Chocolate Panna Cotta Cake

The chocolate panna cotta cake is a luscious dessert that combines the creaminess of panna cotta with the intense flavor of chocolate. Here is the recipe to prepare it:

Ingredients

• 250 ml of fresh cream
• 100 ml of milk
• 100 g of sugar
• 15 g of leaf gelatin (or alternatively 6 g of powdered gelatin)
• 200 g of dark chocolate
• 1 packet of vanilla or seeds from 1 vanilla pod
• 1 pinch of salt
• For the biscuit base (optional):
  • 200 g of dry biscuits (like Digestive)
  • 100 g of melted butter

Preparation

1. If you choose to make the biscuit base, finely chop the biscuits and mix with the melted butter. Press the mixture into a springform pan lined with parchment paper to form a compact base. Chill in the refrigerator to harden for about 30 minutes.
2. Soak the leaf gelatin in cold water for about 10 minutes, or if using powdered gelatin, prepare it according to the instructions on the package.
3. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, heat the milk with the fresh cream, sugar, vanilla or vanilla seeds, and the pinch of salt. Bring almost to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar, but do not let the mixture boil.
4. Remove the gelatin from the water, squeeze out the excess water, and add it to the hot cream mixture. Stir well until the gelatin has completely dissolved in the mixture.
5. Break the dark chocolate into pieces and melt it in a double boiler or in the microwave. Then, combine it with the cream mixture and mix until smooth.
6. Pour the chocolate mixture onto the hardened biscuit base (if you have made it) in the pan. Smooth the top with a spatula and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or better yet overnight, so that the panna cotta sets.
7. Once set, remove the cake from the pan and serve it in slices.

Trivia

Panna cotta is a classic Italian spoon dessert known around the world. With the addition of chocolate, it becomes an even more irresistible indulgence. It’s important to use good quality dark chocolate to achieve the best result.

If you prefer a more Italian touch, you might pair the chocolate panna cotta cake with a small glass of grappa or amaretto, which go very well with the intense flavor of chocolate. Bon appétit!