Hamdi Saidani This Panna Cotta with Fresh Berries is a creamy and silky recipe, which is made with heavy whipping cream and honey. It’s a classic, foolproof recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, plus chilling time.
Panna Cotta with Fresh Berries Recipe Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon unflavored powdered gelatin
- 3 cups whipping cream
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Pinch salt
- 2 cups assorted fresh berries (such as raspberries, blueberries, and sliced strawberries)
How To Make Panna Cotta with Fresh Berries
- Bloom the Gelatin: Pour the whole milk into a small bowl. Sprinkle the powdered gelatin evenly over the top. Let it stand for 3 to 5 minutes without stirring. This allows the gelatin to soften, or “bloom.”
- Make the Panna Cotta Base: Pour the milk and gelatin mixture into a heavy saucepan. Stir over medium heat for about 5 minutes, just until the gelatin has completely dissolved. Do not let the milk boil.
- Add Cream and Sweeteners: Add the whipping cream, honey, sugar, and a pinch of salt to the saucepan. Continue to stir over medium heat for another 5 to 7 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is warm. Do not let it come to a boil.
- Pour and Chill: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Pour the mixture evenly into 6 wine glasses or small ramekins, filling them about halfway. Let them cool slightly at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight, until the panna cotta is completely set.
- Garnish and Serve: Just before serving, spoon the fresh assorted berries over the top of the set panna cotta.
Recipe Tips
- How to get a perfectly smooth texture? The secret to a silky, not rubbery, panna cotta is in the gelatin. First, make sure you bloom it properly in the cold milk before heating. Second, gently heat the mixture to dissolve the gelatin completely, but never let it boil, as boiling can weaken the gelatin’s setting power.
- Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, panna cotta is the perfect make-ahead dessert! You can prepare it and let it chill in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just be sure to cover the glasses with plastic wrap (once cool) to prevent a skin from forming. Add the fresh berries just before serving.
- How do I know when the panna cotta is set? A perfectly set panna cotta should have a delicate wobble. When you gently jiggle the glass, the center should move slightly, similar to Jell-O, but it should not be liquid.
- Can I use a different sweetener? Absolutely. If you don’t have honey, you can simply substitute it with an equal amount of maple syrup or increase the granulated sugar to taste.
What To Serve With Panna Cotta
This dessert is elegantly simple and is perfectly complemented by the fresh berries. For other variations, you could also top it with:
- A fresh fruit coulis, such as raspberry or mango sauce
- A drizzle of high-quality balsamic glaze
- A sprinkle of toasted pistachios or sliced almonds for crunch
- A thin, crisp cookie, like a shortbread or biscotti, on the side
How To Store Panna Cotta
- Refrigerate: Panna cotta must be stored in the refrigerator. After it has cooled slightly, cover each glass with plastic wrap. It will keep well for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Freezing is not recommended for gelatin-based desserts like panna cotta, as the texture can become watery and grainy upon thawing.
Panna Cotta Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Sugar: 28g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
What is Panna Cotta?
Panna cotta is a classic Italian dessert that translates to “cooked cream.” It’s a simple, elegant pudding made from cream, sugar, and a gelling agent (in this case, gelatin), which is chilled until it’s set.
Why didn’t my panna cotta set?
This is the most common issue and is almost always related to the gelatin. It could be that your gelatin was old and no longer active, you didn’t use enough, or you didn’t heat the milk mixture enough to fully dissolve the gelatin powder.
Can I make this dairy-free?
Yes, you can make a version with full-fat canned coconut milk as a substitute for the heavy cream and a creamy plant-based milk (like oat or cashew) for the whole milk. The flavor profile will be distinctly coconut-based.
Try More Recipes:
- Sunny’s Easy OG Sugar Donuts Recipe
- Five Spice Pineapple Carrot Cupcakes Recipe
- Individual No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecakes Recipe
Panna Cotta with Fresh Berries Recipe
Description
A classic, elegant Italian dessert with a silky, creamy texture, made incredibly simple and served with a topping of fresh mixed berries.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pour the milk into a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Let it stand for 3-5 minutes to bloom.
- Transfer the milk mixture to a saucepan and heat gently over medium heat, stirring, until the gelatin dissolves (do not boil).
- Stir in the cream, honey, sugar, and salt, and continue to heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved.
- Remove from the heat and pour the mixture into 6 individual serving glasses.
- Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or until the panna cotta is completely set.
- Top with fresh berries just before serving.
Notes
- The most important tip for a smooth panna cotta is to properly bloom the gelatin in cold milk first and then to never let the mixture boil.
- This is the perfect make-ahead dessert; you can prepare the panna cotta up to 3 days in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator.
- For the richest, creamiest result, it is essential to use full-fat whipping cream and whole milk.
- Be patient and allow the full 6 hours of chilling time to ensure the panna cotta is perfectly set and firm.
