Panna Cotta Gelato

Jul 18, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Beans Medium

A generous swirl of panna cotta gelato in a small glass cup with a flat gelato spade

Rich and creamy panna cotta gelato captures the classic dessert’s silky texture with added mascarpone and infused real vanilla bean, creating a smooth, luscious treat that melts beautifully on the tongue.

Prep 25 min

Cook 15 min

Cooling 3 hr 30 min

Total 4 hr 10 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1 ½ cups (360.0 ml)whole milk
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)heavy cream
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar
2.0 tbsp (12.0 g)skim milk powder
⅛ tsp (0.7 g)fine sea salt
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
½ cup (125.0 g)mascarpone cheese

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine the whole milk, heavy cream, and granulated sugar. Stir gently to mix.
Add the split vanilla bean and its seeds along with the skim milk powder and fine sea salt.
Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it reaches 175°F (79°C) and the sugar and milk powder are dissolved. Do not boil.
Remove from heat and let the vanilla bean steep in the hot mixture for 30 minutes to infuse flavor.
Remove the vanilla bean pod and whisk in the mascarpone cheese until fully incorporated and smooth.
Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl to ensure silky smoothness.
Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 90 minutes until thoroughly cold.
Pour the chilled custard into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions until soft and creamy, about 40-50 minutes.
Transfer the gelato to an airtight container and freeze for 2 hours to firm up before serving.

Tips

Use mascarpone cheese to replicate panna cotta's creamy, rich mouthfeel in the gelato.
Steeping the vanilla bean in the hot milk mixture enhances the vanilla flavor without artificial notes.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make panna cotta gelato?

Plan on 25 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 3 hours 30 minutes to chill and freeze. The recipe makes about 1 quart (8 servings).

How should I store panna cotta gelato?

Keep the gelato frozen in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Let soften at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before scooping for best texture.

Can I make panna cotta gelato ahead?

Prepare and chill the base up to one day in advance for improved flavor melding before churning.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped. Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

245 Calories / serving

19.1g Fat

16.4g Carbs

3.0g Protein

16.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~1960 cal · 153g fat · 131g carbs · 24g protein · 131g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 245 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 46 min·2.7 mi·~5400 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 33 min·1.7 mi·~3300 steps
Moderate cycling 25 min·5.0 mi
Swimming laps 34 min
Jogging 24 min·2.0 mi·~3850 steps
Stair climbing 23 min·~2050 steps
Dancing 40 min
Bodyweight circuit training 25 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 57 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.