Silky, elegant, and deceptively simple, this vanilla bean panna cotta is the make-ahead dessert you didn't know you needed, requiring just a handful of ingredients and barely any hands-on time. Whether you're entertaining guests or treating yourself, this is the kind of effortlessly impressive dessert that earns serious compliments with minimal effort.
I can't even begin to tell you just how good this Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta is. It's silky, creamy, and surprisingly simple to make, but tastes like something you'd order at a great restaurant. I highly recommend using vanilla bean paste or the seeds from a vanilla bean pod rather than vanilla extract for the best flavor and those beautiful little specks of vanilla throughout the custard.
This is one of my favorite desserts for entertaining because you can make the entire thing completely in advance and simply pull it out of the fridge when you're ready to serve. Just top with fresh fruit or mint right before serving. In fact, I once made this for a high tea event we hosted for about 100 people, and it worked perfectly. It's elegant, reliable, and always a crowd-pleaser, whether you're serving it for the holidays, a dinner party, or any special gathering.
Jump to:
What is Panna Cotta?
Panna Cotta is a traditional Italian dessert made with a sweetened milk and cream mixture set with gelatin and served chilled.
While many classic Panna Cotta recipes are made in a mold and then removed. I prefer the ease and look of serving it in little glass pots.
More dessert recipes for you to enjoy.
Equipment
For this recipe you will need a sauce pan and a whisk.
You will also need serving jars. I like using 6 oz glass yogurt pots. Four ounce mason jars would also work great!
Ingredients
- Unflavored gelatine: I use a packet of Knox gelatin.
- Water
- Heavy Whipping Cream
- Whole Milk
- White Granulated Sugar
- Vanilla Bean Paste: You could also scrape the seeds out of a vanilla bean pod. I love using this Simply Organic Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste.
Step-by-Step Photos
Time needed: 6 hours and 15 minutes
How to make Panna Cotta.
- Bloom the gelatine.
- Made the vanilla bean cream mixture and pour into jars.
- Chill garnish and serve. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Vanilla extract will work if that's what you have on hand, but vanilla bean paste or the seeds from a vanilla bean pod give the panna cotta a richer flavor and those beautiful specks of real vanilla.
Panna cotta is a great make-ahead dessert. It can be prepared 1-2 days in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
At minimum panna cotta needs at least 4 hours in the refrigerator to set up, though overnight chilling will give the best texture.
If panna cotta doesn't set properly, it's usually because the gelatin wasn't measured correctly or wasn't fully dissolved in the warm cream mixture. Make sure the gelatin is properly bloomed and fully incorporated.
More recipes you will love.
Made this Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta recipe? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Recipe
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta
Equipment
- small prep bowl
- Sauce pan
- 7 4 oz jars
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon water
- 1 packet of powdered gelatine 7.2 grams
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- pinch of salt
For serving (optional)
- pomegranate seeds
- fresh mint
- assorted berries
Instructions
- Add 3 tablespoon of water to a small bowl. Sprinkle the powdered gelatine evenly over the top and set aside to bloom, at least 5 minutes.
- In a medium size sauce pan combine cream, milk, sugar, vanilla bean paste and a pinch of salt.Bring to a gentle simmer over medium to medium high heat and cook until the sugar has fully dissolved. Remove from the heat.
- Add the bloomed gelatine to the cream mixture and whisk until well combined with no lumps.Carefully pour into 7 four ounce serving pots and place in the fridge to set for at least 6 hours and up to 3 days.
- Remove from the fridge and top pomegranate seeds, fresh mint or assorted berries if desired. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Natalie
This pan a cotta dessert was a hit in our house. We can’t wait to bring it to the Christmas party!
Nora
This vanilla panna cotta was so delicious! And on top of that, it looks gorgeous! Thanks for the great recipe!
Kim
This dessert is incredible. It was super easy to make and so delicious. Plus it's just such a pretty dessert for special occasions.
Melinda
So easy to make and impressive to serve. My guests loved Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta, I garnished with fresh mint and berries. Huge hit! Thank you for the recipe. A whole new spin on dessert.