Coconut Panna Cotta

How about a Caribbean twist on a classic Italian dessert! This Coconut Panna Cotta is creamy, smooth with a deep coconut flavor. This dream dessert is light, fresh tasting and delicious!

I am so excited to share this recipe with you today! I have been dreaming about panna cotta since my Caribean Cruise onboard the Caribbean Princess!

The food and dining onboard the ship is first class which makes it almost impossible to decide where to feast! But having all these options is exactly why I love cruising!

One night you can enjoy a bucket of seafood at Steamers, and the next night you could be eating finger-licking-good- ribs from Planks!

The dining room never fails, room service is a nice option for those quiet nights, The Crown Grille can satisfy your steak craving and Sabitini’s offers up an array of sophisticated Italian flavors. That brings me to my panna cotta recipe!

At Sabatini’s, we were treated to a flight of different desserts with a variety of flavors and textures. While they were all exquisite, the one that stood out to me the most was the panna cotta!

It was decadent yet felt so light and smooth. It was topped with a berry coulis that brought a fresh tang to the dessert. I could have eaten vats of that dessert!

I’ve recreated my favorite Conch Fritters from Turks and Caicos, and my favorite Vanilla Sky Vodka Cocktail from Good Spirits, Mango Rum Punch Sorbet inspired by the Chef’s Table, and Pineapple Rum Cake from Puerto Rico, it was time to recreate my favorite dessert!

In honor of my tropical trip, I decided to give my panna cotta an island twist. Instead of the traditional vanilla flavor, I made my dessert with coconut!

What Is Panna Cotta?

Panna cotta is an Italian dessert made with sweetened cream that has been thickened with gelatin. You most often see it molded and turned onto a plate before serving. Panna cotta is typically served with some sort of fruit; fresh, a coulis or a fruit sauce. Strawberries and raspberries are popular panna cotta pairings.

How To Make Panna Cotta

I have always assumed panna cotta would be difficult to make, but it is wonderfully simple, it just takes time. While no special equipment is needed, you do need unflavored gelatin.

Sprinkle the gelatin over heavy cream and let that sit. In a small saucepan, combine coconut cream from a can, and about a ⅓ cup of cream of coconut (I used bottled Coco Lopez) and sugar.

Whisk until the sugar has dissolved and coconut mixture bubbles up.

Stir in the gelatin mixture into the coconut mixture and whisk until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Then cook for an additional minute.

Remove the warm cream from the heat and pour the cooked cream into 4-6 containers. I used 4 larger glasses, but you could easily get 6 servings.

Allow the containers to cool to room temperature. Then cover each with plastic wrap to prevent a film forming on the cream. Refrigerate panna cotta overnight.

Before serving, top your panna cotta with freshly chopped pineapple and toasted coconut chips!

Can Panna Cotta Be Made In Advance?

Yes, once covered and refrigerated, the panna cotta can sit for at least a day. Do not add any toppings until right before serving or else the liquid from the fresh fruit will alter the texture if it sits on the panna cotta for too long.

Can You Freeze Panna Cotta?

Because of the gelatin, I would avoid freezing the panna cotta or you could be dealing with some separation issues.

What Other Flavors Of Panna Cotta Can I Make?

Coffee

Mango

White Chocolate

Vanilla

Strawberry

Chocolate

Lemon

Key Lime….just to name a few. You could make almost any flavor imaginable!

Can Panna Cotta Be Made Without Gelatin?

Yes it can, but it will involve heavy cream and the use of egg whites, which for me, can be temperamental. But it with a short Google search, you can find good gelatin free options!

Will Panna Cotta Melt?

Yes, panna cotta will melt if close to a heat source. Much like any custard or pudding, it can lose it’s firmness if it sits out for too long. Panna cotta is best when kept in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Is Panna Cotta Dairy Free?

This panna cotta is “mostly” dairy-free, but it IS made with ½ cup of heavy cream. So if you are avoiding dairy, be advised. This dessert is made with mostly coconut cream. You could keep it entirely dairy-free by replacing the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk.

Where Can I Learn More About How Dining And How To Cruise the Carribean?

If you are researching your next vacation, I highly encourage you to read my post Cruise The Caribbean with Ocean Medallion from Princess Cruises!. This is where I share my first-hand experience with cruising, especially as it relates to the Princess Cruises.

Princess Cruises offers it’s customers a one of a kind experience with their Ocean Medallion. Ocean Medallion does everything for you! It is your “passport” to everything the ship has to offer.

When used with the app on your smartphone, you can order poolside drinks with your medallion, or order services for your room. Ocean Medallion makes cruising fun and carefree!

If you book a trip to the Caribbean on the Carribean Princess, promise me you will check out Sabatini’s! Make sure you try their panna cotta! After you fall in love with it, you can come home and try this coconut version!

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Yield: 4

Coconut Panna Cotta

Print

Classic panna cotta takes an island twist with this easy coconut panna cotta. Fresh pineapple and toasted coconut make this one tropical dessert!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 1 day

Total Time 1 day 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1 (.25 oz) packet unflavored gelatin
• 1 15oz can coconut cream
• 1/2 cup cream of coconut (Coco Lopez)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• fresh pineapple
• toasted coconut chips

Instructions

1. Place the heavy cream in a bowl and pour the gelatin over the cream. Let this sit 3-5 minutes.
2. In a saucepan placed over medium heat, combine the cream of coconut, coconut cream and sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
3. Once the coconut cream mixture begins to bubble, whisk in the gelatin mixture, stirring until dissolved. Cook milk mixture an additional minute.
4. Remove cream from heat and stir in vanilla.
5. Pour the cream into serving glasses and allow the panna cotta to cool to room temperature.
6. Cover the glasses and refrigerate overnight.
7. Before serving, top each panna cotta glass with fresh pineapple and coconut chips.

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 532Total Fat 29gSaturated Fat 24gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 37mgSodium 106mgCarbohydrates 67gFiber 2gSugar 63gProtein 3g

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