This decadent dark chocolate panna cotta is deliciously rich and rather simple to make. Ever since the first time I had Italian panna cotta, I fell in love with it!
It’s sweet, but not too sweet, and this recipe seems to hit the spot when the chocolate cravings set in.
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Why you will love this dark chocolate panna cotta
Panna cotta is a type of Italian pudding, but really it seems more like a mousse without eggs. It’s thick and creamy, rich and delicious.
If you give yourself enough time to let it set, it’s a very simple recipe and turns out perfect every time!
Ingredients
All we need for this recipe for dark chocolate panna cotta are a few simple ingredients and the time for them to come together in the fridge.
Our main ingredient that brings it all together into a thick, creamy dessert is the unflavored gelatin.
What is unflavored gelatin?
It is basically collagen that is derived from an animal, usually the connective tissue and so forth.
Collagen is quite beneficial for you and can help slow the aging process down and also contribute towards good bone and cartilage health. We have collagen in our body and it doesn’t hurt to get more!
Since gelatin is a collagen product derived from animals, it is not vegan nor vegetarian.
Now, panna cotta nor things containing gelatin don’t necessarily taste like meat… at all. It is what it says, which is “unflavored.”
Just make sure that when you serve this to guests, that you don’t serve it to anyone who is vegetarian or vegan.
Our other main ingredient, from which will come the richness and flavor, is the dark chocolate.
For this recipe we will be using both a bar of dark chocolate (finely chopped) and Hershey’s Special dark chocolate cocoa powder.
You don’t want to skimp on the chocolate bar. Buy something good! You are not going to want processed milk chocolate, or a bag of cheap chocolate chips or anything like that.
These are the ingredients for dark chocolate panna cotta:
- Heavy whipping cream
- Unflavored gelatin
- Dark chocolate (72%)
- Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder
- Granulated Sugar
- Water
How to make dark chocolate panna cotta
Measure out the heavy whipping cream into a medium size saucepan and turn the stove onto medium heat.
While it is heating up, put 1 packet of unflavored gelatin (2 teaspoons) into a small dish and add 2 tablespoons of water to the granules.
They will plump up and turn into a dense gelatin before adding it into the panna cotta.
Finely chop the bar of dark chocolate and measure out the sugar, special dark chocolate cocoa powder and a dash of salt.
As soon as the cream begins to steam and it gets bubbly around the edges, remove it from the heat. DO NOT BOIL IT!
Immediately after removing it from the heat, add the chopped chocolate, sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Stir with a whisk until it is all incorporated and smooth.
Add ½ teaspoon of vanilla and stir.
While it is still hot, add the gelatin granules that had been soaking in the water. It might be dense already but that is ok.
As long as the chocolate mixture is still hot when you add it, it will incorporate well. Whisk it all together until the gelatin is dissolved in the chocolate and cream mixture.
At this point it will look like dark, glossy, rich liquid chocolate. Take 4 ramekins and pour the mixture evenly into them.
Let the panna cotta cool on the counter for about 20 minutes before covering them with plastic and putting them in the fridge to cool.
Let the panna cotta set in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or up to 24 hours. Serve with whipped cream or berries. You are going to enjoy this delicious dessert!
Serving Suggestions
Panna cotta should be served cold. I think it is wonderful to top it with homemade whipped cream, but that is optional.
You can serve it straight from the ramekins or you can attempt to remove them, although sometimes it can fall apart.
Another fun way to serve them is to pour the panna cotta mixture into martini or wine glasses and let them set there.
You can also check out my recipe for Chamomile Panna Cotta 🡨 here.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Whisk
- 4 ramekins
FAQ’s
Is panna cotta bad for you?
I personally don’t think it’s bad for you at all. Collagen is always good for continued health and studies suggest that there are health benefits to dark chocolate also.
While sugar may have some drawbacks, there really isn’t much in this recipe for dark chocolate panna cotta.
Does panna cotta have eggs?
No! Panna cotta does not contain any eggs or egg products. It is neither vegan nor vegetarian though, since it has gelatin powder.
📖 Recipe
Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 7 oz 72% dark chocolate
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin powder 1 packet
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder
- 1 dash salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Measure out 2 cups of heavy whipping cream into a medium size saucepan and turn it onto medium heat.
- While it is heating up, measure 2 teaspoons of the unflavored gelatin into a small bowl and add 2 tablespoons of water to the granules.
- Finely chop the dark chocolate. Measure out the sugar, a dash of salt and the dark cocoa powder into a bowl and toss it together.
- When the heavy cream begins to steam and bubble on the sides of the pan, remove it from the heat. Do Not Boil!
- Immediately add the chopped chocolate, sugar, cocoa powder and salt and whisk it together until everything is melted and smooth.
- Add the vanilla and stir.
- By this time the gelatin granules will be in a semi-solid state. Add them to the hot cream and chocolate mixture and whisk it together until all the gelatin granules are dissolved and the mixture is completely smooth.
- Pour the panna cotta mixture into 4 ramekins and let it cool on the counter for 20-30 minutes before covering them with plastic and chilling them in the fridge.
- Let them sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours before serving. Enjoy!
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