Honey Lavender Panna Cotta (Printable)

A floral-scented Italian dessert with silky texture, honey sweetness, and gentle lavender notes.

# Ingredient list:

→ Dairy

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

→ Sweeteners & Flavorings

03 - 1/4 cup honey, plus extra for drizzling
04 - 1 1/2 teaspoons dried culinary lavender buds
05 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Gelatin

06 - 2 1/4 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin
07 - 3 tablespoons cold water

→ Garnish

08 - Fresh berries
09 - Edible flowers or additional lavender buds

# Cooking steps:

01 - Combine heavy cream, whole milk, and dried lavender buds in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until steaming, ensuring the mixture does not boil. Remove from heat, cover, and allow to steep for 10 minutes.
02 - Sprinkle unflavored powdered gelatin over cold water in a mixing bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes to allow the gelatin to bloom fully.
03 - Strain the steeped cream mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove lavender buds. Return the liquid to the saucepan and gently reheat. Stir in honey and vanilla extract until the honey is fully dissolved and the mixture is hot but not boiling.
04 - Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the bloomed gelatin to the hot cream mixture and whisk thoroughly until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
05 - Evenly pour the mixture into six ramekins or small glasses. Allow to cool to room temperature. Cover, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours until fully set.
06 - Unmold onto plates if desired or serve directly in the glasses. Drizzle with additional honey and garnish with fresh berries and edible flowers.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • The hint of lavender feels like a secret ingredient that makes it uniquely special.
  • The creamy texture is so silky it melts away without leaving you feeling heavy.
02 -
  • Once, I left the cream mixture on the stove too long and it took on a weird, bitter edge—never boil, just gently steam.
  • Steeping the lavender for a full 15 minutes made the flavor much stronger, but more than that turned it harsh; timing matters.
03 -
  • A fine mesh sieve is your best ally for straining, ensuring no lavender bits sneak through.
  • For extra elegance, chill the serving glasses before pouring in the panna cotta mixture—they set with a gleaming finish.
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