Passion Fruit Panna Cotta (Vegan) 

🍮 Passion Fruit Panna Cotta Ingredients

Frozen Passion Fruit Pieces

While you can totally make this with frozen passion fruit puree or pulp, just break it up with a few pulses in a blender or food processor, and then make sure it's strained thoroughly through a fine sieve before using it so your sauce isn't seedy. Otherwise, do what I do and get your hands on these ready-to-use passion fruit pieces, which also come in handy for making smoothies.

Coconut Milk

I recommend canned full-fat coconut milk in this recipe for the richest consistency. If you need to stay lower fat, you can use light coconut milk (reduced-fat). I don't recommend using coconut cream because it's so fatty that the fat may separate as the custards chill.

Unsweetened Plant-Based Milk

I use regular vegan milk to make the slurry that gets added to the cooking coconut milk. Because non-dairy milks vary so much in sweetness all around the world, using an unsweetened variety of oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk makes this recipe perform more consistently for everyone. If you have to use a sweetened milk, you may want to cut back a little on the maple syrup in the recipe.

Agar Agar

Agar agar powder is a fantastic plant-based alternative to gelatin, made from seaweed. It's a popular ingredient in Asian desserts like Filipino sago't gulaman and Malaysian bubur cha cha. If agar agar powder is not available, you can substitute it with agar agar flakes. Just be careful to work quickly and stir thoroughly so they fully dissolve in the custard base.

Vanilla

The little specks of vanilla bean are why I opt for vanilla powder in everything from my bomboloni to Filipino suman malagkit. Otherwise, you're good to go with regular vanilla extract if you don't care about missing out on the specks. Just promise me you will never use artificial vanilla, which smells like a gaggle of over-perfumed kids at a grade school dance.

Saffron Threads

I absolutely love cooking with saffron and use it in everything from my veg biryani to my vegan banana muffins. Here, they're more for color than flavor. If needed, you can swap them out for a tiny pinch of turmeric-but like, tiny, ok? We aren't going for Bart Simpson yellow here.

📖 How to Make Passion Fruit Panna Cotta

Nail this Italian dessert on your first shot by following these step-by-step photos with helpful tips. Or scroll down to the bottom of this page for the easy-to-print recipe card.

Step One

Sim Simmer, Who's Got the Keys to My Bimmer?

Pour the canned coconut milk into a medium saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Stir occasionally to prevent it from scorching.

Step Two

Whisk-y Tango Foxtrot

In a separate bowl, whisk together the plant-based milk, maple syrup, agar agar powder, cornstarch, vanilla, saffron threads, and salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Step Three

Forest Clump? Eh, No

Gradually pour the whisked mixture into the simmering coconut milk, stirring constantly to avoid clumps. Cook for 3-5 minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it thickens slightly.

Step Four

Set It and Forget It

Pour the panna cotta mixture evenly into serving glasses or molds, allowing it to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, let the panna cotta set for at least 4 hours under refrigeration. If time allows, it sets up even better by the next day.

Step Five

The Passion Fruit of the Christ

In a small saucepan, combine the frozen passion fruit pulp, maple syrup, water, and lemon juice. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the passion fruit softens and the mixture simmers.

Step Six

Slurry, Slurry, Step Right Up

In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of water with the cornstarch to create a slurry. 

Step Seven

License to Chill

Add it to the simmering passion fruit sauce and stir continuously for 1-2 minutes over medium heat until it thickens slightly.

Remove the sauce from heat and let it cool to room temperature before transferring it to the refrigerator to chill for 3 hours, or overnight.

Step Eight

Serve the Panna Cotta!
Spoon the chilled passion fruit sauce over the set panna cottas. Garnish with fresh passion fruit seeds and mint leaves if desired, and serve immediately.