by Simone on December 21, 2009 // 36 Comments »

Cranberry pannacotta

I have a thing for pannacotta…. ever since I tasted the first (the first homemade version that is) pannacotta I am sort of addicted. It’s not that I make this dessert every week or even every month for that matter, but no matter what flavor I make; I love it every single time… From the lemon buttermilk pannacotta, to the cinnamon apple pannacotta, to this seasonal variety. They’re all good… Not so good for the waistline though; lots of cream in there…

While we initially wanted to make the Italian icecream for dessert (and don’t worry, we will be making that before the year is over.. ) we figured a little lighter then that would be advisable. It’s weird really that most christmas dishes are rather heavy on the stomach; we had to really make adjustments from our original menu to the current one to make sure that we didn’t have to roll every one out the door. I don’t know about you but I don’t particularly like the overly full feeling that you get after eating too much. I do – in fact – hate that feeling and while I am the only one to blame for that feeling when it happens to me, I would like to think that I try to avoid it as much as possible. So we made a few adjustments to the final menu; some things were cancelled, other things were added. No potatoes at the main course; the cream leek tart will be more then enough even without potatoes. And a nice fresh salad to go with the ham and the tart and then for dessert a pannacotta. While the pannacotta is arguably not exactly leaner then the Italian icecream when you count it in calories; it does feel lighter due to the smaller portion and the fact that I will be changing the recipe that I followed for the above cranberry version. I am going to add the buttermilk in.

Dare we hope for a white christmas??

The lemon buttermilk pannacotta that I made before is perfect in that sense; due to the tartness of the buttermilk it looses some of it’s rich creamy texture making it fresh and light. And then I will add the cranberries to it for that seasonal feeling (and because I love cranberries too ofcourse) I will make them a little sweeter then the ones we use for the ham to counter balance the lemon and buttermilk. Hmmm, lovely… and that then is our christmas menu complete!

I will give you below the recipe for the original cranberry pannacotta which I made yesterday. If you make it I would advise adding a little lemon or some other sour tasting flavor to pick it up a little.

Yesterday it has been snowing almost the entire day resulting in a big pile of white fluffy snow today and when the sun broke through the clouds this morning I just had to go for a little walk in the park across from our house. Isn’t it beautiful?? Too bad that it will probably not last until christmas. It’s gonna be melting starting tomorrow… O well, we had fun while it lasted, although it’s a nightmare for traffic ofcourse. Our little country is not equipped to deal with things like heavy snow or frost; everyone is in a state of panick, trains, trams and buses no longer operate due to frozen tracks, or whatever else happens and let’s not talk about the traffic jams!! Yesterday, a sunday no less, we had a total of 1200 minutes traffic jam and 90 traffic jams altogether. On a sunday! Imagine what would’ve happened if yesterday had been a monday.

Thanks to christmas holidays the traffic was bad but not as bad as it could have been on a regular working day. I was supposed to have a photoshoot with two kids wanting a portrait for their parents, but they had to come from far and well… the trains didn’t run so…. I had the morning off to enjoy the sunshine and the snow.

Here is the recipe for the pannacotta!

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Pannacotta with cranberries

Yield: 4

Ingredients:

80 gr white castersugar

100 gr fresh cranberries

1 vanillabean

375 ml whipping cream or double cream

2 leaves of gelatine

100 ml yogurt

4 forms (150 ml each) or one large form (0,5 ltr)

Directions:

1. In a saucepan heat 50 gr of castersugar with 5 tbsp of water en add, once the sugar is melted, the cranberries. Simmer on low for about 3 minutes.

2. Cut the vanillabean open lenghtwise. Heat the cream in a saucepan and add the vanillabean and the rest of the sugar. Leave to simmer but not really boil for 5 minutes en make sure all sugar is dissolved. Remove the vanillabean from the cream and scrape the marrow from the vanilla with a sharp knife and add the marrow to the cream.

3. Soak the gelatine leaves for about 5 minutes in cold water. Squeeze them and add to the hot cream. Stir until dissolved. Leave to cool and add the yogurt. Divide the yogurtcream over the forms and spoon 1 teaspoon of the cranberries into each form. Put into the fridge for at least 3 hours. To remove the pannacotta from the forms, shortly keep them under a hot tab and put them on plates. Serve with the rest of the cranberries.

posted in Desserts & other sweets, Food and Drink, Holidays, Recipes

36 Comments »

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Michelle — December 22, 2009 at 01:59

I’ve never had pannacotta but it sounds perfectly lovely.

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anncoo — December 22, 2009 at 02:48

WOW! A lovely dessert. Will bookmark this~ Thanks

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Esi — December 22, 2009 at 05:29
Panna cotta is on my to try list for next year. It sounds great. I still want to be one of your holiday guests

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- Simone (junglefrog) — December 22nd, 2009 at 09:40
  
  You’re more then welcome to join ofcourse!
  
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Irene — December 22, 2009 at 07:31
Oh lovely, lovely photos! I love panna cotta, but I’m a little afraid of gelatin and it always seems so complicated – will they really unmold? I think this combination with cranberries is divine, I will make this for New Year’s dessert. Thank you for the recipe!

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- Simone (junglefrog) — December 22nd, 2009 at 09:39
  
  They’re really easy to make Irene and they always unmold… The trick with gelatin is just not to add too much as that will give a horrible texture! But honestly pannacotta is one of the easiest dessert I know..
  
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bake in paris — December 22, 2009 at 08:34

Simone, love the photos so much. Background is so beautiful. And Panacotta is my favorite. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I have something for you at my blog!
http://bakeinparis.blogspot.com/2009/12/december-gratitute.html

Sawadee from Bangkok,
Kris

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Trissa — December 22, 2009 at 08:48
Pannacotta with cranberries truly sounds like a festive Christmas dish – I have really enjoyed your series of dishes for the Holiday – you’ve really made a great effort! The snow looks beautiful – I am torn between wishing you have a white Christmas and everyone having a more comfortable with trains running etc!

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- Simone (junglefrog) — December 22nd, 2009 at 09:37
  
  You’re so right about the trains… I just wish we could have both; beautiful snow AND good running transport!!
  
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peachkins — December 22, 2009 at 10:58

the pannacota looks festive.

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Angela@spinachtiger — December 22, 2009 at 15:41
Simone, I”m jealous of your snow, your photo and you will not believe this. I have never made a pannacotta. which one to try first?

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- Simone (junglefrog) — December 22nd, 2009 at 23:22
  
  You’ve never made this wonderful Italian dessert? Ooo, so many flavors to pick but my favorite is the lemon buttermilk one!
  
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Pei-Lin — December 22, 2009 at 16:39

Cranberries on panna cotta sounds like a good idea because the sweet and sour sensation the berries give out as you bite into this mildly sweet, mellow, creamy panna cotta! Wish I could have some! =( Please??

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Ben — December 22, 2009 at 16:40
Hi Simone, I just stopped by to wish you a merry and delicious Christmas All your last posts look so amazing! I really wish you were my neighbor so I could stop by to “borrow” a cup of sugar while you are cooking. Hehe

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- Simone (junglefrog) — December 22nd, 2009 at 23:21
  
  Thanks Ben! O and I could come by and eat all those delicious dishes you make too!
  
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Glennis — December 22, 2009 at 17:42
You can have the white Christmas if you like…I have, and I’ll pass! Your panna cotta is truly lovely, and I may be inspired! What a beautiful presentation! Thanks for the camera notes too! So hard to make a decision, and worse now! LOL!

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- Simone (junglefrog) — December 22nd, 2009 at 23:20
  
  Thanks Glennis… I guess it’s always different for the people who have loads of snow, to the ones, such as myself that hardly ever have snow.. Our snow is melting as we speak so no white christmas here!
  
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cherie — December 22, 2009 at 19:28

The perfect Christmas desert! I’m going to try it with buttermilk instead of cream.

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Heavenly Housewife — December 22, 2009 at 20:56

What a beautiful holiday desert!

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Nutmeg Nanny — December 22, 2009 at 21:33

Oh my goodness this is so festive! I love it!!!

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Kitchen Butterfly — December 22, 2009 at 23:38

I love pannacotta but I usually make them with yoghurt and maple syrup. Thanks for reminding me….perfect make-ahead Christmas dessert. Yum.

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Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella — December 23, 2009 at 01:51

Gorgeous, just gorgeous I have to say and it really says Christmas with those lovely colours I hope you and your friends and family have a wonderful holiday season!

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Thorsten — December 23, 2009 at 11:54

Simone, we have had some snow here in Germany too, but it is melted already and gone. I know what you mean about traffic. People panic when the first snow flake hits the road. Wonderful pictures of a snow-covered Netherlands.
Have a merry christmas.
Thorsten

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Peter G — December 23, 2009 at 13:39

A great option to a great dinner party Simone! I love the cranberries in this. All the best for the holiday season…Merry Christmas!

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Ian — December 23, 2009 at 15:52

oh wow, this looks amazing. I love the photos, simply LOVE them. All the best to you this holiday season

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Olga — December 23, 2009 at 17:55

I finally tasted this dessert: maybe it’s time to make it now!

Great photos of course and love the snow.

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Kate at Serendipity — December 24, 2009 at 12:07

Simone, I love panna cotta too! Yours looks delicious. I love the cranberries with it. I’m going to miss your Christmas lights in the background of your photos. They give such a festive touch to all these holiday treats!

Merry Christmas, Simone.

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Sarka — December 26, 2009 at 02:12

Wow, I love photos of you cranberry pannacotta. I’ve been wanting to make a pannacotta for some time already and I’ve bought a gelatine for it a month ago. However I still didn’t find a good time to make it! Now when looking at your pannacotta I can’t wait to make it when I’m back in London! I wish you a very very happy 2010!

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Jamie — December 27, 2009 at 13:00

Gorgeous panna cotta! I love the beautiful red cranberry coulis on top of the white panna cotta. Brilliant flavors. Panna Cotta is indeed one of our favorite treats and my husband’s all time favorite dessert. Wonderful recipe, Simone.

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deeba — December 27, 2009 at 13:14

I LOVE panna cotta Simone & yours looks magical. I haven’t made it for a while now, and yours is calling my name. Have a wonderful New Year!! xo

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Sophie — December 29, 2009 at 17:25

MMMMM,..I love panna cotta’s as well & I so love cranberries too! This is just the perfect combination, Simone!

MMMMMMMMM,…the white & the red colours,…so Christmassy indeed!

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Peter — December 31, 2009 at 16:54

A wonderfully seasonal Panna cotta with the cranberry topping. Happy New Year and I look forward to your delicious food.

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Nurit - 1 family. friendly. food. — January 1, 2010 at 02:16

Ah, I got to try this!

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