Vanilla Panna Cotta (Classic Italian Dessert)
Vanilla Panna Cotta is a classic Italian dessert featuring a creamy, smooth texture with a delicate vanilla flavor. This elegant, light dessert is perfect for concluding a heavy meal and sets beautifully with gelatin for a refined finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 2 cups Heavy cream
- ⅓ cup Sugar
- 1 packet Gelatin powder (approx. 2 ½ teaspoons)
- 3 tablespoons Cold water
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean (split and scraped)
Instructions
- Bloom the Gelatin: Sprinkle the gelatin powder evenly over 3 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl. Allow it to sit undisturbed for 5 minutes to absorb the water and become gelatinous, which is essential for proper setting.
- Heat Cream and Sugar: In a saucepan, gently heat the heavy cream and sugar over medium-low heat. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves completely but do not let the mixture boil to preserve the cream’s smoothness and flavor.
- Add Vanilla and Remove from Heat: Stir in vanilla extract or the seeds and pod from a vanilla bean into the warm cream mixture. Remove the saucepan from the heat to prevent overcooking.
- Dissolve Gelatin: Add the bloomed gelatin to the warm cream mixture and whisk vigorously until the gelatin is fully dissolved, ensuring a smooth, lump-free texture. For extra smoothness, strain the mixture through a fine sieve.
- Chill to Set: Pour the panna cotta mixture into molds or serving cups. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight to allow it to set firmly.
- Serve: To unmold, gently dip molds into warm water briefly and invert onto a plate, or serve directly in cups as desired.
Notes
- Do not boil the cream mixture to avoid curdling and to keep the texture silky.
- Using a vanilla bean instead of extract intensifies the flavor.
- Chilling overnight improves the panna cotta’s firmness and flavor melding.
- For an even smoother texture, strain the mixture before chilling.
- You can substitute dairy cream with coconut cream for a dairy-free option, though the flavor and texture will change.