Vegan Coconut Vanilla Panna Cotta

Jul 7, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Origin: Tahitian Vanilla: Beans Easy

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

Vegan coconut 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
½ cup (40.0 g)toasted coconut flakes

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.
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.
Sprinkle the toasted coconut over each serving.

Tips

Toast the coconut in a dry skillet, stirring constantly, until just golden; it burns quickly.
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, toasted coconut flakes. 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.

493 Calories / serving

43.8g Fat

26.0g Carbs

4.3g Protein

19.5g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~2958 cal · 263g fat · 156g carbs · 26g protein · 117g sugar

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

Per serving · 493 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 93 min·5.4 mi·~10900 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 67 min·3.4 mi·~6700 steps
Moderate cycling 50 min·10.0 mi
Swimming laps 69 min
Jogging 48 min·4.0 mi·~7700 steps
Stair climbing 46 min·~4150 steps
Dancing 80 min
Bodyweight circuit training 50 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 114 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.