Passionfruit Coconut Panna Cotta
Hello friends! If you’ve been around here for a while you know I love tropical flavors. Thanks to my growing up in the tropics. A lot of my desserts are inspired by this but I also love trying new things. Panna Cotta is one of those desserts you order at a restaurant. It is creamy, decadent, and luscious. Let me introduce you to this passionfruit panna cotta which is my current way to enjoying this Italian dessert with a tropical twist!
When I first started baking there were some recipes that intimidated me. I focused on easy and basic recipes like cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. Dishes that sounded super fancy also sounded hard to master. The more my passion for baking and cooking grew, the more I started branching out and trying harder recipes. Panna Cotta is one of those recipes. It not only looks absolutely amazing but how easy it is to make will also blow your mind.I decided I was going to give it a try! “You can do anything you put your mind to” is what I kept telling myself. Sure, cookies, cakes, and brownies are great but I wanted to challenge myself. My first try of panna cotta was this buttermilk panna cotta from 4 years ago. It started my love for these desserts and it used to be my go-to for dinner parties. I added more flavors and now have over seven panna cotta recipes on the blog.
For this passionfruit panna cotta, I used a coconut base and infused it with passionfruit flavor. You all know I love coconut so it is no surprise it is my go-to when it comes to tropical flavors. Adding in the tartness of passionfruit in this panna cotta brings on a refreshing taste as well as cuts down on the sweetness. Passionfruit compliments coconut so well. The mild sweetness and little kick of tart ended up being perfect.
My husband was at first skeptical about panna cotta but once he tried it, he’s been a fan! He also has to taste test and approve all the flavors I try to infuse in it. This combination was a winner he says. The rich taste of sweet cream and distinctive passionfruit, coconut, and raspberries was a healthier alternative to some of my other recipes. It can even be made into a dairy-free option! Just use dairy-free creamer or coconut milk. Same amazing flavors but no dairy to worry about.
Since it is a refrigerated dessert you want to keep it chilled until it is time to serve. I recommend adding the topping right before serving so the flavors are fresh. Since most of us are still staying at home why not change up your traditional dinner and do theme nights? On your Italian night, this would be the perfect way to end an awesome family dinner. Spice it up a little and go outside of your comfort zone. Trust me, you can recreate this Passionfruit Panna Cotta just like I did. Let me know in the comments what you think! Enjoy guys!
If you love coconut as much as I do, try out my coconut cheesecake that is topped with delicious toasted coconut.
Yield: 4 6-ounce ramekins
Passionfruit Panna Cotta
This creamy custard dessert is flavored with tart passionfruit combined with tropical coconut.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Additional Time
3 hours
Total Time
3 hours 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 packet (~2 1/4 teaspoons) gelatin
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup passionfruit pulp, puree or concentrate
- 1 cup canned coconut milk, well shaken
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
Topping:
- homemade whipped cream, passionfruit pulp, raspberries, coconut shavings
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the gelatin, water, vanilla extract, and passionfruit. Let sit while you prepare the rest.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the coconut milk, heavy cream, and sugar. Bring to a slow simmer over medium-low heat stirring occasionally until sugar melts. Remove from heat and whisk the gelatin mixture into the warm milk until completely dissolved.
- Pour into three 6-ounce ramekins or mini bundt pans. Chill overnight until set.
- Top with fresh passionfruit pulp, coconut flakes, and raspberries or whipped cream.
Notes
- For a dairy-free option, you can use all coconut milk or substitute it with a dairy-free cream.
- You can also use a passionfruit cocktail for this recipe.
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I have made this recipe twice now, both times with juice from fresh passion fruit. Not sure about the puree, but for fresh fruit juice, the gelatin-to-liquid ratio is definitely not right. The first time, I followed the recipe exactly, but the panna cotta definitely didn’t set right. The second time I omitted the tablespoons of water (just dissolving the gelatin in the juice) and added another teaspoon of gelatin. This time it set ok, but could be a touch firmer in my opinion. I will experiment with adding slightly more gelatin or leaving out some liquid next time. The panna cotta tastes great and I got lots of compliments on it.
Wow didn’t realize how simple panna cotta was the make. It always seems so fancy and inaccessible 😅
Just curious if there’s another substitute instead of the passion fruit? I can’t find any in my grocery store, but I do have mango!
Mango would work too!
Where do I find passion fruit? I love having it when we visit Hawaii but never see it at home.
Also, there are many different canned coconut milks. Would this work with both the lower fat and higher fat ones?
I find mine in ethnic food stores. most have frozen pulp even if they don’t have fresh fruit. you can also buy some from amazon.
What a great combination! I love panna cotta and passionfruit. I came from a tropical country and passionfruit drink is my favorite one during hot summers. I made panna cotta with chocolate, matcha, or vanilla, but never done with coconut and passionfruit together. Your pannacotta looks so fresh and yummy. It will be the perfect dessert for hot weather as summer is coming. I already shared this on my Twitter, hopefully, I can have time to make it soon. Thanks so much for sharing not only the recipe of the famous Italian dessert with a creative version but also where to buy it. I appreciate your work.
So glad to have you here Chau! Passionfruit drink is truly the best. I hope you get to make it soon. Thank you!
I recently made my first panna cotta and was amazed at how easy it is! Love the passionfruit addition…definitely makes everything better!
It is so easy to make right?? Love it!!