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Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta is a delicious dessert made with vanilla beans, strawberries and cream. It’s easy, light and so delightful!
Vanilla Panna Cotta
This lightened up vanilla panna cotta is an easy dessert that doesn’t require any baking. It’s a perfect mahe-ahead dessert for the holidays, Valentine’s Day or any time you want a sweet treat. You can also try this yogurt panna cotta topped with mixed berries.
Why this Panna Cotta Works
Panna cotta is my favorite dessert, especially when it’s made right (it should be creamy and smooth, not firm like Jello). Many recipes call for heavy cream, but I wanted to make this lighter without changing the texture. After several rounds of testing, I got it just right!
- Easy: It’s such an easy dessert to make and it can easily be adapted with many different flavor profiles.
- Lighter: It’s usually made very rich with heavy cream, here I used half and half to give this dessert that same lusciousness, with less calories.
- Make Ahead Dessert: If you need a dessert this Holiday season panna cotta is perfect since it needs at least four to five hours to set in the fridge. It’s the perfect dessert to make a day or two ahead.
What You’ll Need
- Liquid: Milk and Half & Half
- Vanilla: 1 vanilla bean, split open (or use vanilla bean paste)
- Gelatin: Unflavored powdered gelatin such as Knox
- Sugar: To sweeten the panna cotta. Monk fruit sugar or any sugar alternative can be used.
- Pinch of salt: It brings out the sweetness
- Fruit: Fresh strawberries, hulled and halved or use fresh berries
How To Make Vanilla Panna Cotta
Here’s the step-by-step directions to make this no-bake dessert. See recipe card below for printable directions.
- Place the milk in a medium heavy saucepan with the seeds from the vanilla bean.
- Sprinkle the gelatin over the milk and let it stand for 10 minutes to soften the gelatin grains.
- In the meantime, prepare an ice bath in a large plastic bowl.
- After 10 minutes have passed, heat the saucepan and stir over medium-low heat just until the gelatin dissolves but the milk does not boil, about 3 minutes.
- Add the half & half cream, sugar and salt.
- Whisk well and leave on the stove until the mixture is hot, but do not let it come to a boil, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, then transfer the liquid into a clean, metal medium-sized bowl.
- Place the bowl in the ice bath to cool for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Divide the mixture evenly, about 1/2 cup each between 6 small dessert bowls or glass parfait glasses, then cover each with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 4 to 6 hours or overnight.
- One hour before serving, combine sugar and halved strawberries in a medium bowl, tossing to coat.
- Cover and chill, tossing strawberries occasionally.
- Drain strawberries before serving.
- When ready to eat, spoon the fresh strawberries over the panna cotta and serve.
More Light Desserts You Will Love
- Yogurt Panna Cotta
- Black Bean Brownies
- Cheesecake Brownies
- No Bake Cheesecake
- Lemon Coconut Almond Cake
Vanilla Panna Cotta
Vanilla Panna Cotta is a delicious dessert made with vanilla beans, strawberries and cream. It's easy, light and so delightful!
Yield: servings
Serving Size: 1 panna cotta with 1/4 cup strawberries
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups fat-free milk
- 1 vanilla bean, split open, or vanilla paste
- 2 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin, Knox
- 1 1/2 cups half & half cream
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- Pinch salt
- 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Place the milk in a medium heavy saucepan with the seeds from the vanilla bean.
- Sprinkle the gelatin over the milk and let it stand for 10 minutes to soften the gelatin grains.
- In the meantime, prepare an ice bath in a large plastic bowl.
- After 10 minutes have passed, heat the saucepan and stir over medium heat just until the gelatin dissolves but the milk does not boil, about 3 minutes.
- Add the half & half, 5 tbsp sugar and salt.
- Whisk well and and leave until the mixture is hot, but do not let it come to a boil, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, then transfer the liquid into a clean, metal medium-sized bowl.
- Place the bowl in the ice bath to cool for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Divide the mixture evenly, about 1/2 cup each between 6 small dessert bowls or glass parfait glasses, then cover each with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 4 to 6 hours or overnight.
- One hour before serving, combine sugar and halved strawberries in a medium bowl, tossing to coat.
- Cover and chill, tossing strawberries occasionally.
- Drain strawberries before serving.
- When ready to eat, spoon the fresh strawberries over the panna cotta and serve.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Nutrition
Serving: 1 panna cotta with 1/4 cup strawberries, Calories: 158 kcal, Carbohydrates: 20 g, Protein: 5 g, Fat: 7 g, Saturated Fat: 4.5 g, Cholesterol: 25 mg, Sodium: 48 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 19 g
