Tony Zentgraf
Made with Northbound Coffee Roasters Coffee
Brew a cup of espresso or strong brewed coffee and make this Cafe au Lait Panna Cotta. You will enjoy the smooth sweet coffee flavor just like drinking a cup of coffee. Top with some chocolate covered espresso beans and Enjoy!
Treasured Italian Dessert
Panna Cotta is one of the most famous Italian desserts, get your spoon ready for this delicious treat.
The Origin of Panna Cotta show it was created in the Piedmont region of northern Italy bordering Switzerland and France. Panna Cotta, literally meaning cooked cream, was not seen in cookbooks prior to the 1960s. There is an unverified tale that states the dessert was made by a Hungarian woman as far back as the 1900s.
Other Possible Influences
As Culinary history shows, England and France had influential desserts that may have influenced the creation of Italian Panna Cotta.
The English Trifle, made with sponge cake, a custard and whipped cream might have influenced the Italian dessert Zuppa Inglese. Translated means, English Soup. Italian Trifle, is a similar dish to the English Trifle that uses a cooked custard as well. This could have also inspired the Tiramisu, just by the ingredients and assembly but let’s not start a feud over that. 😎
Check Out this Recipe for Bourbon Tiramisu
French influence may have come from the recipe Fromage Bavaroise, created by the early 19th century chef Marie-Antoine Careme. His recipe used the same ingredients as Panna Cotta with the addition of egg yolks. Whipping the cream prior to folding with the other ingredients gives a lighter texture.
It is possible that the origins of this unbaked dessert, goes back to the early 1800s. But Italian origin of Panna cotta is steadfast in its creation in the Piedmont region. Whether or not it had influence from a Hungarian woman, the English Trifle or the French Fromage Bavaroise.
Recipe Variations
Panna Cotta flavors additions have been classic flavors include vanilla bean, coffee or different spirits. You can make this recipe with Irish Cream!
Irish Cream is a great flavoring for the Panna Cotta, Irish Cream itself has different layers of flavor ingredients. Cream, Coffee, Chocolate or Cocoa, Irish Whiskey, and Vanilla extract blend together to make the rounded flavor of this beverage. Usually added to coffee straight or added to coffee along with Irish whiskey to make an Irish Coffee; adding it to Panna Cotta is wonderful.
Simply substitute the Irish Cream for the coffee and follow the instructions for assembly. You will have a twist on Panna Cotta for your guests.
Try this Recipe for Irish Coffee Panna Cotta here.
Enjoy this Cafe au Lait Panna Cotta with a cup of coffee to round out your meal!
Cafe Au Lait Panna Cotta
Print RecipeEquipment
- 2 Sauce Pots
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Coffee or Espresso Brewer
- 6 Mugs, Cups or Ramekins
Recipe Multiplier
- 1 cup Milk - 2% or Whole
- 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 tbsp Gelatin Powder
- ½ cup Strong Brewed Coffee - Or espresso
- ⅓ cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
- Pinch Kosher Salt
To make the Irish Cream Recipe Variation
- Do not add the Coffee to the Panna Cotta Substitute –
- ½ cup Irish Cream
Instructions
Making the Panna Cotta
- Brew a strong brew of coffee. You only need a half cup so brew accordingly. (Alternatively you can use espresso or ½ cup of hot water and 1 tbsp instant espresso powder.)
- Pour the 1 cup of milk into a sauce pot. Heat the milk until it is warm to the touch. About 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat to avoid overheating the mixture.
- Add the gelatin powder and using a whisk mix to combine. Ensure there are not any clumps of gelatin remaining. Let sit to allow gelatin to dissolve.
- In a second sauce pot, combine the heavy whipping cream, sugar and coffee.Heat the mixture over a medium heat until the cream begins to form bubbles around the edge. Do not bring to a boil.
- Remove the cream mixture from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt.
- Using a whisk, whisk the cream mixture as you pour in the heated milk/gelatin.Mix well to combine.
- Ladle 5 oz of the panna cotta mixture into small tea cups, ramekins, clear glass cups or other decorative/festive containers. Smaller containers will look more full.
- Refrigerate a minimum 4-6 hours to overnight. This will ensure the mix is fully set. Enjoy!
To make the Irish Cream Recipe Variation
- Do not add the Coffee to the Panna Cotta Substitute ½ cup of Irish Cream to the Panna Cotta mix. Yum!
This has a nice light coffee flavor.