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5.0 from 3 votes

Ridiculously Easy Lemon Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta

A Ridiculously Easy Italian dessert that tastes like it comes from a fancy ristorante, this Lemon Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta will make you look like a kitchen rock star!

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 445 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups half and half
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste or 1 medium vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped,
  • finely grated zest from 2 medium lemons
  • 2 inch springs rosemary optional
  • 2¼ teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin (I use 1 envelope of Knox unflavored gelatin.)
  • ¼ cup cold tap water

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, sugar, vanilla bean paste, (or the scraped vanilla bean, and seeds) and lemon zest (also add the optional rosemary sprigs at this point, if using). Heat the mixture over medium heat until it’s just beginning to simmer. Remove from the heat, cover, and let steep for 15 minutes.
  2. After 10 minutes, place the ¼ cup of water in a small microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let it sit for 5 minutes until evenly moistened. At this point, the mixture will be thick and opaque.
  3. Place the bowl with the gelatin mixture in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds on high power. Stir to make sure all of the gelatin is dissolved. The mixture should now be thinned out and clear.
  4. Bring the cream mixture back to the simmering point over moderate heat. Remove from heat, add the gelatin/water mixture and stir well. If you used a whole vanilla bean pod, remove it now and discard.
  5. Divide the panna cotta mixture between six small ramekins, glass jars, bowls cocktail glasses. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours (or up to 48 hours).

Notes

  • See Café Tips above in the post for more detailed instructions and tips to ensure success.
  • If you prefer to use Metric measurements there is a button in each of our recipes, right above the word “Instructions”. Just click that button to toggle to grams, milliliters, etc. If you ever come across one of our recipes that doesn’t have the Metric conversion (some of the older recipes may not), feel free to leave a comment and I will add it.

Nutrition Information

Calories 445kcal (22%) Carbohydrates 23g (8%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 38g (58%) Saturated Fat 24g (120%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 10g Cholesterol 118mg (39%) Sodium 71mg (3%) Potassium 182mg (5%) Sugar 23g (46%) Vitamin A 1452IU (29%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 139mg (14%) Iron 0.1mg (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 445

% Daily Value*

Calories 445kcal 22%
Carbohydrates 23g 8%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 38g 58%
Saturated Fat 24g 120%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 118mg 39%
Sodium 71mg 3%
Potassium 182mg 4%
Sugar 23g 46%
Vitamin A 1452IU 29%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 139mg 14%
Iron 0.1mg 1%

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