Vanilla Panna Cotta – Creamy Italian Dessert with Gelatin

Panna Cotta is a traditional Italian dessert from the Piedmont region, made with cream, sugar, and gelatin. A single serving contains around 250 calories and is rich in fats and protein. This dessert contains dairy and gelatin (from animal sources), so it may not be suitable for vegans or those with lactose intolerance. Diabetics should limit intake due to sugar. Panna Cotta is extremely versatile: it can be flavored with vanilla, coffee, or citrus and paired with fruit coulis or chocolate sauce for extra taste.

Ingredients:

500 ml heavy cream
50 g sugar
1 vanilla bean
3 gelatine sheets (or 1 tbsp powdered gelatine)

Equipment Needed:

Saucepan
Mixing bowl
Whisk
Small molds or glasses
Measuring cup

Time: Prep 10 min | Chill 4 hours

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Soak gelatine sheets in cold water for 5 minutes.
Split the vanilla bean, scrape out seeds, and add both seeds and pod to the cream in a saucepan. Heat cream with sugar over low heat until warm, do not boil. Remove pod.
Squeeze excess water from gelatine and stir it into the warm cream until completely dissolved.
Pour the mixture into molds or glasses. Let it cool to room temperature.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours until fully set.
Serve with fresh berries, fruit coulis, or a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

Beginner Tips:

Ensure the cream is warm but not boiling to avoid ruining the texture.
Dissolve the gelatine completely for a smooth set.
Chill long enough so that the panna cotta holds its shape when unmolded.