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5.0 from 6 votes

Panna Cotta Recipe | How to make Panna Cotta

Panna Cotta is an Italian dessert made with milk and cream. This easy and delicious panna cotta recipe is made without gelatin and thus a vegetarian version of panna cotta. To set the dessert agar agar is used instead of gelatin.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 392 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian , International

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 cups light cream or low-fat cream (20 to 30% fat), swap easily with 2 cups of whipping or heavy cream
  • ½ cup sugar or add as required
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
  • 2 tablespoons agar agar strands - finely chopped
  • ⅓ cup hot water

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Do note that both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when mixed with each other. So cook both simultaneously. 
Making agar agar liquid
  1. First take the 2 tablespoons finely chopped agar agar strands in a small sauce pan. Do cut the agar agar strands in small or tiny pieces.
  2. Add hot water.
  3. Mix and let the agar agar strands soak in hot water for 5 minutes.
  4. Then keep the agar agar and water mixture on a low heat. Keep on stirring 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. Switch off the heat when all the agar agar strands have dissolved. You will see a clear solution.
Making vanilla panna cotta mixture
  1. Meanwhile mix the light cream (or whipping or heavy cream) and whole milk in a pan or saucepan.
  2. Add sugar.
  3. Keep the saucepan on the stovetop on a low to low-medium heat. Stir with a wired whisk. The sugar should dissolve completely.
  4. Keep on stirring at intervals while the cream mixture comes to a gentle boil.
  5. The mixture should just come to a gentle boil. Then turn off the heat.
  6. Add the vanilla extract. If using vanilla essence, then add 1 teaspoon of it. Mix very well.
  7. Now add the hot agar agar liquid to the hot cream and milk mixture. Both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when you mix them.
  8. Mix again very well with a wired whisk.
Setting panna cotta
  1. Pour the hot panna cotta mixture in bowls. If you plan to unmould the panna cotta, then grease the bowls with some neutral tasting oil like sunflower oil.
  2. Cover the bowls with aluminium 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.
  3. After setting, the panna cotta will have a gentle wobble on it. Serve Panna Cotta once it is set as is or topped with your favorite fruits or berries or drizzled with a fruit sauce or coulis.

Notes

  • Liquids Temperature: Both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when you mix them. In case one of them cools or becomes warm, follow these instructions:

    For agar agar – on cooling the agar agar sets and becomes gelatinous, so add some hot water and reheat it 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.

  • For agar agar – on cooling the agar agar sets and becomes gelatinous, so add some hot water and reheat it 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.
  • Cream: Instead of light cream, feel free to make panna cotta with whipping cream or heavy cream.
  • Sweetness: Adjust the amount of sugar as needed.
  • Setting Time: Let the panna cotta set completely before you serve it. Depending on your fridge settings it can take 4 to 5 hours or 9 to 12 hours for it to set. 
  • Vegan option: For a vegan version of panna cotta, use coconut cream and almond milk.
  • Agar agar: The amount of agar agar used in the recipe will give you a panna cotta that sets nicely and is firm. So this is best served in a bowl or a small dessert glass. If you want to unmould and serve then I would suggest adding 3 tablespoons chopped agar agar strands instead of 2 tablespoons as mentioned in the recipe.
  • Scaling: The recipe can be halved or doubled.

Nutrition Information

Calories 392kcal (20%) Carbohydrates 23g (8%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 32g (49%) Saturated Fat 20g (100%) Cholesterol 117mg (39%) Sodium 66mg (3%) Potassium 167mg (5%) Sugar 21g (42%) Vitamin A 1298IU (26%) Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg Vitamin B6 1mg Vitamin B12 1µg Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Vitamin D 2µg Vitamin E 1mg Vitamin K 3µg Calcium 143mg (14%) Vitamin B9 (Folate) 7µg Magnesium 14mg Phosphorus 118mg Zinc 1mg

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 392

% Daily Value*

Calories 392kcal 20%
Carbohydrates 23g 8%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 32g 49%
Saturated Fat 20g 100%
Cholesterol 117mg 39%
Sodium 66mg 3%
Potassium 167mg 4%
Sugar 21g 42%
Vitamin A 1298IU 26%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg
Vitamin B6 1mg
Vitamin B12 1µg 42%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Vitamin D 2µg 10%
Vitamin E 1mg
Vitamin K 3µg
Calcium 143mg 14%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 7µg
Magnesium 14mg 4%
Phosphorus 118mg
Zinc 1mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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