Panna Cotta with Summer Peaches & Grand Marnier

Panna Cotta with summer peaches and Grand Marnier is one of the easiest yet most sophisticated desserts. It tastes amazing and is one of our most popular recipes!

This panna cotta recipe represents all the reasons that I fell in love with cooking. When I first decided that it was a necessity for our family that I at least try to learn to prepare something other than boxed macaroni & cheese, it was recipes like this one that made me realize that cooking really is not difficult. That there are certain recipes that will make you look as if you’re a rock star in the kitchen, even though they’re so easy that a child could pull them off. It’s the secret that chefs keep from those who have never attempted to cook.

This panna cotta with summer peaches is one of those recipes. I decided to use completely different dishes for this batch so that I could show how simple it is to tailor it to whatever occasion you’ve prepared it for. I like to unmold it for a dinner party or serve it in small dessert glasses if I have a crowd (place it on a tray and let guests pick them up as they’re ready).

Sometimes I’ll garnish just a few but let everyone choose their own toppings: berry or citrus-brandy sauce, dark chocolate sauce, assorted fresh berries, or diced peaches soaked in Grand Marnier as I’ve done here. The choices are vast and you can tailor it to any season. You could even put it in mason jars and bring it to a picnic!

Why You’ll Love Panna Cotta With Summer Peaches & Grand Marnier

Creamy Indulgence: The combination of heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla creates a lusciously creamy texture that melts in your mouth, offering a luxurious experience.

Perfect Balance: The sweetness of the peaches and the slight tanginess of the Grand Marnier beautifully balance the richness of the cream, creating a harmonious and well-rounded dessert.

A Touch of Elegance: The addition of Grand Marnier elevates the dessert with its subtle citrus notes and hints of orange liqueur, adding sophistication and depth to the flavor profile.

Versatile Presentation: Garnishing with blueberries and mint not only adds a pop of color but also enhances the overall freshness and visual appeal of the dish, making it a stunning centerpiece for any summer gathering.

Easy to Make: Despite its elegant appearance, panna cotta is surprisingly easy to prepare, making it an ideal dessert for both casual weeknight dinners and special occasions alike.

Panna Cotta With Summer Peaches Ingredients Notes

• Heavy Cream: Provides the rich and creamy base for the panna cotta, giving it its smooth and luxurious texture.
• Sugar: Sweetens the dessert, balancing out the flavors and enhancing the overall sweetness of the dish.
• Vanilla Bean (or Vanilla Extract): Infuses the panna cotta with fragrant vanilla flavor, adding depth and aroma to the creamy mixture.
• Gelatin: Acts as a thickening agent, helping the panna cotta set into a firm yet delicate consistency when chilled.
• Cold Water: Used to bloom the gelatin, ensuring it dissolves properly and evenly distributes throughout the cream mixture, aiding in the setting process.
• Ripe Summer Peaches: Offer juicy sweetness and a burst of fruity flavor to the dessert, complementing the creamy panna cotta with their vibrant taste and texture.
• Grand Marnier: Adds a subtle citrusy and orange liqueur flavor to the panna cotta with summer peaches, infusing it with a hint of sophistication and complexity.
• Blueberries & Mint (for garnishing): Provides visual appeal and freshness to the dish, contrasting with the creamy texture of the panna cotta and adding a pop of color to the presentation.

Find the complete Panna Cotta with Summer Peaches and Grand Marnier ingredients list with measurements in the recipe card below.

How To Make Panna Cotta With Summer Peaches & Grand Marnier

1. Make the panna cotta base: Heat the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla in a saucepan, stirring occasionally until sugar is dissolved.
2. Bloom the gelatin: Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water in a let stand at least 5 minutes.
3. Mix it together: Stir gelatin into the warm cream mixture until it’s completely dissolved.
4. Pour and Set: Pour into dishes, cover lightly, and chill until very firm. About 5 hours, or overnight if you have time.
5. Prep peaches: About an hour before serving, dice the peach and toss with the Grand Marnier, letting it soak until you’re ready to serve.
6. Finish & serve: Top each panna cotta with a small amount of peaches, serving the rest on the side to be added as desired. Garnish with blueberries and mint if desired.

Note about the peaches: They’re best if you let them soak awhile but you can always add at the last minute if you’re concerned that not everyone wants the booze.

Variations, Substitutions & Cooking Tips

Fruit Substitutions: Experiment with different fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, or mangoes to customize the flavor of the panna cotta according to your preferences or seasonal availability.

Liqueur Alternatives: If Grand Marnier is not available, you can substitute it with other orange liqueurs or even other types of liqueurs such as Amaretto or Frangelico for a unique flavor twist.

Spice Infusions: Infuse the cream mixture with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger for added warmth and depth of flavor.

Nutty Toppings: Instead of blueberries and mint, consider toppings like toasted almonds, pistachios, or hazelnuts for a crunchy contrast.

Sweeteners: Substitute sugar with honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup for a different flavor profile or to accommodate dietary preferences.

Proper Gelatin Bloom: Ensure that the gelatin is properly bloomed by sprinkling it evenly over cold water and allowing it to sit for a few minutes until it becomes soft and spongy.

Gentle Heating: Heat the cream mixture gently over low to medium heat, stirring constantly, to prevent scorching and ensure the gelatin fully dissolves.

Strain the Mixture: After heating the cream mixture, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps or bits of vanilla bean, resulting in a smoother texture.

Chill Thoroughly: Allow the panna cotta to chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight until fully set before serving for the best texture and flavor.

Prepare in Advance: Panna cotta with summer peaches can be made a day or two in advance, making it a convenient dessert option for entertaining. Just cover each serving dish with plastic wrap before refrigerating to prevent a skin from forming on top.

If you’ve never tried making panna cotta before, here is my plea that you do so right away. Nothing could be easier – or more delicious! You can thank me later!

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Panna Cotta With Summer Peaches & Grand Marnier

Yield: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 5 hours

Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes

Panna Cotta with fresh summer peaches and Grand Marnier is one of the easiest yet most sophisticated desserts. It tastes amazing and is one of our most popular recipes!

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Ingredients

• 4 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise & seeds scraped from pod (or 2 t of pure vanilla extract)
• 2 packets plain powdered gelatin
• 6 tablespoons cold water
• 2 ripe summer peaches
• 1/4 cup Grand Marnier
• Blueberries & mint for garnishing (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla in a saucepan, stirring occasionally until sugar is dissolved.
2. Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water in a let stand at least 5 minutes.
3. Stir the gelatin into the warm cream mixture until it’s completely dissolved.
4. Pour into dessert molds or dishes, cover lightly and chill until very firm. I usually do mine first thing in the morning and leave it all day or do it the night before (a few hours should be good, however).
5. About an hour or so before serving, dice the peach and toss with the Grand Marnier, letting it soak until you’re ready to serve. Top each panna cotta with a small amount of peaches, serving the rest on the side to be added as desired. Garnish with blueberries and mint.

More delicious Panna Cotta recipes

• Christmas Raspberry Panna Cotta
• 2-Ingredient Panna Cotta with Fresh Berries
• Lemon Panna Cotta with Raspberry Sauce

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Kristy Bernardo

Kristy Bernardo is the recipe creator behind The Wicked Noodle. She's a five-time cookbook author, has taught cooking classes to both kids and adults, and has been creating recipes for nationwide brands since 2009. She learned most of her cooking skills from her mom and grandmother, then honed those skills at boot camp at the Culinary Institute of America.

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