Honey Lavender Panna Cotta (Printable Version)

Creamy Italian dessert with floral lavender and sweet honey, perfect for spring.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dairy

01 - 2 cups heavy cream
02 - 1 cup whole milk

→ Sweeteners & Flavorings

03 - 1/3 cup honey
04 - 2 teaspoons dried culinary lavender
05 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Setting Agent

06 - 2.5 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin
07 - 3 tablespoons cold water

→ Garnish

08 - Fresh edible flowers
09 - Extra honey for drizzling
10 - Fresh berries

# How to Make It:

01 - In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water and let sit for 5 minutes until fully bloomed.
02 - In a medium saucepan, combine heavy cream, whole milk, honey, and dried lavender. Heat gently over medium-low heat until steaming, stirring occasionally. Do not allow to boil. Remove from heat, cover, and steep for 10 minutes.
03 - Pass the cream mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove all lavender solids. Return the strained mixture to the saucepan.
04 - Add the bloomed gelatin to the warm cream mixture and stir constantly until completely dissolved. Mix in the vanilla extract until well combined.
05 - Divide the mixture evenly among 4 ramekins or dessert glasses. Cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours until fully set.
06 - To unmold, run a knife tip around the edge and invert onto serving plates, or serve directly in glasses. Top with honey drizzle, edible flowers, or fresh berries.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-worthy but takes barely any active cooking time, which means more time to actually enjoy people instead of being stuck at the stove.
  • The floral sweetness is subtle enough that even skeptics of lavender become instant converts with just one spoonful.
02 -
  • Don't skip the blooming step for gelatin because it's the difference between a smooth, silky dessert and one with unpleasant grainy bits that no amount of blending fixes.
  • The lavender flavor is delicate, so taste your milk mixture after steeping and adjust to your preference because some people want more florals and others prefer restraint.
03 -
  • If you want to impress even more, make a honey drizzle by warming honey with a splash of water and letting it cool slightly, then artfully drizzle it over the panna cotta right before serving for a professional-looking finish.
  • Try using lavender-infused honey if you can find it, which deepens the floral notes and eliminates one step while keeping the flavor cohesive and sophisticated.
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