Quick Fix: Panna Cotta

It's Friday once again and you know what that means: it's time for another great quick fix! This one happens to be extra special. Some of you might not be familiar with panna cotta, or you might think, as I did, that it sounds all fancy and therefore incredibly hard. Fear not, simple ingredients make for a decadent Italian dessert!

Panna cotta is a custard-like dessert with a cream base. It basically means sweet cream. Up until Valentine's Day, I had been intimidated to make panna cotta because I thought it sounded hard. Then I read a recipe that said if you spend more than five minutes making panna cotta, well, then you've spent too long! Now that I could do! I have yet to meet a person who doesn't like panna cotta, making this a great one to make for dinner parties--and might I add you can make it well ahead of time as well.

I have been working on my recipe a while, and now I am going to share it with you! And don't worry because we'll also be building on this one in the future with a little white chocolate later on! But for now, impress the heck out of your friends and family with this week's quick fix!

I was making a double batch this day and, as you will see, this recipe doubles very nicely for larger dinner parties!

I like to use an assortment of fancy glasses. I got these at the thrift store for a grand total of $3. Pretty awesome! You can also use little mason jars, which give a nice rustic feel. 

You have probably often passed unflavored gelatine in your grocery, but have you ever used it? Well now is your chance! Put it in a big measuring cup. I use a measuring cup because then when you pour it in your dessert cups, it's all easy and stuff. 

Add 2 tablespoons cold tap water to your gelatine, and mix it a bit. Set aside. 

Put your sugar in a saucepan.... 

Add heavy cream and heat it until the sugar dissolves. The trick is not to let the cream boil. So you want to heat it on a low heat. My first time I made panna  cotta, I did on low just to be sure the cream didn't heat too much or too fast. Now I can roll on medium low. 

Add your warm cream to your gelatine, throw in a little vanilla extract and mix until the gelatine dissolves. 

Pour into your dessert cups and refrigerate for about 3 hours or until the mixture has set. You can also refrigerate them overnight if you want to make them ahead. I think they stay good about 3 or so days in the fridge. 

Top with your choice of berries and serve! SO EASY! 

Panna Cotta 

Time: 10 minutes + time to chill in the fridge | Serves 4 | Difficulty: EASY! 

You Will Need: 

2 cups heavy whipping cream

2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 packet gelatine 

2 tablespoons water 

Berries for garnishing, your choice 

Method:

Place your packet of gelatine in a bowl or measuring cup and sprinkle with the water, combining a bit with a spoon. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and cream. Place over medium low heat. You can also go lower on the heat if it's your first time to be on the safe side, it will just take a tad longer. You want to warm the cream and dissolve the sugar but do not allow the cream to boil. This should take about 5 minutes, longer on lower heat.

Once the cream is warm and the sugar dissolved, pour the mixture over the gelatine. Add your vanilla extract and stir the mixture until the gelatine has dissolved, pushing it against the sides of the measuring cup to combine, if necessary.

Pour your cream mixture into the serving cups and place in the refrigerator for 3 hours, or overnight.

Garnish with berries and serve chilled! YUM!