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A truly delicious classic Italian dessert, limoncello panna cotta with fresh berries is definitely something you should try. It’s straightforward to make, even if you don’t often make desserts, and the combination of fresh berries, limoncello liqueur, lemon zest, and cream is just mouthwatering. Words can’t do this amazing Italian dessert enough justice – you’ll just have to make lemon panna cotta yourself and then you’ll see!

An Italian limoncello panna cotta with fresh berries on a plate.

Limoncello and panna cotta are Italian favorites, and when you mix these two ingredients with heavy cream, gelatin, lemon zest, and sugar, as well as plump, juicy berries, the result is an impressive dessert which teams elegance with fantastic flavor.

More easy desserts to try out include limoncello tiramisu, apricot apple cinnamon dumplings, lemon ricotta cookies and lemon posset brulee.

A fork taking a piece of an authentic Italian panna cotta dessert.

Why You’ll Love This

Easy to make: There’s nothing hard about making limoncello pannacotta. This easy and delicious no bake dessert is simple enough for even newbie home cooks to master.
Delicious: Recipes like this are rich, creamy and tasty. This one combines the zesty taste of lemon with the appeal of juicy fresh berries.
You can make it ahead: Whenever you’re making a meal, it’s always nice to be able to prepare at least one course ahead. Once you’ve made this limoncello panna cotta, you can simply refrigerate it and focus on whatever you’re having for the main course. Not having to juggle several recipes at once is always a bonus!

Berries on top of homemade panna cotta.

Lemon and Berry Panna Cotta Ingredients

Limoncello liqueur is one of the main ingredients, although you can always reduce the amount if you want a subtler taste. You can purchase limoncello or make with a homemade limoncello recipe.

Ingredients for a lemon panna cotta recipes.

Granulated sugar, lemon zest, gelatin, cream, and Half & Half also belong in this easy panna cotta, and then you will need fresh berries (whatever is in season) to top the dessert, plus whichever garnishes you want – lemon peel twists and fresh mint work well with this simple Italian dessert.

Making a panna cotta recipe.

How to Make This Limoncello Dessert

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Make the berry topping:  Toss the berries with sugar, limoncello and lemon peel, then cover and chill until required.
Prepare the gelatin: Sprinkle the gelatin into cold water in a small bowl and mix.
Work on the panna cotta mixture: Mix the rest of the limoncello with the cream, Half & Half and some more sugar, then heat in a medium saucepan until the sugar dissolves and simmer for a few minutes. Stir frequently until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Combine the softened gelatin and cream: Microwave the gelatin mixture for a few seconds then add softened gelatin to the cooked cream mixture.
Chill the limoncello panna cotta: Transfer the panna cotta into ramekins and let the mixture cool. This means chilling overnight or for at least a few hours.
Serve and enjoy: Invert the panna cotta desserts onto serving plates then stir the berries before topping the panna cotta desserts with them. Add any garnishes you like, and serve right away.

Preparing the berry topping for the Italian dessert.
A fork with a piece of panna cotta with berries.

Substitutions and Variations

If preferred, you can make this dessert in a large glass serving dish, or even in little shot glasses (if you use little serving glasses just add the berries on top – you can leave the panna cotta in those glasses to serve).

A no bake dessert on a plate.

Use any kind of berries you like depending what you happen to prefer and what’s in season, and reduce the amount of liqueur if you wish, perhaps subbing lemon juice or even a splash of orange juice for some.

Plates of panna served on the table.

What to Serve with this Easy and Delicious Dessert

You might like to serve a glass of limoncello alongside the dessert. Or you could pair it with an espresso for that authentic Italian touch (or both!)

Close view of fresh berry topping.

Storage Instructions

Store:  Keep the panna cotta mixture refrigerated until you’re ready to serve it (it will keep for a couple of days) and then prepare the berry mixture the same day you’re serving it, and top the panna cotta with the berries (and your chosen garnish) just before serving. Panna cotta without the fruit topping keeps for up to 5 days in the fridge as long as you add plastic wrap over the serving glasses.
Freeze: Panna cotta actually freezes well, but don’t add the berries before freezing it. Keep in mind the creamy dessert can “split” when it thaws, so it might not be quite so delicious as it was when fresh.

Plates of panna cotta.

Limoncello Panna Cotta FAQs

Can you use different kinds of fruit?

Choose from any kind of berries you want, or experiment with different kinds of fruit, such as kiwi, pitted cherries, peach or grapes.

What does “panna cotta” mean?

This popular dessert from the Piedmont region in the north of Italy is one of the best desserts you can make. It’s easy, tasty, creamy, rich, and authentically Italian. If you’re wondering about the name of this dessert, panna cotta translates to mean “cooked cream” although it’s not actually cooked for long.

To make it, high fat heavy cream, milk, sugar, and flavorings are briefly cooked, and then a thickening agent (gelatin for this recipe) is added. After that, the dessert is left to set and it becomes firmer while it chills.

There are similar custard-like desserts made with eggs, but gelatin works just as well to offer a firm texture and it’s also easy to work with. Eggs are too easy to accidentally scramble when adding them to desserts!

Does panna cotta contain gluten?

Panna cotta is naturally gluten free, making it a great dessert option.

A gluten free panna cotta dessert with fresh fruit.

Limoncello Panna Cotta Recipe

5 from 78 votes

Limoncello Panna Cotta

A truly delicious classic Italian dessert, limoncello panna cotta with fresh berries is a no bake gluten free recipe you should try.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 19 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • 1 ½ Cups berries, fresh, such as blueberries, raspberries, saskatoon berries, blackberries
  • ½ Cup granulated sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
  • ¾ Cup limoncello, plus 2 tablespoons
  • 1 Teaspoon lemon zest
  • ¼ Cup water, cool
  • 12 Grams gelatin, unflavoured, powder
  • 1 ¾ Cup heavy whipping cream
  • ½ Cup half and half

Optional Garnishes

  • lemon peel, twists
  • mint leaves

Instructions 

  • In a medium sized bowl mix together the berries with 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of limoncello, and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest. Cover with plastic wrap and set in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve the panna cotta.
  • In a small microwave safe dish, combine the cool water with the gelatin powder. Let sit until the gelatin has absorbed all of the water. Set aside.
  • In a medium sized bowl mix together the cream, half and half, the remaining sugar, and the remaining limoncello. Heat the cream mixture over medium high heat, stirring slowly, until it comes to a boil.
  • While the cream mixture is heating up, place the dish of gelatin into the microwave. Heat for 5 to 10 seconds until the gelatin has become a liquid again.
  • Once the cream mixture comes to a boil (be careful not to let It boil over). Turn the heat down and let the cream simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the liquefied gelatin. Let simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes while stirring slowly. Remove from heat.
  • Prepare your ramekins by spraying very lightly with oil.
  • Pour the panna cotta mixture into the ramekins evenly.
  • Cover the ramekins with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator immediately. Let the panna cotta chill in the refrigerator until solid, at least 4 hours, or overnight.
  • When ready to serve. Invert the ramekins with the panna cotta onto a plate. You may find that using a thin knife to loosen the edges of the panna cotta from the ramekins before inverting may help.
  • Remove the berries from the refrigerator and give a nice gentle stir.
  • Top the panna cotta with a large spoonful of the berries. Garnish with a lemon peel, twist and a leaf of mint.

Nutrition

Calories: 345kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 832IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

Limoncello panna cotta is tangy, zesty, creamy, and sweet all at the same time. It’s a fantastic dinner party dessert option. The taste is sweet and subtle, and the texture is soft – a bit like Jell-O. The citrusy limoncello contrasts beautifully with the creamy dessert, and you can make this in a large glass bowl, individual ramekins or even shooter glasses. This is one Italian dessert recipe you’ll want to make again and again!

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Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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5 from 78 votes (73 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    What an amazing dessert! Everyone was so impressed and couldn’t believe it when I told them it was easy to make. This is my new favorite dessert recipe!

  2. 5 stars
    I adore Italian desserts and this panna cotta came out great, especially with a few shots (who’s counting?) of Limoncello liqueur on the side 🙂