Panna Cotta al Caffè
italianketocoffeepanna cottachocolateno-bakedessert

Panna Cotta al Caffè

Panna cotta al caffè is a silky, gently set cream dessert with the bittersweet aroma of fresh espresso. This keto version keeps the classic wobble and luxurious mouthfeel, finished with a glossy dark chocolate glaze for an elegant, café-style dessert.

1h 55min
6 servings
415 kcal
Italian

Ingredients

Coffee cream

  • 7 gpowdered gelatin
  • 35 mlcold water
  • 500 mlheavy cream, 35% fat
  • 80 mlfreshly brewed espresso
  • 65 gpowdered erythritol-allulose blend
  • 5 mlvanilla extract
  • 1 pinchfine sea salt

Dark chocolate glaze

  • 70 gsoy-free sugar-free dark chocolate, finely chopped
  • 70 mlheavy cream, 35% fat
  • 10 gpowdered erythritol-allulose blend
  • 10 gunsalted butter
  • 1 ginstant espresso powder

Instructions

  1. 1

    Lightly chill 6 small ramekins or glasses. Sprinkle the powdered gelatin evenly over the cold water in a small bowl and let it bloom for 5 minutes; do not stir aggressively, as dry pockets can form.

  2. 2

    In a small saucepan, combine the heavy cream, freshly brewed espresso, powdered erythritol-allulose blend, vanilla extract, and fine sea salt. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring often, until steaming and the sweetener is fully dissolved; do not boil, as boiling can dull the cream flavour and make the texture less delicate.

  3. 3

    Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the bloomed gelatin and whisk gently until completely dissolved, about 45–60 seconds. Rub a drop of mixture between your fingers; it should feel smooth, with no gelatin grains.

  4. 4

    Strain the coffee cream through a fine sieve into a jug, then divide evenly among the chilled ramekins. Skim off any surface bubbles with a spoon for a polished finish.

  5. 5

    Chill the panna cotta until softly set, about 90 minutes for small shallow ramekins. It should wobble gently when nudged but not ripple like liquid; avoid freezing solid, which can damage the silky texture.

  6. 6

    When the panna cotta is set, make the glaze. Heat the heavy cream with the powdered erythritol-allulose blend and instant espresso powder until just steaming, then pour it over the finely chopped dark chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute, then stir from the centre outward until glossy. Stir in the unsalted butter until smooth.

  7. 7

    Let the glaze cool until fluid but no longer hot, about 3–5 minutes; it should feel just slightly warm to the touch. Spoon a thin layer over each set panna cotta, tilting the ramekins to cover the surface evenly.

  8. 8

    Serve immediately for a soft glossy glaze, or chill for 10–15 minutes if you prefer a firmer chocolate top. Serve directly in the glasses or unmould briefly by dipping the base of each ramekin in warm water for 5–8 seconds before inverting.

Nutrition per serving

415 kcal
Calories
4g
Protein
4g
Carbs
41g
Fat
1g
Fiber

Notes

Background

Panna cotta, meaning “cooked cream,” is most closely associated with Piedmont in northern Italy, where dairy-rich desserts are traditional. Coffee-flavoured versions are common in modern Italian restaurants and home kitchens, pairing the dessert’s soft creaminess with espresso’s bitter depth.

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