berry panna cotta

I am so excited to be sharing this recipe today! Panna Cotta is a mostly unknown recipe here in the States, but it's super popular in Italy! I wouldn't say I used to eat it ALL the time when I lived there, but I definitely have some fond memories of enjoying this dessert when I was little. It's hard to describe, but the most accurate explanation I can give is that it's a cross between pudding and jell-o. I hate saying that because it makes it sound so weird and gross, when in reality it's delicious! It's smooth and velvety, and while you can flavor it with just about anything, my favorite has always been the classic vanilla kind. The most delicious way to enjoy panna cotta, in my opinion, is topped with some creamy, indulgent dark chocolate sauce. Today, I whipped up a fresh summery version using fresh berries, but you can make the simple base recipe and personalize it any way you choose!

I always have a million and one mismatched jars living under my sink, ones that used to be filled with jam or some other saucy thing and have now been hoarded in the hopes that some Pinteresty project will come up for them someday. Well, they turned out to be the perfect containers for this dessert! They are all about the same size, and they each have their own lid that securely screws on, making them great for a summery picnic or outdoor adventure. I also personally think that mismatched jars are totally adorable, so there's that too!

Speaking of picnics, this post is part of a #Foodelicious Summer Picnic roundup! Here are some more delicious picnic-friendly recipes from other great bloggers:

Mooshu Jenne - Picnic Pasta Salad
From Scratch - Creamy Cucumber Salsa
Save More, Spend Less with Heidi - Ranch Seafood Rolls
Feed Me Seymour - Single Serving Lavender Lemonade
Touch of Modern Hospitality - Broccoli Salad
Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen - Mango Kiwi Salsa

I found the base recipe on The Kitchn, and they have an AWESOME step-by-step tutorial complete with dairy-free substitutes and troubleshooting. I would definitely recommend checking their link out if you have any questions 🙂

Print Recipe

Berry Panna Cotta

Prep Time3 hours hrs

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time3 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course: Puddings &amp, Trifles

Servings: 6

Author: Valentina | The Baking Fairy

Ingredients

• 3 cups half-and-half divided
• 3 teaspoon powdered gelatin
• ⅓ cup white granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• ½ cup fresh blueberries
• nonstick spray

Instructions

• First, prepare your 6 ramekins or jars by lightly spraying them with nonstick spray and using a paper towel to remove the excess. Set aside for now.
• In a medium pot, combine 1 cup of the half-and-half and the gelatin. Stir to combine, and let stand for 5-10 minutes undisturbed to allow the gelatin to bloom.
• After 5-10 minutes, place the pot on the stove on low heat and start whisking the mixture. As the milk warms, the gelatin will dissolve. Make sure the milk does not boil! It should always be around body temperature.
• After a couple of minutes, gelatin should be dissolved... you can rub a little bit between your fingers to ensure that it's smooth and not grainy!
• Whisk in the sugar, and continue heating on low until this is also dissolved.
• Now, remove pot from heat and whisk in the remaining half-and-half, vanilla and pinch of salt.
• Using half of the prepared panna cotta mixture, fill all your jars about halfway and set them in the fridge to solidify. Keep the remaining mixture out at room temperature { it will not solidify unless it's really cold, I promise!}
• While the first layer of panna cotta sets, prepare the fruit. Wash and dry the berries thoroughly, and chop the strawberries into small cubes.
• After 45-60 minutes, the first layer of panna cotta should be mostly solid. Sprinkle the berries in the jars, dividing evenly, then top with the remaining panna cotta mixture. Return to the fridge for at least another hour before serving.
• If you are wanting to transport the jars and need to close them with the lids, make sure you do so right before leaving! Otherwise the jars will collect a bunch of condensation and you will have an unappetizing puddle of water sitting on top of the panna cotta 🙂 Serve cold!