Silky Vanilla Panna Cotta Recipe: A Dreamy Dessert Delight

Silky smooth and elegantly simple, this classic Italian vanilla panna cotta recipe will transport you straight to the romantic streets of Rome.

Rich cream swirls with delicate vanilla, creating a dessert that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Every spoonful promises pure decadence and culinary sophistication.

The dessert comes together with just a few basic ingredients and minimal effort.

Chilling allows the panna cotta to set into a luxurious, trembling texture that looks far more complicated than it actually is.

Impress dinner guests or enjoy a personal moment of pure indulgence with this irresistible Italian classic that proves sometimes less truly is more.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours, 15 minutes (includes chilling time)

Calories: 280 kcal

Servings: 5

Vanilla Panna Cotta Ingredients Breakdown

• Whole Milk: Provides rich, smooth foundation with silky texture that ensures luxurious dessert consistency.
• Heavy Cream: Adds decadent richness and creates luscious mouthfeel with velvety smoothness.
• Vanilla Bean or Pure Vanilla Extract: Delivers elegant, aromatic sweetness with deep, complex flavor profile.

• Granulated Sugar: Balances sweetness and helps create stable dessert structure with perfect softness.
• Gelatin Powder: Critical thickening agent that transforms liquid mixture into delicate, trembling dessert texture.

• Ramekins or Individual Molds: Essential for shaping and chilling panna cotta with precise portion control.
• Hot Water: Crucial for gentle unmolding technique, helping release dessert smoothly without damaging delicate structure.

Equipment List for Vanilla Panna Cotta Perfection

• Saucepan: Essential for heating milk, cream, and creating smooth mixture.
• Whisk: Perfect for dissolving sugar and preventing gelatin lumps.
• Ramekins or Individual Molds: Needed for shaping and setting panna cotta.
• Measuring Cups: Accurate for measuring milk, cream, and sugar.
• Spoon: Useful for removing surface skin if desired.
• Serving Plates: Required for presenting final dessert.
• Large Bowl: Helpful for preparing hot water for unmolding.

Steps to Make Smooth Vanilla Panna Cotta

Sweet Cream Delight

• Silky Base Preparation Gently warm milk and cream in a saucepan, allowing the soft vanilla essence to infuse the liquid with delicate flavor.
• Sugar Embrace Dissolve sugar smoothly into the warm mixture, creating a harmonious sweet foundation.
• Gelatin Magic Sprinkle gelatin across the surface, whisking carefully to ensure a perfectly smooth texture without any pesky lumps.
• Cooling Pause Let the mixture rest at room temperature, allowing it to settle and develop its delicate character.
• Chilling Time Tuck the dessert into the refrigerator, giving it several hours to transform into a luxurious, trembling treat.
• Elegant Serving Release the panna cotta from its mold by briefly dipping the container in warm water, then gently inverting onto a beautiful plate for a stunning presentation.

Tricks for the Best Vanilla Panna Cotta

• Add lavender, coffee beans, cinnamon sticks, or citrus zest to the cream mixture during heating to create sophisticated taste variations.
• When chilled panna cotta resists releasing, run a thin knife around the edge of the mold to help it slide out smoothly without breaking the delicate texture.
• Top with fresh berries, caramel sauce, chocolate shavings, or fruit compote to elevate the dessert's visual appeal and add complementary flavors.
• Always sprinkle gelatin powder gradually and whisk consistently to prevent clumping, ensuring a silky smooth final texture that melts perfectly in your mouth.

How to Serve Vanilla Panna Cotta Beautifully

• Sweet Berry Companion: Top fresh strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries around the silky panna cotta for vibrant color and refreshing burst of natural sweetness.
• Caramel Drizzle Delight: Warm soft caramel sauce and delicately pour over the white panna cotta creating elegant contrasting golden streams that enhance creamy texture.
• Chocolate Elegance Topping: Shave dark chocolate curls or sprinkle cocoa powder across the smooth surface for sophisticated rich undertones that complement vanilla's delicate flavor.
• Nutty Crunch Accent: Scatter toasted almond slivers or crushed pistachios around the edges, adding delightful crispy texture and subtle nutty complexity to the creamy dessert.

Vanilla Panna Cotta: How to Store it Right

• Chilled Dessert Storage Magic: Keep your vanilla panna cotta sealed in airtight containers within the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The creamy texture remains perfect when protected from absorbing other food odors.
• Freezing Strategy: Wrap individual panna cotta portions tightly in plastic wrap, then store inside freezer-safe containers. Frozen desserts maintain quality for up to 2 weeks, offering a delightful make-ahead option for spontaneous gatherings.
• Portion Control Trick: Use silicone molds or small glass jars for individual servings. This approach ensures easy serving, clean presentation, and convenient storage without compromising the delicate dessert's structure.
• Temperature Wisdom: Always keep panna cotta chilled between 35-40°F. Room temperature exposure can cause gelatin to soften, potentially ruining the smooth, elegant texture that makes this dessert so special.

Silky Vanilla Panna Cotta Recipe

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4.8 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 4 hours, 15 minutes (includes chilling time)
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Creamy vanilla panna cotta offers a delightful Italian dessert that melts gracefully on palates. Silky custard promises pure indulgence with elegant simplicity and rich Mediterranean charm.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 tsp vanilla paste
• 1 vanilla bean
• 1 ½ cups (375 mL) heavy cream
• 1 cup (250 mL) whole milk
• ½ cup (95 g) caster sugar
• 4 tsp (12 g) gelatin powder

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Instructions

1. Infuse Dairy: Gently heat milk, cream, and vanilla in a saucepan until delicate bubbles emerge around the edges, avoiding a rolling boil.
2. Sweeten and Dissolve: Remove from heat and incorporate sugar, stirring until completely blended into a harmonious liquid.
3. Activate Gelatin: Sprinkle gelatin powder over the warm mixture, whisking energetically to eliminate potential lumps and ensure complete integration.
4. Prepare Vessels: Pour the silky smooth liquid into individual serving containers, allowing natural cooling at room temperature for roughly 30 minutes.
5. Chill and Set: Transfer containers to the refrigerator, letting the panna cotta firm up for 4-6 hours or overnight until it achieves a delicate, quivering texture.
6. Unmold and Serve: Create a shallow hot water bath, briefly dip each mold to loosen edges, then invert onto serving plates, allowing the panna cotta to release effortlessly and presenting an elegant, trembling dessert.

Notes

• Prevent Boiling: Monitor heat carefully to avoid scorching milk and cream, which can ruin the delicate texture and flavor of the panna cotta.
• Dissolve Gelatin Smoothly: Whisk gelatin powder thoroughly and instantly to eliminate lumps, ensuring a silky, uniform consistency throughout the dessert.
• Cooling Technique: Let the mixture rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before refrigerating, which helps prevent condensation and creates a smoother final texture.
• Unmolding Pro Tip: Use hot water bath method for just seconds to release panna cotta cleanly, avoiding excessive heating that could compromise the delicate structure.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 280
• Sugar: 19 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg