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Vanilla Yogurt Panna Cotta with Honey and Candied Walnuts

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Creamy, rich and delicious!  This vanilla yogurt panna cotta gets drizzled with honey and topped with some sweet crunchy candied walnuts.  Yogurt, milk, sugar, gelatin, vanilla extract, honey, walnuts, agave nectar, and brown sugar.  An easy make ahead dessert that everyone will love!

Two bowls of panna cotta with honey dripping on them.

 

What is a Panna Cotta

A panna cotta is an Italian dessert that literally means “cooked cream.”  It’s cream (or some other creamy liquid) that has been thickened with gelatin and refrigerated.  It’s then either unmolded or not and usually served with some sort of sauce.

After I made my very first panna cotta, I was completely hooked.  It’s so easy and elegant and I love that you can make it not just with cream, but with any creamy type liquid.  My formula is 3 cups of liquid to 1 gelatin packet.   I’ve made them with Nutella and over the holidays I made one using Holiday Nog.

Once you start making panna cottas, you’ll start to see the possibilities everywhere!

 

Overhead shot of panna cotta and walnuts

 

Ingredients for this Panna Cotta

  • Whole Milk – you can use cream if you want it richer and creamier or 2% if you want it lighter and not as creamy.
  • Gelatin – one gelatin packet which is 2 1/4 teaspoons.
  • Sugar – white, granulated.
  • Plain Yogurt – can use Vanilla Yogurt.  Full fat will be creamier, lower fat not as rich and creamy.
  • Vanilla Extract – I use my Homemade Vanilla Extract.
  • Honey – for serving

Ingredients for Candied Walnuts

  • Walnuts
  • Agave nectar – can use honey.
  • Brown Sugar – light or dark.
  • Kosher salt

two bowls of panna cotta

How to Make Panna Cotta

Pour the milk into a saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin on top.  Let sit for 5 minutes to soften.  Then, over a medium heat, stir to dissolve the gelatin.   Add the sugar and stir until it is dissolved also.

Remove from the heat and whisk in the yogurt and vanilla extract.  Pour into one large bowl or into six 1/2 cup ramekins.  If you plan on unmolding them, very lightly grease with a cooking spray.  I usually just leave mine in their bowls.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight.

How to Make Candied Walnuts

Making these candied walnuts is so easy!  Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Spray parchment paper with cooking spray – making sure they won’t stick.  In a bowl, stir together the walnuts, brown sugar, agave nectar and a pinch of salt.

Spread them in a single layer on the baking sheet, be sure and break up any clumps.  Bake them for about 20 minutes.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

These walnuts are great for just snacking on their own or use them to top other desserts.

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Vanilla Yogurt Panna Cotta with Honey and Candied Walnuts

Vanilla Yogurt Panna Cotta with Honey and Candied Walnuts is a healthier dessert that you can feel good about eating. 

Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 14 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 438 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons gelatin
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Candied Walnuts

  • 2 cups walnuts
  • 4 tablespoons agave nectar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

Panna Cotta

  1. Place milk in a small saucepan and sprinkle gelatin over the top. Let sit for about 5 minutes for the gelatin to soften. 

  2. Turn burner on to medium and stir until all gelatin is dissolved. Add sugar and continue stirring until sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat and whisk in yogurt, vanilla extract and salt. 

  3. Pour by 1/2 cups into 6 individual dessert dishes. Chill in fridge for at least two hours, but preferably 4-6 or overnight.

Candied Walnuts

  1. Preheat oven to 325. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray. In a medium bowl combine walnuts, agave nectar, brown sugar and salt. Stir to coat walnuts evenly. 

  2. Spread in a single layer on baking sheet, breaking up clumps. Bake for about 15 minutes. Remove from oven, allow to cool, and store in an airtight container.

To Serve

  1. To serve, remove from refrigerator, drizzle with honey and top with candied walnuts. 

Recipe Notes

  • Panna Cotta will need to chill at least for 2 hours in the fridge. 
  • Milk - whole milk will make a creamier and richer panna cotta.  Can use lowfat, but it won't be as rich or creamy. 
  • Yogurt - full fat will be the richest and creamiest, low fat will not be as rich or creamy. 
  • The recipe makes more candied walnuts than you need, but you'll find plenty of uses for them - even just as snacks!   Store in an air tight container.
Nutrition Facts
Vanilla Yogurt Panna Cotta with Honey and Candied Walnuts
Amount Per Serving
Calories 438 Calories from Fat 261
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g 45%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 14mg 5%
Sodium 58mg 2%
Potassium 347mg 10%
Total Carbohydrates 37g 12%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 31g
Protein 11g 22%
Vitamin A 3.2%
Vitamin C 1%
Calcium 18.1%
Iron 6.5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This was originally posted in 2015 and has been updated for 2019.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  11. This is a delicious dessert, Pam. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday and have a great week.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

  15. Hi Pam:)
    Would you believe I have never, ever made Panna Cotta? Ever! Why oh why I don’t know. Heaven knows I am no baker! Panna Cotta always looks so elegant to me and when prepared like this, goodness no guilt either!

    Lovely dessert Pam and those pictures are simply wonderful. Thanks for sharing, Pam…

    Reply

    • No, we don’t have a Trader Joe’s because we don’t have wine in grocery stores. But we just voted it in in some of the smaller counties, but it won’t take effect until summer 2016 🙁

      Reply

  20. Churros and hot chocolate (with a cinnamon stick) in Spain. Sfogliatelle and a macchiato in Italy. Vanilla Youghurt Pannacotta with honey and walnuts at Chez Sidewalk Shoes. I can dream. . .

    Reply

  21. Well, the candied walnuts alone are enough to recommend this dessert! Well done, creating something new based upon your food fantasy.

    When my son and daughter in law were in Paris during their honeymoon, they ate lots of croissants. Mike just loves them, and he ordered by pointing and holding up 2 fingers. They also drank tea, but think coffee was also common. Lots of bakeries with coffee? Your food fantasy fulfilled – again!

    Reply

  22. We spent a Christmas in Greece, and yogurt was on every menu, so you are spot on, imho. I’ve never tried panna cotta, but I’ve got a bag of walnuts sitting on the counter and a new honey jar. Beautiful photos!

    Reply

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