Easy Panna Cotta Recipe (Video)

What is Panna Cotta Made Of?

Panna cotta is a jello-like dessert that is made mainly from cream, milk, gelatin and sugar. My recipe adds a twist of sour cream for a bit of tanginess and fresh raspberry compote topping.

The only thing that rivals panna cotta’s taste is its texture. When properly chilled, this dessert has a melt-in-your-mouth, silky consistency that is truly unparalleled. Think of it as somewhere in between a pudding and a Mexican-style flan.

What is Panna Cotta?

You may not have heard of panna cotta before, but after trying this recipe, you won’t be able to live without it. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of enjoying this delicious treat, panna cotta is a traditional Italian dessert made of sweetened cream that is thickened with gelatin and molded into individual-sized servings. 

The literal translation in Italian means “cooked cream”, which might not sound all that appealing, but trust me it is. It has a smooth, creamy texture and is perfect to throw together either for a party, or just a relaxing night at home. 

You can make the dessert plain, or flavor it in any way you want — kind of like what you would do with a basic ice cream recipe. The cream may be aromatized with coffee, vanilla, or other flavorings.

How To Make Panna Cotta

In a saucepan, combine together milk, whipping cream and sugar. Bring it to very warm temperature, but don’t boil. Then in a small dish, combine gelatin with water and add the gelatin and vanilla extract into the milk mixture. Lastly, whisk in sour cream to the mixture.

Pour the mixture into serving dishes. Let it refrigerate for a few hours, until jello sets. While the mixture sets, prep the sauce to be served on top of the gelatin mixture. 

Once it comes time to add the topping, this is where you can really adjust it to your own preference. You can serve it with fresh berries, blend canned fruit or make your own homemade jam. Here are some ideas:

• Coconut Panna Cotta – To make this recipe a bit more tropical, you can replace the heavy cream with coconut cream. Top with toasted coconut and pineapple for a real pina colada effect. 
• Lemon Panna Cotta – For a slightly tart flavor addition, add the zest and juice of one lime into the gelatin mixture, then still top with the raspberry sauce for a summery treat you’ll love. 
• Strawberry Panna Cotta – Just like the mango option, you can just simply change the raspberry topping to strawberry. You can also top it with premade strawberry pie filling to make things even easier. 

Make Ahead Classic Panna Cotta

If you have an event you need to bring a dessert to and don’t have time the day of to make something, this Italian panna cotta will be your new best friend. 

The recipe is not make and eat immediately kind of dessert, it can be made up to 2 days prior to serving and still taste like you just finished making it as you walked out the door. 

Follow the directions below for how to store panna cotta, and you’ll be well on your way to a stress free entertaining. 

Best Place To Store Panna Cotta

Since this is a dessert made mainly with cream or milk, you’ll want to keep it refrigerated if you plan on keeping any leftovers. It’s best to store panna cotta in an airtight container, or on a plate and wrapped in plastic wrap or foil. 

Once prepared, place in the refrigerator and eat within 5 days for best results. 

Other Jello Recipes

• Jello Fruit Cake Dessert
• Espresso Jello Shots
• Strawberry Jello Cake Dessert

Recipe

Easy Panna Cotta Recipe

Print Pin

Servings

8 People

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

Panna Cotta is an Italian dessert pudding that tastes as refreshing as it looks. Easy to make and perfect for preparing in advance, whip it up in the thick of summer when turning on the oven is out of the question.

Ingredients

• 2 cup milk
• 1 cup heavy whipped cream
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 tsp gelatin
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cup raspberries
• 1/3 cup sugar

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• In a sauce pan, combine milk together with whipping cream and sugar. Bring it to a very warm heat, but don't boil.
  
• In a small dish, combine gelatin with a bit of water. Let it sit for a few minutes, until it dissolves. Add gelatin to the milk mixture.
  
• Let the milk mixture come to a room temperature. Whisk vanilla extract and sour cream into the mixture.
  
• Pour mixture into serving dishes. Let it refrigerate for a few hours, until jello sets.
  
• In a small sauce pan, combine together raspberries with sugar. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes and remove from the heat. Place it into a cold place to cool it down to a room temperature.
  
• Once the jello sets, add raspberry mixture on top and serve.
  

Nutrition Facts

Easy Panna Cotta Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 187 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Saturated Fat 4g20%

Cholesterol 19mg6%

Sodium 42mg2%

Potassium 157mg4%

Carbohydrates 29g10%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 26g29%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 250IU5%

Vitamin C 8mg10%

Calcium 100mg10%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.