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Recipe

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Strawberry Sauce

A softly set vanilla cream dessert topped with a simple strawberry sauce, portioned into individual cups for an easy make-ahead finish to a meal.

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Strawberry Sauce
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Ingredients

  • 1 packet (7 g, about 2 1/2 teaspoons) plain powdered gelatin
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) cold water
  • 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) heavy cream
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
  • 6 tablespoons (75 g) granulated sugar for the cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 small pinch fine salt
  • 1 1/2 cups (225 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon (15 g) granulated sugar for the sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon water for the sauce

Instructions

  1. Prepare six serving cups. Set six small heatproof dessert cups or ramekins on a tray, each holding at least 5 fluid ounces. Make room in the refrigerator so the tray can sit level. This recipe is intended to be eaten from the cups rather than unmolded.
  2. Bloom the gelatin. Put the 3 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl and sprinkle the powdered gelatin evenly over the surface. Leave for 5–10 minutes until swollen and spongy. Dumping the powder into a pile can leave dry pockets that are harder to dissolve.
  3. Warm the cream mixture. Combine the cream, milk, 75 g sugar and salt in a saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring, until steaming and the sugar is dissolved. Do not let it boil vigorously; you only need the mixture hot enough to dissolve the gelatin.
  4. Dissolve and flavor. Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the bloomed gelatin and stir until no visible granules remain. Stir in the vanilla. If you notice lumps, pass the mixture through a fine sieve into a jug rather than leaving them in the finished dessert.
  5. Portion and chill. Let the mixture stand for about 10 minutes, stirring once or twice, then divide equally among the cups. Refrigerate promptly, loosely covered at first, then cover fully once cold. Chill for at least 6 hours until set; overnight is convenient.
  6. Cook the strawberry sauce. Combine the strawberries, sauce sugar, lemon juice and tablespoon of sauce water in a small saucepan. Simmer gently for 4–6 minutes, stirring, until the berries soften and release their juices. Mash with a fork for a rustic sauce.
  7. Cool the sauce separately. Transfer the sauce to a shallow container, cool briefly and refrigerate promptly. Keep it separate from the panna cotta until both are cold. Pouring hot sauce over the set cream can soften the surface and make the layers run together.
  8. Check the set. The chilled cream should hold its shape in the cup and wobble gently when nudged. If still liquid after the full chill, do not assume it will hold a topping; the gelatin may not have dissolved or the quantities may have been changed.
  9. Top and serve. Spoon one-sixth of the cold strawberry sauce over each cup. Serve straight from the refrigerator with a small spoon. The total time includes the minimum six-hour chill; larger or deeper containers may need more time.

Vanilla panna cotta is a chilled cream dessert with a gentle wobble rather than a firm, rubbery set. In this version, cream and milk are lightly sweetened, flavored with vanilla and set in individual cups. A quick strawberry sauce adds color and a little acidity to balance the rich base.

The recipe is designed for serving in the cups, so there is no need to unmold a delicate dessert. Bloom powdered gelatin in cold water first, dissolve it completely in the warm cream, and refrigerate the portions until properly set. The active work is brief, but the cooling and chilling time is essential. This is an original Italian-inspired home version with a fruit topping, not a reproduction of a particular restaurant recipe. Make it earlier in the day or the evening before and add the sauce shortly before serving.

Gelatin details

Use plain powdered gelatin measured by weight; flavored gelatin dessert mix is not a substitute. Gelatin sheets have different strengths and are not a simple volume swap. Gelatin is animal-derived, so this recipe should not be labeled vegetarian unless redesigned with an appropriate tested setting agent.

Storage

Keep covered and refrigerated at 40°F (4°C) or below and use within 3 days. Store the sauce separately until serving. Freezing can damage the delicate texture, so refrigeration is the preferred make-ahead method.

Ingredient changes

Lower-fat dairy, coconut milk and gelatin alternatives can change the set. Do not promise the same texture after a substitution without testing it. The strawberry topping can be left slightly chunky or strained, but the nutrition assumes all of the listed fruit is served.

Frequently asked questions

Why did my panna cotta not set?

Common causes include too little gelatin, gelatin that did not hydrate or dissolve, or insufficient chilling. Use the measured quantities and allow the full six hours before judging the result.

Can I make it the day before?

Yes. Keep the set cups and sauce covered in the refrigerator, then add the topping before serving. This avoids a watery fruit layer forming during extended storage.

Nutrition notes

Nutrition values are approximate editorial estimates per serving, not laboratory measurements or a verified nutritional analysis. Actual values vary with brands, portion size and substitutions. These original recipe drafts have not been kitchen-tested; cooking times are guides.

Approximate estimate includes heavy cream, whole milk, all sugar, gelatin and strawberry sauce divided into six cups. Cream fat percentage and portion size affect the result.

Allergen information: Milk; Check gelatin source for dietary suitability. Check all ingredient labels and individual dietary needs.

Per serving

Nutrition facts

Serving size: 1 of 6 dessert cups with 1/6 of the strawberry sauce (estimated nutrition)

Calories
310
Total fat
23 g
Saturated fat
14 g
Cholesterol
75 mg
Sodium
70 mg
Total carbohydrate
24 g
Dietary fiber
1 g
Total sugars
22 g
Protein
4 g

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