Orange Blossom Panna Cotta

This orange blossom panna cotta is lusciously smooth and creamy, and it's surprisingly easy to make!

If you've ever hesitated at the thought of making panna cotta, you're not alone. It's one of those impressive desserts that, until you make it, seems tricky or difficult.

The surprising thing is, panna cotta is a really easy dessert to make. The words panna cotta translates to “cooked cream” and that's essentially all it is. It's made with simple ingredients using simple methods.

All you do is heat whole milk with gelatin and sugar in a pot, remove it from the heat, and stir in the cream and orange blossom water. Place the pot in the fridge to cool, then whisk it before pouring it into little jars or cups. Pop them in the fridge to set, and top each one with a candied mandarin to serve.

The candied mandarins are optional, but they add a pretty visual element, and they taste great, too. To make them, simply coat sliced mandarin oranges in sugar, and bake them until they're slightly dried out.

These individual little panna cottas are a delightful make-ahead dessert for dinner parties, or to celebrate special occasions like birthdays or Mother's Day.

What is orange blossom water?

Orange blossom water is essentially water flavored with orange blossoms. It's made by distilling fresh bitter-orange blossoms for their essential oil. It's aromatic and slightly bitter with delicate floral and citrus notes.

It's commonly used in Mediterranean desserts like pastries and more recently madeleines, scones, and even marshmallows. It's also a traditional ingredient in North African and Middle Eastern cooking, often used to flavor the syrup used in baklava or to mask the flavor of plain water.

Orange blossom panna cotta ingredients

Here's everything you need to make this orange blossom panna cotta:

• Whole milk – traditional panna cotta is made with cream, but we find using some whole milk works well and makes it lighter in texture.
• Gelatin – we use powdered gelatin but you can use the sheets if you prefer. This important ingredient gives the panna cotta its structure.
• Granulated sugar – for sweetness; granulated sugar is light in color and dissolves easily into the milk mixture.
• Heavy cream – for that classic creamy taste and texture.
• Orange blossom water – orange blossom water is delicate and floral, and can easily be found at most grocery stores or Middle Eastern markets.

Here's what you need to make the pretty candied oranges:

• Mini mandarin oranges – we use mini mandarin oranges because their size fits well into the mason jars, but you can use any variety of sliced orange.
• Granulated sugar – granulated sugar is ideal for candied orange slices. Other sugars like brown or raw will color the panna cotta so it will look muddy.

You will also need six (6) little mason jars, cups, or containers for serving.

How to make orange blossom panna cotta

This orange blossom panna cotta is an easy and elegant dessert that's perfect for Mother's Day, birthdays, or any time of year. Here's how to make it in a few simple steps:

1. Add the milk to a small pot and sprinkle the gelatin overtop until it begins to ‘bloom'.
2. Stir in the sugar, gently heat it and stir until everything is dissolved.
3. Remove the pot from the heat, whisk in the cream and orange blossom water (to taste), then place it in the fridge to cool.
4. Whisk it once more, then pour it into cute little cups or jars. Cover and refrigerate until it sets.

Here's how to make the pretty candied mandarin oranges:

1. Leaving the peel intact, cut each orange in half, then into half circles. Put them into a bowl and coat them with sugar.
2. Place the oranges on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes (flipping halfway through).
3. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool completely. Serve them on top of the set panna cotta!

Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.

FAQS

When to serve orange blossom panna cotta

Orange blossom panna cotta is a simple but elegant dessert that's perfect for special occasions, or anytime after a delicious meal. It's not heavy like some desserts, and the individual jars or cups make it easy (and pretty) to serve!

More pretty dessert recipes

• Amaretto Poached Pears
• Pretty Pink Vegan Strawberry Cream Pie
• Cranberry and White Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes