This tangy sour cream panna cotta is layered over a chunky black pepper strawberry jam. The creamy custard is offset by crunchy seeds, jammy berries and the slow burn of freshly ground black pepper. It’s a quick and unique make-ahead dessert!
Life has been crazy lately with the antics of our 5 month old, a dog who eats all of the 5 month old’s toys, and a husband on crutches.
I’ve never been a fan of recipes that are quick just for the sake of getting in and out of the kitchen (I’d honestly prefer a frozen pizza or a block of cheese in that case). It’s probably because I love being in the kitchen, but I also truly believe that anything worth doing is worth doing well. And quality tends to be the first thing to go when you’re cutting corners to speed up a recipe.
But as a new mom, I finally understand the appeal to simplify dinner time. There are a thousand things that you feel need to get done in a day, and a gourmet dinner isn’t always on the list (but it does rank higher than a shower in my mind).
The thing is, simplifying can look like a lot of things, and it isn’t just making things faster. It can be prepping vegetables in the morning or putting soup on the stove to simmer throughout the day to minimize the active cooking and cleaning at dinner time. It can also mean make-ahead desserts that are delicious, but don’t take many pans or a lot of involvement.
And this is where panna cotta comes in— one of my dessert heroes.
This version is layered over a chunky strawberry jam that’s dressed up with the heat of freshly ground black pepper. The tangy sour cream panna cotta is whipped up in one pot and 10 minutes, then poured over the jam and left to set in the fridge for whenever you want it.
It can be eaten pretty easily with one hand, and it looks like a yogurt parfait so there’s no judgment if it turns out to be your breakfast. The panna cotta is velvety, creamy and offset by the crunchy seeds of jammy strawberries.
The black pepper is subtle and tastes much more pronounced as the jam is cooking, so don’t panic if it tastes too spicy at first. The sugar in the jam and fat in the sour cream panna cotta subdue the heat to a slow warming burn. If you want more heat, don’t hold back and double the pepper to 2 tsp!
Moral of the story: just because you’re busy and tired doesn’t mean you have to give up elegant desserts. Enjoy!
more panna cotta recipes to try!
chocolate panna cotta with sugared pine nuts
creme fraiche panna cotta with ginger roasted rhubarb
Printsour cream panna cotta with black pepper strawberry jam
This tangy sour cream panna cotta is layered over a chunky black pepper strawberry jam. The creamy custard is offset by crunchy seeds, jammy berries and the slow burn of freshly ground black pepper. It’s a quick and unique make-ahead dessert!
- Prep Time: 50 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes, plus 4 hours to set
- Yield: 5
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
black pepper strawberry jam
- 1 pound strawberries, washed, hulled and halved
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper (about 100 cranks)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
sour cream panna cotta
- 6 tbsp cold water
- 1 packet gelatin (2 tsp)
- 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
- 6 tbsp granulated sugar
- pinch of salt
- ½ vanilla bean, halved and seeds scraped or 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
black pepper strawberry jam
- Toss strawberries, sugar, black pepper, and lemon juice together in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Macerate for 30 minutes to release juices, stirring once or twice to help sugar dissolve.
- Heat strawberry mixture on medium-high and bring juices to a boil. Cook, stirring frequently to prevent scorching, until liquid thickens, berries begin to break down and jam turns dark and glossy, 12- 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat, cool slightly, then divide among five 8 ounce jars (about ¼ cup each).
sour cream panna cotta
- Pour cold water in a small bowl and sprinkle gelatin powder over the surface. Set aside to absorb the water and soften.
- Meanwhile, combine heavy whipping cream, sugar, salt and vanilla bean seeds (if using) in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Heat over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and small bubbles just begin to appear at edges of the cream, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat, stir in softened gelatin until completely dissolved (be careful not to introduce too many air bubbles if using a whisk). Stir in sour cream and vanilla extract (if using) until well- mixed and no lumps remain.
- Ladle the mixture into the 5 jars, over the strawberry jam. Cool 5- 10 minutes, cover loosely and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.
Notes
Sour cream panna cotta will last up to 5 days, covered, in the refrigerator
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 507
- Sugar: 43g
- Sodium: 66mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 21g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10.3g
- Trans Fat: 1.2g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 1.9g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 108mg
Keywords: sour cream panna cotta
Lonna says
This looks like a great summer dessert! Have you made the jam with frozen strawberries? Any adjustments required ?
Indi Hampton says
Thanks so much! I haven't made it with frozen strawberries, but it should work fine. You can skip the maceration step and then you may need to cook the jam for a little longer to cook off the extra water and account for the thawing time. Can't wait to hear how it goes.