins from the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap. Serve the panna cotta on its own or with a garnish of fresh fruit if you desire.
Variations of Panna Cotta
While this basic panna cotta recipe is delicious on its own, you can also customize it to your liking. There are many variations of panna cotta you can try, such as:
- Chocolate Panna Cotta: Add 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder to the cream mixture and stir until combined. Chilled as directed.
- Lemon Panna Cotta: Add the zest of 1 lemon to the cream mixture and stir until combined. Chilled as directed.
- Mango Panna Cotta: Puree 1 ripe mango and 1 tablespoon of sugar in a food processor. Stir the pureed mango into the cream mixture and chill as directed.
Conclusion
Panna cotta is an elegant and delicious dessert that is simple to make. You can easily customize it to your liking and serve it with fresh fruit for an elegant presentation. Whether you’re looking for an elegant dessert for a dinner party or just want to treat yourself, try making this easy panna cotta recipe.
