CHOCOLATE PANNA COTTA WITH BERRY COMPOTE

Make It

INGREDIENTS:

1 Gelatin envelope

3 Tbsp Water

1 1/4 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1 1/8 Cup Whole Milk

3 Tbsp Granulated Sugar

1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate (Use at least 70% cacao based)

1 Vanilla Bean

1 22 oz. Duncan Hines Berry medley

Homemade whipped cream

Chocolate pirouette cookies for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine gelatine envelope and water to rehydrate. Let it sit until water has been fully absorbed.

In a medium sauce pan combine heavy cream, milk and sugar. Give it a quick whisk and turn the heat low/medium. Scrape the inside of the vanilla bean to collect all of the seeds and add to the cream mixture while still someone cool. Mix well with whisking tool.

Give chocolate a rough chop and set aside.

I like to keep an eye on the cream mixture and give it a whisk every other minute or so. Once it starts bubbling, remove from the heat and keep whisking to avoid a “crust” on the panna cotta after it has been refrigerated.

Slowly add the chocolate as you whisk away and until combined. Pour into your serving glasses about 3/4 of the way.

Immediately stick in the fridge, uncovered.

My advice is to make them the night before you plan to serve them, but if not, then make sure to make them at least 4 hours ahead to give them time to fully set.

When you are ready to serve, start by making the homemade whipped cream.

Place a chilled mixing bowl on top of a bowl filled with ice (This helps the whipped cream to stay firm). Combine a half of cup of heavy whipping cream and 2 tbsp sugar, which yields about 3 cups of whipping cream. And go to town with the hand mixer until peaks form.

Now to assemble your dessert: Pull the panna cotta out of the fridge when you are ready to serve, spoon some of the berry medley until evenly spread and you can’t see any of the panna cotta, add a dole of whipped cream in the middle and a tiny piece of chocolate, zest some of the chocolate on top of the whole thing and stick a pirouette cookie on the side. Boom! Fancy dessert that didn’t take very long to make.

It’s chocolatey, creamy, fruity, crunchy cookie delicious goodness that is sure to please any crowd.

Enjoy!