Description
A light and elegant Italian dessert, Mandarin Panna Cotta features layers of creamy vanilla custard and vibrant mandarin jelly. It’s a perfect balance of richness and citrusy brightness, ideal for make-ahead entertaining or a refreshing treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 4 gelatin sheets (plus 2 more for jelly layer)
- 1 1/2 cups fresh mandarin juice
- 1 tsp mandarin zest
- Fresh mandarin slices, for garnish
- Rosemary sprigs, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: No need to preheat the oven, but have your serving glasses or molds ready on a tray.
- Combine Ingredients: In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream, whole milk, and sugar over medium heat. Scrape the vanilla bean into the pan and drop in the pod. Stir until sugar dissolves and remove from heat before it boils.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: While the cream is heating, soak the gelatin sheets in cold water for about 5 minutes until soft.
- Assemble the Dish: Squeeze out excess water from the gelatin and stir it into the warm cream mixture until completely dissolved. Strain the mixture, then pour into your glasses, filling each halfway. Refrigerate until set (about 2 hours).
- Cook to Perfection: In another saucepan, gently heat mandarin juice with zest. Soften another set of gelatin sheets and stir into the juice. Strain and let cool slightly.
- Finishing Touches: Pour the mandarin jelly over the set panna cotta layer. Chill for another 2 to 3 hours until fully set.
- Serve and Enjoy: Garnish with mandarin slices and rosemary sprigs. Serve chilled.
Notes
- Use fresh-squeezed mandarin juice for best flavor.
- Pour layers gently over the back of a spoon to avoid disturbing the set base.
- Strain each layer for ultra-smooth texture.
- Can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: panna cotta, mandarin dessert, citrus panna cotta, creamy jelly dessert, make-ahead dessert