Coconut Panna Cotta with Mango

This dairy-free Coconut Panna Cotta recipe makes an impressive, creamy dessert that is so easy to make! You only need a few simple ingredients to pull this dessert off and you will be sure to impress everyone.

What is panna cotta?

Panna cotta literally translates to "cooked cream" and is a classic Italian dessert. The traditional dessert is made of sweetened heavy cream where gelatin powder is used as the thickening agent. It can be served in a small glasses or inverted onto small dishes. It is often flavoured with vanilla bean, vanilla extract, coffee and other flavours. In this case it's coconut!

Ingredients to make this recipe

• Full-fat, canned, coconut milk
• Non-dairy milk
• Honey
• Water or milk
• Gelatin
• Salt
• Ripe mango
• Toasted coconut (optional)
• Coconut oil (if you want to unmold)

How to make coconut panna cotta

Panna cotta is one of the easiest dessert recipes to make!

1.Bloom the gelatin - place the cold water in a small bowl and slowly sprinkle gelatin evenly over the surface working with one layer at a time. Let the first layer dissolve before adding more gelatin. Let the gelatin mixture sit for 5 minutes.

2. Heat the coconut milk - in a small saucepan over medium heat to medium-low heat, warm the coconut milk, milk, honey, and salt until hot but not boiling.

3. Combine - remove from heat and whisk the bloomed gelatin into the coconut mixture. Let sit for 15 minutes before pouring into molds.

If you plan to unmold them choose a cup that is smooth for easy release. Lightly grease the cups/molds with coconut oil.

4. Chill - whisk the coconut mixture then pour into cups. Let come to room temperature then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Which type of coconut milk should I use?

For this recipe it's important to use right kind of coconut milk. Normally I use brands that contain nothing but coconut and water BUT for this recipe you want to look for one that contains an emulsifier like guar gum, which prevents the separation of the oils. You want to avoid coconut milk that comes in a carton as they don't contain enough fat. Canned coconut milk that is full-fat is what's recommended for a luscious dessert. The extra fat is what produces a creamy panna cotta with a silky texture.

Substitutions

• Full-fat coconut milk - you could use half light and half full fat if you are looking to reduce the fat. For a creamy coconut panna cotta it's best to avoid using all light or low fat coconut milk.
• Non-dairy milk - you can use any type of milk or cream.
• Gelatin - for a vegan coconut panna cotta you can use agar agar powder however I have not tested this so I can't say what amount you would need.
• Honey - I have made this with both maple syrup and sugar with a perfect outcome.
• Mango - Tropical flavors go well with mango but any fresh fruit, fresh berries, or sweet compote can be used.

How do I unmold Panna Cotta?

First, make sure you greased your cups or molds with coconut milk or a light spray of non-stick cooking spray. Once the panna cotta has set overnight, fill a bowl with very hot water. Dip one cup at a time into the hot water until the panna cotta has released itself. You will start to see a small amount of liquid forming around the edge. Don't let it sit too long in the hot water or it will start to totally melt. Place a serving plate on top of the mold and invert. Give it a little shake or tap, if necessary, to release.