Buttermilk Panna Cotta: Simplest Dessert Ever

This dessert takes five minutes to make. Ten minutes tops. And it’s a great way to use up leftover buttermilk.

For example, I opened the fridge a few days ago and spotted a carton of buttermilk dated August 13. It smelt a little funky and I noticed a few lumps, but doesn’t buttermilk always kind of look/smell this way? I gave the carton a good shake, poured the buttermilk into a clear, glass measuring cup to inspect for anything looking particularly threatening and proceeded with the recipe. Success. I have now eaten panna cotta three nights in a row and have yet to feel a tinge of sickness.

Even if you aren’t trying to use up a half-empy carton of buttermilk, this is a great recipe to have on hand for several reasons:

1. It can and should be made the night before serving — perfect for entertaining.
2. It is made in individual servings — perfect for entertaining.
3. It is light and summery.
4. It literally takes no time to whip up.
5. It is delicious.

Also, you don’t need fancy ramekins or custard cups. I have them, (and love them, obviously), but for the sake of demonstration, I poured this batch into various-sized glass cups including an old-fashioned mason jar. It looked precious. The panna cotta doesn’t even really need to be inverted onto a plate, and if you chose to use glasses, in fact, I wouldn’t recommend inverting. Just eat it right out of the glass. Yum.

Note: If you do have a set of ramekins, invert the panna cotta onto plates and serve with fresh fruit or a raspberry coulis, as my grandmother does.

What is panna cotta? Panna cotta, meaning “cooked cream,” is an Italian dessert made by simmering milk or cream and sugar together. It is thickened with gelatin and must chill for a few hours to set. According to Wikipedia, panna cotta originates from the Piedmont region of Italy.

Buttermilk Panna Cotta

If you have 1½ cups buttermilk on hand:
1½ tsp. unflavored gelatin
½ cup milk, not skim, but 1% and up
½ cup sugar
1½ cups buttermilk
¼ tsp. vanilla extract

If you have 1 cup buttermilk on hand:
1 tsp. gelatin
6 T. milk
6 T. sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1/8 tsp. vanilla

1. In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over ¼ cup (or 3 tablespoons if using 1 cup of buttermilk) of water. Let stand until softened, about 5 minutes.

2. In a saucepan, heat milk and sugar over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot but not boiling, 3-5 minutes.
Remove from heat, stir in gelatin mixture, then buttermilk, and vanilla. Pour into 4 or 6-oz ramekins* and chill until set, 3 hours.

3. To serve, run a knife around edge of ramekin, place a plate on top, flip over and gently shake to turn out onto plate.
Garnish with some fresh berries.

*Note: Pour into any vessel you have. If using tall, narrow glasses, do not worry about inverting. Serve right in the glass. Keeps well in the fridge for at least a week.

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Comments ( 17 )

A five minute dessert works for me. And I ALWAYS have extra unused buttermilk going to waste after use in a recipe…

RecipeGirl added these pithy words on Aug 25 08 at 6:55 am

That sounds too easy not to try! Can I eat it with my plum cake?

RG added these pithy words on Aug 25 08 at 8:23 am

this looks like my speed!

Rachel added these pithy words on Aug 25 08 at 8:35 am

rg — of course you can eat it with your plum cake. i’m eating one for breakfast right now, in fact.

alexandra's kitchen added these pithy words on Aug 25 08 at 8:38 am

ooh, how did you know I have some leftover buttermilk in my fridge?!?!

ttfn300 added these pithy words on Aug 25 08 at 9:42 am

i never knew this was so easy. It’s my absolute favorite!

scfoodie added these pithy words on Aug 25 08 at 4:21 pm

Wow, looks great. Even easier than the gelato. Thanks for coming by my blog as well. Glad to have found yours. I will be back for sure!!!

Joe Horn added these pithy words on Aug 25 08 at 4:52 pm

Than looks delicious! I’ve never had panna cotta, would it be tacky to ask if it is kind of like flan?

Katie added these pithy words on Aug 25 08 at 6:10 pm

love the ball jar. i make margaritas in my old canning jars. this looks like a perfect summer dessert

porkandspoon added these pithy words on Aug 25 08 at 6:54 pm

I love buttermilk, and I love panna cotta, so I know I would enjoy this!

Emiline added these pithy words on Aug 26 08 at 11:15 pm

My mum has been known to make buttermilk pannacotta – so delicious on its own, such a nice backdrop for fruit! And it is superb if you have a nice bottle of dessert wine to open, because it isn’t too sweet.

Foodycat added these pithy words on Aug 29 08 at 8:03 am

Thats it, time to try panna cotta which I have never had! Love buttermilk and must try this soon. I use to live in Bryn Mawr & Chester Springs after going to Villanova, I so miss the good Italian food up North as we do not have great ethnic food in the South.

Kim added these pithy words on Aug 30 08 at 4:44 am

Made this today and it was delicious!! Turns out so elegant you’d never know it was easy Thanks for the recipe!

ttfn300 added these pithy words on Sep 03 08 at 5:02 pm

Don’t ask me why I waited until the middle of winter on a snowy day to make this, but I did. It is absolutely delicious! I can’t believe how easy it is to make and I can’t wait to make more. Thanks so much for posting this recipe

rena added these pithy words on Jan 31 09 at 6:09 am