What if you could master a restaurant-quality dessert with just 5 simple ingredients and less than 15 minutes of active prep time? That’s the magic of this easy panna cotta recipe. Forget complicated desserts that require a ton of strange ingredients and even more patience.
This is your ticket to a perfectly creamy, melt-in-your-mouth experience that will make you look like a pastry chef, even if you’ve never made a fancy dessert in your life. It’s elegant, simple, and ridiculously delicious.
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What is Panna Cotta?
So, what exactly is this fancy-sounding dessert? “Panna Cotta” literally translates to “cooked cream” in Italian, and honestly, that’s a pretty spot-on description. At its core, it’s a simple, elegant dessert made from cream, sugar, and gelatin. The cream is gently heated with sugar, then combined with gelatin and left to set until it has a texture that is just firm enough to hold its shape but soft enough to jiggle delightfully. The result is a silky, smooth custard-like treat that’s light yet incredibly rich.
It’s a beautiful canvas for all sorts of flavors. While a classic panna cotta recipe often highlights high-quality cream and a hint of vanilla bean, you can infuse it with everything from coffee and chocolate to fruit purees.
A Little Taste of History
While it feels timeless, the panna cotta we know and love is thought to have originated in the Piedmont region of Italy in the early 20th century. Legend has it that a Hungarian woman living in the Langhe area first created it. Before the widespread availability of powdered gelatin, cooks would have used fish bones to set the cream, which is a bit of a trip to think about now, isn’t it? Thankfully, we have unflavored gelatin FDA packets to make things a whole lot easier. From its humble beginnings in Northern Italy, this dessert has become a beloved classic served in restaurants and homes all around the world.
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Panna Cotta Recipe (Viral & Easy Method)
Panna cotta is a classic Italian custard that’s as easy as it is delicious. This 5-ingredient recipe captures the dish’s famously rich, tender texture.
- Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
⅓ cup skim milk
1 (.25 ounce) envelope unflavored gelatin
2 ½ cups heavy cream
½ cup white sugar
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Pour milk into a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin powder over milk and stir until combined. Set aside.
2. Stir heavy cream and sugar together in a saucepan. Set over medium heat and bring to a boil; watch carefully as the cream can quickly bubble up and boil over.
3. Immediately stir gelatin mixture into boiling cream, stirring until completely dissolved. Cook and stir for 1 minute.
4. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in vanilla.
5. Pour cream mixture into 6 individual ramekins. Leave to cool, uncovered, until no longer warm, about 20 minutes.
6. When cool, cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours but preferably overnight.
Notes
I love this panna cotta served with warm hot fudge sauce and fresh raspberries on top.
Panna cotta keeps well for several days in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake, Chilling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 418
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 46mg
- Fat: 37g
- Saturated Fat: 23g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 136mg
Why You’ll Love This Easy Panna Cotta Recipe
Honestly, there are a million reasons to fall for this dessert, but here are the big ones:
- It’s unbelievably easy. Seriously. If you can warm up milk, you can make this. There’s no complicated technique, no baking, and very little that can go wrong. It’s the definition of a foolproof easy recipe.
- The texture is heavenly. We’re talking silky, creamy, and melts in your mouth. It’s light but feels totally luxurious.
- It’s a perfect make-ahead dessert. Panna cotta needs a few hours to set, which makes it ideal for dinner parties. You can make it a day or two in advance and just forget about it until it’s time to serve. Less stress is always a good thing.
- It looks incredibly impressive. When you turn out that perfectly wobbling cream onto a plate and drizzle it with a vibrant berry sauce, your guests will think you’re a culinary genius. We’ll keep the secret of how easy it was.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of a classic panna cotta is its short and simple ingredient list. Quality really matters here, so use the best you can find!
For the Panna Cotta:
- Unflavored Gelatin: You’ll need one packet (about 2 ¼ teaspoons). This is what gives the panna cotta its signature wobble.
- Cold Water: This is just to help the gelatin “bloom,” or soften, before you add it to the hot cream.
- Heavy Cream: This is the star of the show. Don’t skimp here; you need the fat content for that ultra-rich, creamy panna cotta texture.
- Whole Milk: We use a mix of cream and milk to keep it from being overly heavy. It strikes the perfect balance.
- Granulated Sugar: Just enough to add a gentle sweetness without overpowering the delicate flavor of the cream.
- Vanilla Bean or Extract: A split vanilla bean will give you the most incredible, aromatic flavor with those beautiful little black specks. If you don’t have one, a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract works great too.
For the Berry Sauce Topping:
- Mixed Berries: Fresh or frozen works perfectly fine. Raspberries, strawberries, or a mixed berry blend are all fantastic.
- Granulated Sugar: Just a tablespoon or two to sweeten the sauce.
- Lemon Juice: A tiny squeeze brightens up the flavor of the berries and balances the sweetness.
How to Make Panna Cotta (Step-by-Step)
Ready to see how simple this is? Let’s walk through it.
Step 1: Bloom the Gelatin
First things first, let’s get the gelatin ready. Pour the cold water into a small, shallow bowl and sprinkle the gelatin powder evenly over the top. Just let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes. It will absorb the water and become all wrinkly and jelly-like. This step is super important because it ensures your panna cotta will be perfectly smooth, not grainy.
Step 2: Heat the Cream Mixture
While the gelatin is blooming, grab a medium saucepan. Pour in the heavy cream, whole milk, and granulated sugar. If you’re using a vanilla bean, split it in half lengthwise, scrape out the seeds with the back of your knife, and add both the seeds and the pod to the cream. USDA FoodData Central
Place the saucepan over medium heat. You want to warm the mixture gently, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved. You’re not trying to boil it! Just look for little wisps of steam to start coming off the surface. Once it’s hot, remove it from the heat.
Step 3: Dissolve the Gelatin
Now, fish out the vanilla bean pod from your cream mixture. Grab your bowl of bloomed gelatin and add it to the hot cream. Whisk everything together for about a minute until you’re absolutely sure the gelatin has dissolved completely. You shouldn’t see any granules left. If you’re using vanilla extract instead of a bean, now is the time to stir it in.
Step 4: Chill Until Set
Carefully divide the mixture among your serving dishes. Ramekins, small glasses, or even teacups work beautifully.
Let them cool on the counter for a bit, then cover them with plastic wrap and pop them in the fridge. They’ll need at least 4 hours to set completely, but I find they’re even better if you can leave them overnight. Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to dessert. USDA FoodSafety.gov
Tips for Perfect, Foolproof Panna Cotta
- Don’t Boil the Cream: Overheating the cream can affect the gelatin’s ability to set properly. Just a gentle warming is all you need.
- Ensure the Gelatin is Dissolved: Before you pour the mixture into molds, double-check that the gelatin is fully melted into the cream. If you’re unsure, you can pour it through a fine-mesh sieve to catch any stubborn bits.
- Grease Your Molds (Maybe): If you plan on unmolding the panna cotta, a very light spray of neutral oil inside the ramekins will help them slide out easily. Just be sure to wipe out any excess so it doesn’t leave a greasy film.
- Taste Before You Chill: Give your cream mixture a quick taste before you pour it. Is it sweet enough? Does it have enough vanilla flavor? Now’s your last chance to adjust!
How to Serve Panna Cotta
You can serve this dessert right in the glasses or molds you chilled it in, or you can unmold it for a more dramatic presentation. To unmold, just dip the bottom of each ramekin in a bowl of warm water for a few seconds (don’t let the water get inside!), then run a thin knife around the edge and invert it onto a plate. It should slide right out with a satisfying little plop.
The best part, of course, is the toppings! A simple berry sauce is classic, but don’t stop there.
More Topping Ideas to Try:
- Caramel Sauce: A drizzle of rich, dark caramel is a match made in heaven. If you love Crème Caramel, you’ll love this combo.
- Chocolate Ganache: A spoonful of decadent, warm chocolate ganache makes this an extra-special treat.
- Fresh Fruit: You can’t go wrong with fresh berries, sliced peaches in the summer, or some tart pomegranate seeds in the winter.
- Fruit Compote: A simple stewed apple or pear compote is wonderful, especially with a pinch of cinnamon. Check out our recipe for an easy Apple Compote that would be perfect.
- A Simple Crunch: Sometimes, all you need is a little texture. Toasted nuts, crushed biscotti, or a sprinkle of granola works wonders.
