Easy Panna Cotta With Berry Sauce Recipe (VIDEO)
Panna Cotta with berry sauce is a simple yet perfect recipe for a traditional Italian spoon dessert that is made with a few simple ingredients: heavy cream, sugar, vanilla and gelatin.
Have you ever made panna cotta at home? This delicious spoon dessert is infinitely simple! I don’t even take it at the restaurant anymore because at home I can make it with the topping I like best and in a very short time! Panna Cotta can be served with chocolate, caramel, or fresh fruit, thus proving to be the perfect spoon dessert for every season and event.
Today I’m going to show you my favorite Panna Cotta: a simple panna cotta with the addition of a spectacular berry topping. I love the contrast between the sweet taste of the panna cotta and the slightly sour taste of the berries! You can use fresh berries or frozen ones. You can serve it in single portions like I did, or in other different molds, if you want to make a scenic presentation for your guests!
What is Panna Cotta Dessert
Panna cotta is a delicious Italian dessert that has become popular around the world for its creamy texture and rich flavor. Despite being a very famous dessert throughout Italy, the exact origin of Panna Cotta is not known. We only know that it was born in the Piedmontese Langhe at the beginning of the 1900s.
Panna Cotta is made with heavy cream and sugar thickened with gelatin, creating a velvety pudding texture with a creamy vanilla flavor. In the version without gelatin, egg whites appear among the thickening ingredients. In both cases, once the Panna Cotta is ready, it must cool completely and firm up in the fridge for hours. So you should always start making the Panna Cotta a little early to get it perfect by following this simple and original recipe, just like the families of Piedmont did at the beginning of the 20th century!
So… are you ready to make with me this wonderful Panna Cotta with a delicious berry topping?
Easy Panna Cotta Ingredients
- Gelatin sheets
- Heavy cream
- Vanilla extract or Vanilla pods or Vanillin powder
- Granulated sugar
- Fresh berry mix
Panna Cotta With Berries Video Recipe
How to Make Panna Cotta with Berry Sauce
The Gelatin Sheets. First, soak the gelatin sheets in cold water for 10-15 minutes (1). After 10 minutes, drain and squeeze them (3).
Prepare the Panna Cotta. Meanwhile, pour the cream, 80 g of sugar, and vanilla extract into a saucepan (You can also use 2 sachets of vanillin powder or the seeds of a vanilla bean, but I prefer the pure extract because it’s more convenient and cheaper). Heat over low heat, stirring constantly (2). As soon as it comes to a boil, turn off the heat and add the gelatin sheets (4). Stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
Allow to Cool. Pour the mixture into 4 molds (I used 150 ml ramekins), cover them with aluminum foil, and let them cool to room temperature (5). When they have cooled down, put them in the fridge for at least 5 hours.
Make the Berry Sauce. Add the berries and 1 tablespoon of the sugar to a saucepan. Cook for 10 minutes, mashing with a wooden spoon (6). Blend with an immersion blender and let it cool.
Serve. Unmold the Panna Cotta on each serving plate (7). Top with berry sauce and fresh berries and enjoy your dessert! (8)
How to Easily Remove Panna Cotta From Mold
Unmolding panna cotta can be a complicated process that requires a little delicacy. But do not worry. With this little trick, you too will be able to serve a perfect, smooth, and flawless panna cotta like the ones in the restaurant!
To use this trick to get the panna cotta out, fill a bowl with warm water and gently immerse the bottom of the mold in the water for a few moments. The hot water should dissolve the panna cotta slightly and allow it to release from the mold. Be careful that no water enters the mold! At this point, place a saucer over the mold and slowly turn the cream over. Tap the surface of the mold and the panna cotta should release without problems.
That’s all? Yes, simple, isn’t it? But be careful! If the water is too hot or the dessert sits in the water too long, it may melt. Therefore, do not leave your panna cotta immersed in hot water for more than 10 seconds, otherwise you will ruin your dessert!
If the panna cotta doesn’t come off right away, don’t force it, or it could break. Instead, dip it in warm water again and try again. With a little practice, removing panna cotta from molds can become a quick and easy process that allows you to serve a beautiful and delicious dessert!
Which Mold Should I Use for Panna Cotta
There are many options to choose from for your panna cotta. You can choose:
- silicone molds
- simple ramekins – which are the ones I used in the video
- or these excellent molds, which I found after shooting the video.
As soon as I saw these Tescoma Panna Cotta molds, I immediately fell in love with them and bought them. They have a beautiful shape, and a lid, and allow me to remove the panna cotta from the mold very easily. These molds are made of resistant plastic, refrigerator safe, dishwasher safe, and BPA Free. Also, there have various forms, as you see below:
Click the photo to learn more about the product on Amazon
Now I can’t do without these molds for my puddings or panna cotta!
How to Store Panna Cotta with Berries
You can store your Panna Cotta in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. After you removed the dessert from the molds and garnished with berries sauce, you can store it for 2 days.
Easy Panna Cotta With Berry Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- 4 ramekins or panna cotta molds (150 ml)
Ingredients
- 8 g gelatin sheets
- 500 ml heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 80 g + 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
- 250 g mixed berries + more for garnish
Instructions
- Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water for 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add heavy cream, 80 g sugar and the vanilla extract to a saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until it comes to a boil.
- Drain gelatin without squeezing excessively. Turn off the heat and add gelatin sheets to the heavy cream. Stir until the gelatin has completely dissolved.
- Pour into four 150 ml molds. Cover and refrigerate for at least 5 hours.
- Add berries and 1 tablespoon of sugar to a saucepan. Cook for 10 minutes, mashing with a wooden spoon. Blend with an immersion blender if you prefer. Allow to cool.
- Dip the base of each mold into hot water for a few seconds, being careful not to let any water enter the mold. Place a dessert plate on top of each Panna Cotta and gently flip the mold to remove the Panna Cotta.
- Top with berry sauce and fresh berries. Enjoy!
