Panna cotta is a traditional Italian dessert known for its delicate, creamy texture and elegant simplicity. The name means “cooked cream” in Italian, and that’s exactly what it is – a blend of sweetened cream, gently heated and set with gelatin to create a smooth, custard-like dessert without the need for eggs.
To make this classic Italian dessert, heavy cream (sometimes mixed with milk for a lighter version) is combined with sugar and gently warmed. Gelatin is then added to help the mixture set as it cools. Once poured into molds or serving glasses, the panna cotta is chilled for several hours until it becomes firm yet still jiggles slightly when moved. The texture is silky, soft, and melts in your mouth.
Panna cotta is incredibly versatile and pairs beautifully with a variety of toppings. It’s often served with a fruit coulis, like raspberry, strawberry, or mango, which adds a fresh, tangy contrast to the rich creaminess of the base. You can also top it with caramel sauce, chocolate ganache, honey, or even espresso syrup for a more decadent twist.
Vanilla is the most popular flavor for panna cotta, using fresh vanilla beans or extract for a fragrant, classic taste. However, variations include infusing the cream with ingredients like citrus zest, lavender, coffee, or spices such as cardamom or cinnamon.
Because it can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge, panna cotta is a favorite among home cooks and professional chefs alike. It’s light yet indulgent, perfect for ending a meal on a sweet, refined note.
Whether you serve it in elegant ramekins or unmolded onto a plate, panna cotta is a dessert that always feels special, minimal in ingredients, but maximum in flavor and charm.
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream Can substitute with half-and-half for a lighter version
- 1 cup milk Whole milk works best
- 1/4 cup sugar Granulated
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Pure vanilla extract for better flavor
- 1 packet gelatin Unflavored
- 3 tablespoons water Cold water to bloom the gelatin
Instructions
- In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes to bloom.
- In a saucepan, combine heavy cream, milk, and sugar. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is hot, but not boiling.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the bloomed gelatin until fully dissolved.
- Add vanilla extract and mix well.
- Pour the mixture into greased ramekins or molds and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight until set.
- To serve, unmold the panna cotta onto serving plates and drizzle with your favorite sauce, berries, or caramel.
Nutrition
Delicious! Easy peasy! 🍮
Totally agree! It’s so simple and tasty. Can’t wait to try it myself! 🍰
Easy recipe! I used almond milk instead of whole milk and it still worked great! 🙂
This was SO easy to make and turned out fantastic! My family loved it!
Is it really that easy? I always thought Panna Cotta was hard to make.
Honestly, it’s super simple! I was surprised too the first time I made it. Just follow the steps and you’ll be fine!
Great dessert, but my gelatin didn’t bloom properly. What did I do wrong?
I had the same issue once! Make sure the water is really cold when you bloom the gelatin. You should also let it sit long enough, like at least 5-10 minutes, otherwise it won’t dissolve properly. Just keep trying! 😊
I tried this but it came out too runny even after 6 hours in the fridge. Maybe I didn’t do it right.
Maybe you didn’t let the gelatin bloom long enough? That can mess up the texture. Try it again!
Yum! I added some strawberries on top, it was delish! Will make again!
I didn’t have vanilla extract, so I used almond. It was ok, but maybe that was a mistake?
Almond extract can work too! Just gives it a different flavor, you know? Maybe next time try mixing half and half almond and vanilla.
I don’t know man, almond sounds weird for panna cotta. Vanilla is classic for a reason. Did you ruin it? Maybe! 😅
Yummy! This was super easy to make! I used almond extract instead of vanilla since that’s all I had and it was still good. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Almond extract sounds like a fun twist! I might try that next time.
Isn’t panna cotta just fancy jello? Not a fan… too wobbly for my taste.
Delicious and perfect for a dinner party. Everyone was impressed!
This sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it at my next gathering. Thanks for sharing!
I had no idea what ‘blooming’ gelatin was, but turns out it was easy! Thanks for this recipe.
10/10! Tasty and so easy! 🤗
Wow! This panna cotta is heavenly! Super easy to make and tastes like a cloud! 5 stars!
Panna Cotta? More like panna NOta! I tried it and it was a fail. Too jiggly.
Sorry to hear it didn’t work out! Sometimes the gelatin can be tricky. Did you let it sit long enough in the fridge?
Yummm! I added some coffee to mine and it turned out delicious! Will definitely make again.
Very simple. Should be more complicated for such a fancy dessert.
But it’s supposed to be easy! Why make a mess? Panna cotta is classic simplicity.
I disagree! Sometimes less is more. This sounds perfect for a fancy dessert!
So delicious! I topped mine with fresh strawberries and melted chocolate. Absolute perfection!
Sounds amazing! I love your idea of strawberries and chocolate. Can’t wait to try it myself!
Best dessert ever! So creamy and smooth. Never going back to store-bought again!
I tried it but it didn’t set properly. What did I do wrong? I followed the instructions. 😟
I don’t know, this seems too simple. Panna cotta is supposed to be fancy, right? 🤔
I had a hard time getting it out of the mold. Maybe I should have greased it more? Anyway, I thought it tasted bland, so I added fruit and more sugar. Not bad, just not perfect.
Absolutely loved it! I used this as the dessert for my dinner party. Will make again for sure! Thanks!
panna cotta is too fancy for me lol, I just want some jello
Made it for my date and she loved it! Made me look like a chef! Thanks!
That’s awesome! Panna Cotta is a classic. What sauce did you pair it with?
Really? It’s just cream and gelatin. I wouldn’t say it’s that impressive…
Yum! Just yum! Can’t wait to try with caramel sauce. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
I know right? Caramel makes everything better! Can’t wait to hear how yours turns out!
This is a good recipe but why do you need to put gelatin in it? Can’t you just use whipped cream?
Using gelatin gives the panna cotta its signature silky texture. Whipped cream is great, but it won’t hold the shape well!
This recipe is horrible. Who doesn’t measure the vanilla? People just guess? Bad!
I kinda messed it up. My agar-agar didn’t work, so I used jello instead. Didn’t turn out well. A bit disappointing.
Don’t worry, it happens! Jello can be a decent substitute in a pinch, just takes a bit of tweaking. Next time, maybe use less water for the jello, it might help!
Honestly, jello?? That’s not panna cotta anymore! Should’ve followed the recipe better. Just saying…
This panna cotta recipe is so easy and delicious! I added some mixed berries on top, and it looked fancy! Definitely making it again.
I totally agree! Panna cotta is super easy and so smooth! I also like topping it with fruit. Yum!
How does gelatin work? Like, is it safe? What if I don’t want to use it?
This panna cotta recipe is a game changer! So creamy and delicious. My friends couldn’t believe I made it myself. Will definitely make again!
I tried it too and it was amazing! Just perfect for dinner parties.
I don’t know, everyone keeps talking about panna cotta, but it looks kinda easy and maybe too basic? Doesn’t seem that special to me.
I tried it, but it didn’t set right. Maybe I didn’t let it bloom long enough? Not sure.
It sounds like you might have needed to let the gelatin sit longer to bloom, but don’t worry! It happens to the best of us. Just make sure you follow the instructions carefully next time!
I tried it but it didn’t set properly. Maybe I did something wrong? It was more like a pudding.
It sounds like you might not have let the gelatin bloom long enough or maybe the mixture wasn’t hot enough to dissolve it completely. Don’t give up, try again! Panna cotta is delicious when done right!
5 stars all the way! This is my go-to dessert for dinner parties. Everyone loves it!
I’m glad you loved it! It’s such a classic dessert. What’s your favorite sauce to drizzle on top?
This panna cotta recipe is so easy! I made it for a dinner party and everyone loved it. Thank you!
Pretty easy to make! I added chocolate sauce on top, yum! Will make again!
Yay! I made it and it turned out great! Who knew gelatin was so easy to work with? 🙂
That’s awesome! Panna Cotta is such a classic dessert. I love how smooth it turns out. What kind of sauce did you use?
Panna cotta? More like panna no-thanks! Gelatin freaks me out, but my wife loved it. Bah.
I don’t understand why people like this. It just doesn’t taste like much to me, even if my friends say otherwise. Nah, I’ll pass.
I get that! Gelatin can be weird, but it’s so popular for a reason. My kids love panna cotta, they think it’s a fancy treat!
This panna cotta is a game-changer! So creamy and rich. My guests loved it!
I totally agree! It’s such a simple recipe, but the flavor is amazing!
Sounds good, but I’m not sure about the gelatin part. Can it be made without it?
This is too easy! I could’ve just bought it, lol! But I mean, mine did taste better.
What is this? Never heard of panna cotta before. Sounds boujee. Can I use just regular cream?
I never heard of this dessert till now. Sounds fancy. Would my kids like it?
Too fancy for my taste. I’d rather go for chocolate pudding. But, my sister liked it.
This panna cotta is amazing! So creamy and delicious, my family loved it!
Eh, it was just ok. A bit too sweet for my taste. I thought it would taste fancier.
Panna cotta?? More like panna knot cause I can’t even figure it out! 😂
Not a lemon fan, but drizzled some syrup on top and wow, delicious!
It was okay, but I would like more flavor. I added a bit of lemon juice, but it didn’t turn out as I expected. Maybe I’ll try a different recipe next time.
Yum! Perfectly creamy and just sweet enough. Will make again!
Really? I found it a bit bland. I think more sugar would help. 🤷♂️
I made this for my family and they all loved it! So easy to make too!
I tried replacing the sugar with honey. Not that great… stick with sugar!
I thought it needed a bit more sugar. Maybe I’m just a sweet tooth haha. Still tasted good though!
Does it have to be heavy cream? I thought milk only would be enough.