Vanilla Panna Cotta with White Wine Sauce

Curl up with your loved one and a dish of this vanilla panna cotta with white wine sauce. It’s the perfect dessert for dinner for two, being ridiculously easy and foolproof. The rich and creamy vanilla panna cotta, paired with the sweet white wine sauce and fresh strawberries, creates a classic dessert that looks elegant and tastes delicious.

What is Panna Cotta?

Panna Cotta is an Italian dessert that is comprised of sweetened cream thickened with gelatin and then molded. The word Panna Cotta means “cooked cream” in Italian. It’s naturally gluten-free, too.

Panna Cotta can be molded into any shape you want, making it a fun dessert to create and style, however, for this recipe, we’re letting it mold inside a wine glass of your choice. Panna cotta is also quick, easy, and nearly foolproof, which makes it an easy go-to dessert.

Ingredients needed

• 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet/15 grams) unflavored gelatin
• 3 Tbsp. cold water
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/4 cup sugar – divided
• pinch of salt
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup sweet white wine
• 1 cup fresh strawberries – sliced

How to make vanilla panna cotta in a glass

1. In a small bowl, combine the unflavored gelatin and cold water, stir to combine and set aside. 
2. In a saucepan, add the heavy cream, milk, 1/4 cup sugar, salt, and vanilla – whisk to combine. 
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. 
4. Add the set gelatin to the cream and milk mixture, whisk to combine. Then, pour into stemless wine glasses or small ramekins and let cool. 
5. Once cooled, cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or overnight. 
6. For the sauce, add the white wine and 1 cup sugar to a saucepan and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until it reduces down and thickens. 
7. When ready to serve, top the panna cotta with sliced strawberries, then add 1-2 Tbsp. of the white wine sauce and server. 

How to make a white wine simple syrup

To make a white wine simple syrup:

• Add 1 cup semi-sweet white wine and 1 cup of sugar to a large saucepan and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer.
• Stir occasionally to help dissolve the sugar.
• Let the mixture simmer and reduce down to about half, then remove from heat and let cool. It should thicken just a bit as it cools.

Kitchen Resources for This Recipe

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Enjoy an elegant dinner for two!

I’m hosting a virtual dinner party for two with a few fellow food bloggers! This dessert post is part of this celebration; enjoy their recipes below!

Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese – Fresh April Flours
Truffle Risotto with Balsamic Mushroom Pork Chops – Bunsen Burner Bakery
Vanilla Panna Cotta with White Wine Sauce
Strawberry Gin Spritzer – Krazy Kitchen Mom

Enjoy these additional wine-infused recipes!

• Red Wine Poached Pears – a simple yet elegant wine desserts
• White Chocolate Strawberry Rosé Truffles – gather your girlfriends for this fun rosé dessert!
• Orange Moscato Cupcakes – tastes like a mimosa in a cupcake!
• Baked Chicken Gnocchi – with a rich and creamy white wine sauce

Vanilla Panna Cotta with White Wine Sauce