This Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta is satiny smooth and has a texture like a firm custard (but without any eggy flavor!). My favorite way to enjoy this dessert is with fresh berries or a berry puree—but you can top it with a chocolate or caramel sauce, too.
Things have been feeling verrry fancy around here lately. First there was semifreddo, then rugelach, and now panna cotta. What’s next, a $34,000 chocolate pudding?
Lest you think I’m getting too big for my britches, let me reassure you that I’m still the same pajama-wearing bum I’ve always been. In fact, I just ate a midnight snack of slightly stale cheerios from an old chipped mug. (But I did it with my pinky held high. Classy.)
And this vanilla bean panna cotta, despite its Italian heritage, is dead simple to make and not at all hoity-toity.
Panna cotta is basically flavored cream thickened with gelatin. When done right, it’s satiny smooth, with a texture like a firm custard (but without any eggy flavor!) It takes about five minutes to pull together, although it does require an extensive chilling time to get the gelatin to set. It can be served straight from the ramekins or unmolded for fancy-pants plating purposes.
This recipe calls for a vanilla bean, although you can substitute vanilla paste with good results. (Vanilla extract might not be strong enough to produce a really vibrant vanilla flavor.) It also calls for buttermilk, which nicely balances the sugar and gives the panna cotta a complex sweet-tart flavor. My favorite way to enjoy this dessert is with fresh berries or a berry puree—but you can top it with a chocolate or caramel sauce too.
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 tsp unflavored powdered gelatin
- 2 tbsp water cold
- 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 vanilla bean
- 1 3/4 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Combine the gelatin and cold water in a small bowl and whisk them together. Set aside to allow the gelatin to absorb the water, for about 5 minutes. Once absorbed, microwave the bowl for 15-20 seconds, until the gelatin is liquid.
- Whisk together the cream and sugar in a small saucepan. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add them to the cream. Heat the cream mixture over medium heat just until it starts to simmer, then remove it from the heat and add the gelatin, whisking well.
- Pour the buttermilk into the cream saucepan and stir until everything is blended. Pour the panna cotta mixture into six half-cup ramekins and refrigerate them overnight until they are set. Serve directly from the ramekins, or unmold them onto individual plates. To easily unmold them, briefly dip the bottoms of the ramekins in hot water before inverting them onto the plates.
Recipe Notes
Measuring Tips
Our recipes are developed using weight measurements, and we highly recommend using a kitchen scale for baking whenever possible. However, if you prefer to use cups, volume measurements are provided as well. PLEASE NOTE: the adage “8 oz = 1 cup” is NOT true when speaking about weight, so don’t be concerned if the measurements don’t fit this formula.
Want to learn more about baking measurements and conversion?
The panna cotta looks really good especially with the currants. This looks like a great use for leftover buttermilk, because really there is only so many pancakes you can have.
Right?! Mine always hangs around waaay past the expiration date. At first I convince myself it just makes it more “buttermilky” but after a point there’s no denying that rancid milk is rancid milk.
Gorgeous photos! I love love love panna cotta and have made it a lot but never wiht buttermilk! Am curious to see if it tastes significantly different.
Pretty! I love the vibrant red currants. The contrast of colors appeals to my eyes effectively. A must try!
Amazing. My friend Christy and I just drooled over this. Drool!
Everything on here looks divine. Just want you to know. 🙂