Panna Cotta Recipe How To Make Panna Cotta

What is Panna Cotta

In Italian, panna cotta means “cooked cream”. It is a softly set, pudding-like dessert that is creamy but firm, somewhat similar to flan. Many variations of panna cotta can be made by altering the basic recipe; Mango Panna Cotta is one of our favorites. Making Italian panna cotta is very easy and takes just 15 to 20 minutes of active time. If I’m being honest, the hardest part is having the patience for it to set up in the refrigerator! In traditional panna cotta recipes, gelatin (which is derived from animal bones) is the thickening/setting agent used. In place of gelatin, I use agar agar, which is a flavorless substance derived from algae. Don’t worry though – this vegetarian panna cotta recipe still has all the charming wobble of the original. I used light cream (low-fat cream) to make the panna cotta recipe, but you can easily use regular whipping cream instead. I also flavored it very simply with vanilla extract, which can easily be substituted for other extracts like almond, lemon or coffee. I have been making panna cotta for many years now. Somehow this classic panna cotta recipe never made it to the blog. Thus this time when I made vanilla panna cotta recipe, I took pictures, so that I can share its recipe on the blog For an elegant presentation, feel free to serve this panna cotta with fresh fruits like sliced mango or fresh berries. You can also serve with a simple fruit-based sauce (known as a coulis).

How to Make Panna Cotta

Please note that both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when mixed with each other, so cook both simultaneously. In the stepwise photos format, I have shown the steps separately for both agar agar solution and cream mixture.

Make Agar Agar Liquid

1. First take 2 tablespoons of finely chopped agar agar strands in a small saucepan. Cut the agar agar strands into small or tiny pieces.  Note: If you want to unmould the panna cotta from whatever container you chill it in, then add 3 tablespoons of chopped agar agar strands.
2. Add ⅓ cup hot water.
3. Mix and let the agar agar strands soak in hot water for 5 minutes.
4. Place the agar agar and water mixture on a low heat. Stir the agar agar solution and let it cook till the agar agar strands are dissolved.
5. Continue to stir often when cooking this solution.
6. Cook till all the agar agar strands dissolve.
7. The solution will also thicken. Remove from heat when all the agar agar strands have dissolved. You will see a clear solution.

Make Cream Mixture

8. Meanwhile mix 2 cups light cream or low-fat cream (20 to 30% fat) and 2 cups whole milk in a pan or saucepan. Feel free to use heavy cream or whipping cream, if thats what you have. Note: Since we are using equal amounts of cream and milk, you can easily substitute 4 cups of half n’ half instead.
9. Add ½ cup sugar.
10. Place saucepan on a low to low-medium heat. Stir with a wired whisk until the sugar completely dissolves.
11. Keep on stirring at intervals while the cream mixture comes to a simmer.
12. The mixture should just come to a simmer or a light gentle boil. Then remove it from heat.
13. Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Note: If using vanilla essence, then add 1 teaspoon of it.
14. Mix very well.

Make Vanilla Panna Cotta Mixture

15. Now add the hot agar agar solution to the hot cream and milk mixture. Both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when you mix them.
16. Mix again very well.

Assemble and Chill Panna Cotta

17. Pour the hot panna cotta mixture into bowls. If you plan to unmould the panna cotta, then grease the bowls with some neutral-tasting oil like sunflower oil.
18. Cover the bowls with aluminum foil or lids. When the panna cotta mixture becomes warm or comes to room temperature, then place the bowls in the fridge to set for 4 to 5 hours or overnight.
19. Once set well, the panna cotta will gently wobble. Some water from condensation will be on top of the panna cotta. These are water droplets from the steam collected on the foil or lid. If you want to avoid the water droplets, then let the panna cotta mixture cool first at room temperature and then cover with the lids or aluminum foil.
20. Serve Panna Cotta as-is, or top it with your favorite fresh fruit or berries. Sauces like fruit coulis, chocolate sauce or caramel can also be used. You can even drizzle some honey or maple syrup on the panna cotta. Enjoy!

Expert Tips

Temperature of Liquids: Both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when you mix them while making the panna cotta recipe. In case one of them cools, follow these instructions:For agar agar – on cooling the agar agar sets and becomes gelatinous, so add some hot water and reheat them with continuous stirring. You can also use a hot water bath.For the cream mixture – gently reheat this mixture on a low flame till its hot.Scale: This panna cotta recipe can be scaled depending on your needs. It is easily halved or doubled.Sweetness: Feel free to adjust the sugar content to your needs. Cream: Heavy cream or whipping cream can be used instead of light cream or low-fat cream.Vegan options: For a vegan version of panna cotta recipe, use coconut cream in place of cream and almond milk in place of dairy milk.Agar agar: The amount of agar agar used in the recipe will give you a panna cotta that sets nicely and is firm enough for serving in individual glasses. If you want a panna cotta that you unmould from a decorative container, I suggest adding an additional tablespoon of agar agar.

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. Tiramisu Recipe (Without Eggs) Creamy Cheesecake Recipe | New York Cheesecake Recipe Trifle Recipe | Trifle Pudding | Fruit Trifle Fruit Custard | Easy Healthy Fruit Custard Recipe This Panna Cotta recipe from the archives, originally published in April 2018 has been updated and republished on February 2023.

title: “Panna Cotta Recipe How To Make Panna Cotta” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-15” author: “Clifton Scott”

What is Panna Cotta

In Italian, panna cotta means “cooked cream”. It is a softly set, pudding-like dessert that is creamy but firm, somewhat similar to flan. Many variations of panna cotta can be made by altering the basic recipe; Mango Panna Cotta is one of our favorites. Making Italian panna cotta is very easy and takes just 15 to 20 minutes of active time. If I’m being honest, the hardest part is having the patience for it to set up in the refrigerator! In traditional panna cotta recipes, gelatin (which is derived from animal bones) is the thickening/setting agent used. In place of gelatin, I use agar agar, which is a flavorless substance derived from algae. Don’t worry though – this vegetarian panna cotta recipe still has all the charming wobble of the original. I used light cream (low-fat cream) to make the panna cotta recipe, but you can easily use regular whipping cream instead. I also flavored it very simply with vanilla extract, which can easily be substituted for other extracts like almond, lemon or coffee. I have been making panna cotta for many years now. Somehow this classic panna cotta recipe never made it to the blog. Thus this time when I made vanilla panna cotta recipe, I took pictures, so that I can share its recipe on the blog For an elegant presentation, feel free to serve this panna cotta with fresh fruits like sliced mango or fresh berries. You can also serve with a simple fruit-based sauce (known as a coulis).

How to Make Panna Cotta

Please note that both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when mixed with each other, so cook both simultaneously. In the stepwise photos format, I have shown the steps separately for both agar agar solution and cream mixture.

Make Agar Agar Liquid

1. First take 2 tablespoons of finely chopped agar agar strands in a small saucepan. Cut the agar agar strands into small or tiny pieces.  Note: If you want to unmould the panna cotta from whatever container you chill it in, then add 3 tablespoons of chopped agar agar strands.
2. Add ⅓ cup hot water.
3. Mix and let the agar agar strands soak in hot water for 5 minutes.
4. Place the agar agar and water mixture on a low heat. Stir the agar agar solution and let it cook till the agar agar strands are dissolved.
5. Continue to stir often when cooking this solution.
6. Cook till all the agar agar strands dissolve.
7. The solution will also thicken. Remove from heat when all the agar agar strands have dissolved. You will see a clear solution.

Make Cream Mixture

8. Meanwhile mix 2 cups light cream or low-fat cream (20 to 30% fat) and 2 cups whole milk in a pan or saucepan. Feel free to use heavy cream or whipping cream, if thats what you have. Note: Since we are using equal amounts of cream and milk, you can easily substitute 4 cups of half n’ half instead.
9. Add ½ cup sugar.
10. Place saucepan on a low to low-medium heat. Stir with a wired whisk until the sugar completely dissolves.
11. Keep on stirring at intervals while the cream mixture comes to a simmer.
12. The mixture should just come to a simmer or a light gentle boil. Then remove it from heat.
13. Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Note: If using vanilla essence, then add 1 teaspoon of it.
14. Mix very well.

Make Vanilla Panna Cotta Mixture

15. Now add the hot agar agar solution to the hot cream and milk mixture. Both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when you mix them.
16. Mix again very well.

Assemble and Chill Panna Cotta

17. Pour the hot panna cotta mixture into bowls. If you plan to unmould the panna cotta, then grease the bowls with some neutral-tasting oil like sunflower oil.
18. Cover the bowls with aluminum foil or lids. When the panna cotta mixture becomes warm or comes to room temperature, then place the bowls in the fridge to set for 4 to 5 hours or overnight.
19. Once set well, the panna cotta will gently wobble. Some water from condensation will be on top of the panna cotta. These are water droplets from the steam collected on the foil or lid. If you want to avoid the water droplets, then let the panna cotta mixture cool first at room temperature and then cover with the lids or aluminum foil.
20. Serve Panna Cotta as-is, or top it with your favorite fresh fruit or berries. Sauces like fruit coulis, chocolate sauce or caramel can also be used. You can even drizzle some honey or maple syrup on the panna cotta. Enjoy!

Expert Tips

Temperature of Liquids: Both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when you mix them while making the panna cotta recipe. In case one of them cools, follow these instructions:For agar agar – on cooling the agar agar sets and becomes gelatinous, so add some hot water and reheat them with continuous stirring. You can also use a hot water bath.For the cream mixture – gently reheat this mixture on a low flame till its hot.Scale: This panna cotta recipe can be scaled depending on your needs. It is easily halved or doubled.Sweetness: Feel free to adjust the sugar content to your needs. Cream: Heavy cream or whipping cream can be used instead of light cream or low-fat cream.Vegan options: For a vegan version of panna cotta recipe, use coconut cream in place of cream and almond milk in place of dairy milk.Agar agar: The amount of agar agar used in the recipe will give you a panna cotta that sets nicely and is firm enough for serving in individual glasses. If you want a panna cotta that you unmould from a decorative container, I suggest adding an additional tablespoon of agar agar.

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. Tiramisu Recipe (Without Eggs) Creamy Cheesecake Recipe | New York Cheesecake Recipe Trifle Recipe | Trifle Pudding | Fruit Trifle Fruit Custard | Easy Healthy Fruit Custard Recipe This Panna Cotta recipe from the archives, originally published in April 2018 has been updated and republished on February 2023.