Vegan Citrus Vanilla Panna Cotta

Sep 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Origin: Tahitian Vanilla: Beans Easy

Vegan Citrus Vanilla Panna Cotta, unmolded on a plate with vanilla beans

Vegan citrus panna cotta flavored with a whole vanilla bean. An easy recipe: 15 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus setting; serves 6. Best vanilla for this: Tahitian (floral, cherry, anise), or Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic). Any pure vanilla works.

Prep 15 min

Cook 10 min

Set 2 hr

Total 2 hr 25 min

Servings 6

Diet Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

3.0 cups (720.0 ml)full-fat coconut cream
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0 tsp (2.0 g)agar-agar powder
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
1.0 tbsp (6.0 g)orange zest

Make it at home

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Instructions

Whisk the agar-agar powder into the cold coconut cream in a saucepan until no lumps remain.
Add the sugar and vanilla and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, whisking often.
Stir the orange zest into the warm cream mixture, let it steep for 10 minutes, then strain it out.
Simmer for 2 minutes, whisking constantly, to fully activate the agar-agar, then remove from the heat.
Pour into six molds or glasses and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until set.
To unmold, run a thin knife around the edge and invert onto a plate, or serve straight from the glass.

Tips

Zest only the colored part of the peel; the white pith underneath is bitter.
Don't toss the scraped pods: tuck them into a jar of sugar for homemade vanilla sugar.
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.
Choosing vanilla: Tahitian vanilla (floral, cherry, anise) suits this recipe best; Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic) is a great alternative, and any pure vanilla works.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make panna cotta?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hr set. The recipe makes 6 servings.

How should I store panna cotta?

Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Add any topping just before serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This version uses 1 split vanilla bean. You can swap in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste, or 1 teaspoon of vanilla powder instead; they're interchangeable at these amounts. Beans give the most visible specks and the fullest aroma.

What makes this recipe vegan?

It uses plant-based swaps for every animal ingredient: full-fat coconut cream, agar-agar powder. Check that your plant butter and other packaged ingredients are certified vegan.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

451 Calories / serving

39.4g Fat

24.9g Carbs

3.9g Protein

19.0g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~2706 cal · 236g fat · 149g carbs · 23g protein · 114g sugar

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

Per serving · 451 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.