Vanilla Honey Espresso Panna Cotta

Jul 18, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Origin: Ugandan Vanilla: Beans Easy

This panna cotta sets softly rather than firmly, giving each spoonful a silky, delicate wobble. Espresso adds flavor and texture. Best with Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky); any pure vanilla works.

Prep 15 min

Cook 8 min

Chill 4 hr

Total 4 hr 23 min

Servings 6

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

3.0 cups (720.0 ml)heavy cream
¼ cup (85.0 g)honey
2 ½ tsp (7.0 g)unflavored powdered gelatin
3.0 tbsp (45.0 ml)cold water
⅛ tsp (0.75 g)fine sea salt
½ (2.0 g)VanillaGoods vanilla bean, split and scraped

Flavor Accent

1 ½ tsp (4.5 g)instant espresso powder

Make it at home

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Instructions

Sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the cold water and let it stand for 5 minutes. The gelatin should absorb the water and look wrinkled and swollen.
Warm the cream, honey, and salt over medium heat, stirring until the honey is fully dispersed; if using a vanilla bean, warm the split and scraped bean with the cream as well. Take the pan off the heat when the cream is steaming; do not let it reach a rolling boil.
Whisk the instant espresso powder into the warm cream until evenly dispersed before adding the gelatin. The accent should be evenly distributed with no visible pockets.
Remove the vanilla pod, then whisk the bloomed gelatin into the hot cream until it dissolves completely. The mixture should look completely smooth, with no visible gelatin granules or strings.
Divide the mixture among six small glasses or ramekins and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. The panna cotta should be set around the edges and wobble softly in the center.

Tips

Optional finish, cocoa dusting (1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder): sift the finishing cocoa through a fine sieve in a light, even cocoa dusting over the fully set, chilled panna cotta just before serving. The finish should stay on the surface without melting into the dessert.
No vanilla bean? Use 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder instead. Add it where the recipe adds the seeds; if the bean is steeped in hot milk or cream, stir the swap in after cooking, off the heat.
Best vanilla for this: Ugandan (bold, chocolatey, smoky), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla honey espresso panna cotta?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 8 minutes of cooking, plus 4 hours to rest, chill, or cool. It makes 6 servings.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

No vanilla bean? Use 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder instead. Add it where the recipe adds the seeds; if the bean is steeped in hot milk or cream, stir the swap in after cooking, off the heat.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

452 Calories / serving

42.8g Fat

15.0g Carbs

4.0g Protein

14.9g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~2712 cal · 257g fat · 90g carbs · 24g protein · 89g sugar

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

Per serving · 452 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 85 min·5.0 mi·~9950 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 61 min·3.1 mi·~6100 steps
Moderate cycling 46 min·9.2 mi
Swimming laps 63 min
Jogging 44 min·3.7 mi·~7050 steps
Stair climbing 42 min·~3800 steps
Dancing 73 min
Bodyweight circuit training 46 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 105 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.