Vanilla-Orange "Dreamsicle" Panna Cotta
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian, American
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
The panna cotta and the orange curd can both be made a day before you plan to serve them.
Ingredients
  • FOR THE PANNA COTTA
  • 1 c. Milk, divided
  • 1 (1/4 oz.) envelope Unflavored Gelatin
  • 2 c. Heavy Cream
  • ⅓ c. Sugar
  • 1 Vanilla Bean (or 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract)
  • FOR THE ORANGE CURD
  • zest of 1 Orange
  • ¼ c. Fresh Orange Juice
  • 2 tsp. Grand Marnier (or another orange liqueur)
  • 2 Egg Yolks
  • ½ c. Sugar
  • pinch of Salt
  • 3 T. Unsalted Butter
Instructions
  1. Place ½ c. of the milk in a medium saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin over it. Let it sit for 5 minutes, until the gelatin softens. Cook over low heat, stirring, until the gelatin completely dissolves.
  2. Add the remaining milk, cream, and sugar. Cut the vanilla bean in half, scrap the seeds out and add to the pan, along with the pod. Cook over medium heat until the cream just starts to steam. Remove from heat, cover, and allow to steep for 20 minutes.
  3. Remove the vanilla pod and pour the panna cotta into custard cups or glasses. I used 6 juice glasses. In retrospect, I would have chosen a squatter glass so there would have been a little more surface area for the orange curd to cover and allow for more a better ratio of orange to panna cotta in each bite. Next time! Transfer the panna cotta to the refrigerator and chill until set.
  4. For the orange curd, combine all of the ingredients in a medium, heatproof bowl and set over a saucepan of simmering water. Whisk until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 30 minutes. Cool completely.
  5. Spoon the cooled orange curd over the chilled panna cotta and serve.
Recipe by strawberryplum at http://www.strawberryplum.com/vanilla-orange-dreamsicle-panna-cotta/