Maple Cream Panna Cotta

This luscious dessert can be made in the time it takes to escape the commercials interrupting a soap opera.  Seriously.  Chilling time is a few hours though, so do plan ahead.  

This recipe would serve ample servings to four people, though I brought it for a bookclub pot luck, and about fifteen women had spoonfuls only, since we had a ton of other desserts.

This tastes like a dream, but is silly easy to make. Better still, gelatin has health benefits you should know about.  According to WebMD: “Gelatin is used for weight loss and for treating osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritus, and brittle bones (osteoporosis). Some people also use it for strengthening bones, joints, and fingernails. Gelatin is also used for improving hair quality and to shorten recovery after exercise and sports-related injury.” 

1 package (one tablespoon) unflavoured gelatin powder

¼ cup boiling water

¾ cup hot milk

1 cup heavy cream (33% approximately)

2 tablespoons maple syrup (or to taste)

Sprinkle gelatin powder over boiling water, and stir.  Try to let it dissolve as much as possible.  Stir into the hot milk, continuing to aim for all the gelatin to dissolve.  Stir in the heavy cream.  Add one tablespoon of the best maple syrup you can find, and taste.  Add the next tablespoon a little at a time, and keep tasting.  You might want to go with a bit more, it’s up to you.

Strain into a pretty container, and chill for several hours.  Just before serving, dribble a little more syrup over the panna cotta.  Alas, I mistakenly deleted most of the pictures of this luscious concoction, but trust me, it’s a beauty!

So rich a mere spoonful is a treat!