Blackberry Buttermilk Panna Cotta is a delicious Southern twist on a classic Italian dessert! An impressive treat that takes just 20 minutes of hands-on time using simple ingredients!
The Best Panna Cotta Recipe There Is!
This Blackberry Buttermilk Panna Cotta is an exciting and flavorful dessert dish that’s sure to impress! With its silky, luxurious texture and smooth flavors of buttermilk, lemon, and vanilla, you’re in for a delightful treat that’s actually quite simple to make!
Blackberry Buttermilk Panna Cotta is surprisingly easy to make, requiring even less effort than cupcakes, in my opinion. The actual hands-on time is only about 20 minutes or so, as most of the recipe time is inactive cooling and chilling. This makes it the perfect make-ahead dessert when you’re hosting!
What is Panna Cotta?
Panna Cotta means ‘cooked cream,’ a treat that originated in Northern Italy. It’s a basic soft-set pudding that’s made of dairy and is thickened using gelatin. The base of this recipe is so versatile that it can essentially be topped with anything that pleases your taste buds!
Blackberry Buttermilk Panna Cotta Ingredients
To make homemade Panna Cotta, you’ll need unflavored gelatin combined with cold water. As this mixture blooms, you’ll cook heavy cream, granulated sugar, and lemon peel together, which will then combine with salt, vanilla extract, buttermilk, and fresh lemon juice.
Once the Panna Cotta has chilled, it’s topped with a 3-ingredient Homemade Blackberry Sauce that’s made with blackberries, granulated sugar, and fresh lemon juice.
Panna Cotta Toppings Variations
If blackberries aren’t your jam, that’s ok! There are lots of delicious toppings variations to try instead:
- Trade blackberries in for your berry of choice! Strawberries, raspberries, or even blueberries would all be delightful.
- Swap out the homemade blackberry sauce for Mixed Berry Compote.
- Skip a fruity flare and opt for chocolate shavings, Caramel Sauce, or Homemade Chocolate Syrup.
- Finish this Panna Cotta off with a Lemon Curd topping.
- Pair this dessert with your favorite fresh fruit!
For an entirely different Panna Cotta experience, try my cozy Maple Panna Cotta that’s made with maple syrup and brown sugar!
How To Make Blackberry Buttermilk Panna Cotta
- Sprinkle the gelatin over cold water in a small bowl and then stir to combine. Allow this mixture to bloom.
- Cook the heavy cream with sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add in the lemon peel.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat once the mixture forms bubbles, then stir in the salt, vanilla extract, and bloomed gelatin.
- Whisk in the buttermilk and lemon juice.
- Strain the mixture through a sieve and then portion it evenly into ramekins. Allow the Panna Cotta to cool at room temperature.
- Wrap the cooled ramekins with plastic wrap and then chill the Panna Cotta in the fridge.
- Prepare the blackberry sauce by cooking the blackberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir in the remaining blackberries and then allow the blackberry sauce to cool to room temperature before serving it over the chilled Panna Cotta.
Rebecca’s Recipe Tips
- When blooming the gelatin, it must be done with cold water. Properly bloomed gelatin will appear transparent and rubbery-like after 5 to 10 minutes.
- To achieve the best flavor, use a high-quality vanilla extract when making the Panna Cotta.
- Use a fine-mesh sieve to strain the Panna Cotta mixture through before portioning it out into ramekins. This will ensure that silky smooth consistency that Panna Cotta is known for.
- Note that only 6 ounces of blackberries are cooked on the stovetop. The remaining 6 ounces of berries are stirred in once the saucepan is removed from the heat.
- Don’t forget that the Panna Cotta needs at least 6 hours to chill, but if possible, chilling the dessert overnight would be best.
How To Store Blackberry Buttermilk Panna Cotta
Store the Blackberry Panna Cotta, tightly covered, in the fridge without toppings for up to two days. Top the plain Panna Cotta with the blackberry sauce right before serving.
Since the Panna Cotta can be stored in the fridge without toppings, this makes a great make-ahead dessert option!
How To Store Homemade Blackberry Sauce
Transfer the cooled blackberry sauce into an airtight container or jar and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Use any leftover blackberry sauce on more Panna Cotta, desserts, or even pancakes!
More Blackberry Recipes
- Blackberry Brown Sugar Coffee Cake – Sweet breakfast cake that’s perfect for brunch!
- Bourbon Blackberry Smash – A juicy and refreshing 5-minute cocktail!
- Homemade Blackberry Simple Syrup – Elevates your homemade drinks, cocktails, and even desserts!
- How To Make A Blackberry Margarita On The Rocks – The most delicious summer cocktail!
- Blackberry Lemon Salmon – A light, protein-packed baked dinner recipe!
Blackberry Buttermilk Panna Cotta
Ingredients
Panna Cotta
- 3 tablespoons cold water
- .25 ounce unflavored gelatin 1 envelope
- 2 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 strips lemon peel
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Blackberry Sauce
- 12 ounces blackberries divided
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Panna Cotta
- Add cold water to a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over it. Stir to combine and let sit, the mixture will become rubbery.
- While the gelatin sits, pour the heavy cream and sugar into a large saucepan, whisk together and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add in the lemon peels. As small bubbles begin to form here and there, remove from heat and add the salt, vanilla, and bloomed gelatin to the pan, stirring until gelatin has dissolved. Whisk in the buttermilk and lemon juice.
- Strain through a sieve to remove the peel and any lumps. Pour into 8 small serving dishes or ramekins and allow to cool to room temperature. Once the mixture has cooled, cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours, preferrably overnight.
Blackberry Sauce
- Add 6 ounce of blackberries, sugar, and lemon juice to a small saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, bringing to a low boil. Use a wooden spoon to help break down the berries into a seedy pulp.
- Stir in the remaining berries and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before spooning over the chilled panna cottas. Panna cottas can be served immediately or placed back in the fridge until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Comments & Reviews
Julie yeo says
It’s super delicious and easy to make. Thanks for the recipe.
Cindy says
This was a big hit with company. Delicious, light and refreshing after a heavy meal. Very easy to make, however, I did use a 16 oz. package of frozen blackberries and put 2/3 cup of sugar instead of 3 tablespoons, as I like berries a bit sweeter. I will definitely be making this recipe again.
Rebecca says
Oh, I’m so glad. And don’t you love that something so elegant is also really easy to make! Thanks for the note about the frozen blackberries, that will be helpful to others!
Rachael Yerkes says
Well this looks amazing. I never knew it was so easy to make. And 100 Courses sounds like a ton of fun. We should try it sometime. You bring dessert!