Panna Cotta
Heavy cream, powdered gelatin and berries come together in this Italian dessert — 55 minutes, 6 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 6 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for saucepan and pan. At easy difficulty across 6 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening.
What you'll need
Shopping list (3)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: contains meat, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Dairy
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Sprinkle the powdered gelatin over the cold water in a small bowl and let it stand for 5 minutes until it swells and turns spongy.
- Pour the cream, milk and sugar into a saucepan, split the vanilla pod and scrape the seeds into the pan, then add the empty pod and warm gently over medium heat until steaming but not boiling.
- Remove from the heat, fish out the vanilla pod, then whisk in the bloomed gelatin until it dissolves completely and no lumps remain.
- Strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a jug, then divide it among four ramekins or glasses and let cool to room temperature.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, until set with a delicate wobble in the centre.
- To serve, briefly dip each ramekin in warm water and invert onto a plate, or leave in the glass, then top with fresh berries or a spoonful of fruit coulis.
You'll use: Saucepan · Pan · Whisk · Steamer
Ingredient substitutions
- Heavy Cream
- evaporated milk · ½ cup milk + ¼ cup melted butter · full-fat coconut milk
- Milk
- any unsweetened plant milk · ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water
What to serve with Panna Cotta
- Spaghetti Bolognese Beef
- Spicy Arrabiata Penne Vegetarian
- Vegan Lasagna Vegan
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad Seafood
Tips & common questions
How long does Panna Cotta take to make?
About 55 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 7 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of heavy cream?
Try evaporated milk. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Related recipes
Original recipe — developed in-house by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Panna Cotta is an original Italian recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Panna cotta with pineapple and mint (9883156055).jpg by Luca Nebuloni from Milan, Italy, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.