Honey Lavender Panna Cotta (Printable format)

Creamy Italian dessert blending honey and lavender for a floral, sweet finish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dairy

01 - 2 cups heavy cream
02 - 1 cup whole milk

→ Sweeteners & Flavorings

03 - 1/3 cup honey
04 - 2 teaspoons dried culinary lavender
05 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Setting Agent

06 - 2.5 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin
07 - 3 tablespoons cold water

→ Garnish

08 - Fresh edible flowers
09 - Extra honey for drizzling
10 - Fresh berries

# Directions:

01 - Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in a small bowl and let sit for 5 minutes until fully hydrated.
02 - Combine heavy cream, whole milk, honey, and dried lavender in a medium saucepan. Heat gently over medium-low heat until steaming, stirring occasionally. Do not allow to boil.
03 - Remove from heat, cover the saucepan, and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove lavender solids. Return to saucepan.
04 - Stir the bloomed gelatin into the warm cream mixture until completely dissolved. Mix in vanilla extract thoroughly.
05 - Divide the mixture evenly among 4 ramekins or dessert glasses. Cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours until fully set.
06 - Unmold by running a knife tip around the edge and inverting onto plates, or serve directly in glasses. Garnish with honey drizzle, edible flowers, or fresh berries.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent three times longer making it than you actually did.
  • The floral honey lavender combination feels special enough for company but simple enough for a quiet Tuesday night.
  • Once it's chilling, you're completely free, which is honestly the dream when you're hosting.
02 -
  • Don't let the cream actually boil or the texture will change and become grainy instead of silky—medium-low heat is your friend here.
  • The gelatin really does need those 5 minutes to bloom in cold water, or you'll end up with tiny gritty specks in your perfect panna cotta, which I discovered the hard way my first time making this.
03 -
  • Orange blossom honey tastes incredible in this if you can find it—it adds another layer of floral complexity that makes people ask what your secret ingredient is.
  • Make these the day before you need them so you're not stressed about timing, and the flavor actually deepens as it sits.
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