Panna cotta is such an easy and elegant make-ahead dessert for any special occasion! Serve with a quick fruit sauce and summer berries.
There are certain desserts that are so easy to make and so stupendously rewarding that they should be at the very top of your list for special occasions.
Panna cotta is definitely one of them.
Let’s not beat around the bush: Italians have the corner on the market when it comes creating something amazing from only a few good ingredients. Panna cotta literally means “cooked cream,” and that’s about all it is! This custard-like dessert is made with just cream, sugar, and gelatin – though I like to add sour cream and vanilla to mine for the extra flavor.
This panna cotta is like serving berries and cream, but fancier. Since you’re not using any eggs, you can really taste the delicate flavor of the cream. The barely-set custard also has a luxurious, silky texture that feels so elegant.
Powdered gelatin must be softened first in cold liquid. In this case, I do it in milk. Then the softened gelatin needs to be warmed to fully dissolve. When making panna cotta, I do this by pouring the warmed cream over the softened gelatin.
Since the amounts of gelatin in individual packets can vary slightly, be sure to measure it out with a teaspoon. Too much gelatin could result in a texture that is too firm and Jello-like (you want the panna cotta to be just barely firm enough to unmold).
Simplify the unmolding process by lightly coat the ramekins used for molds with mild vegetable oil or spray. If you don’t want to bother with unmolding, you can also simply pour the panna cotta mixture into pretty dishes and serve them as is. (Be sure to leave some room in the dish for the berries!) For reference when choosing molds or serving dishes, this recipe makes six 6-ounce servings, or eight 4-ounce servings.
For those of you looking for a vegan substitute for the gelatin, take a look at this reference guide on The Kitchn. It’s a good place to start when looking for alternative gelling agents.
Panna Cotta with Summer Berries Recipe
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Chilling time: 4 hours or overnight
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
For the panna cotta:
- Vegetable oil, or vegetable oil spray (for the molds)
- 1/2 cup cold milk
- 3 teaspoons unflavored gelatin powder
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1/3 cup (67g) sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the sauce and berries:
- 1 12-ounce package (about 3 cups) frozen raspberries, defrosted
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 cups fresh blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, sliced strawberries, or a mix
Special equipment:
6 (6-ounce) ramekins, or other similarly sized molds or serving dishes
Method
1 Prepare the molds: Lightly brush or spray six 6-ounce ramekins with oil. (Skip this step if you are planning to serve straight from the dishes.)
Place the ramekins on a baking sheet for easy transfer of the panna cotta from the counter to the fridge.
2 Soften the gelatin: Pour the milk into a medium mixing bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over top. Stir with a fork to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes without stirring to allow the gelatin to soften. (It will look like curdled milk or milky applesauce.)
3 Warm the cream and sugar: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream, sugar, and salt to a simmer. Stir frequently until the sugar is dissolved and the milk is just starting to steam. Do not let it come to a boil (if it does, let it cool slightly before continuing to the next step).
4 Whisk the cream into the gelatin: Slowly pour the hot cream over the gelatin, whisking as you go in order to dissolve the gelatin. Rub a little of the cream mixture between your fingers to make sure the gelatin has dissolved; it should feel smooth, not grainy.
5 Whisk in the sour cream and vanilla until smooth.
6 Fill and chill the molds: Divide the panna cotta mixture between the ramekins. Transfer to the ramekins to the fridge and chill for at least 4 hours until set, or overnight.
7 Make the raspberry sauce: Close to when you’re ready to serve, puree the raspberries, sugar and orange juice in a blender until smooth. Pass through a fine meshed strainer to remove the seeds. Set aside or refrigerate until needed. (This sauce can also be made several days in advance and kept refrigerated.)
8 Unmold the panna cotta: Slide a paring knife around the edge of each ramekin. Place a dessert plate upside-down over the top of the ramekin. Holding the plate in position, flip it over so the ramekin is now upside down on top of the plate. Slowly lift the ramekin at a slight angle to release the panna cotta.
Spoon some of the sauce around the panna cotta and sprinkle with berries. (If you’re serving straight from the dish, spoon some of the sauce over top and sprinkle with berries.)
