28 Gelatin-Free Panna Cotta Recipes To Make Your Friends ‘Jelly’

Any vegetarian or vegan will know the struggle of having to miss out on delicious-looking desserts. 

There are times when you may watch a friend devour a cake topped with custard, or dig into a huge bag of gummies, while knowing that you are unable to even try a bite.

This is because most gummy or jelly-like food products, unless stated otherwise, are made from gelatin. This is the product that gives certain food its wobbly texture, and it is, surprisingly to some, made from animal byproducts. 

In other words, it is not vegan-friendly.

It is hard living as a vegetarian or vegan, knowing that you have to spend your life missing out on so many delicious desserts.

Well, what if you didn’t have to?

In this article, we have compiled a list of gelatin-free panna cotta recipes. There are so many flavors to be found in this list, and they are all fairly easy to prepare in your very own kitchen.

So, let’s get into it. Here are 28 recipes to make your friends jealous… or, jelly.

1. Vegan Panna Cotta

First off, here is a plain and simple recipe for you to try. Although it might look difficult to make, this wonderful dessert is really fairly easy!

2. Rose Strawberry Panna Cotta

A refined treat for any event is this rich, velvety Panna Cotta with Rose & Strawberry Sauce! You’ll need to take a snapshot of this one before you eat due to its gorgeous appearance.

3. Coffee Almond Panna Cotta With Mixed Berry Compote

You might just need this low-carb coffee almond panna cotta with mixed fruit compote as your next guilt-free treat. You can’t go wrong with fewer than 75 calories per serving!

4. Panna Cotta With Apricots

This delightful dish is sure to please apricot lovers. It has all the characteristics of a decadent panna cotta, like being creamy, fruity, sweet, and so on.

5. Almond And Cardamom Panna Cotta

This agar-agar and coconut sugar-based Almond and Cardamom Panna Cotta is less sugary than the other items on this list, bursting with spicy and salty deliciousness.

6. White Chocolate Coconut Cream Panna Cotta

This delicious, creamy dessert just needs six ingredients to be made. White chocolate, coconut, and vanilla are used to make the panna cotta, which is then topped with delectable peaches.

7. Thandai Panna Cotta

This panna cotta’s vivid, rainbow-colored appearance is stunning, and the aromatic notes of Thandai make it taste even better (if you want a delicious Thandai cocktail, read our guide to Indian cocktails). We bet you’ll get lots of compliments for this dish.

8. Lemon Panna Cotta With Blackberry-Basil Coulis

This vegan citrus-flavored panna cotta with a luscious coulis is what you require if you’re seeking for a fruity, creamy, and impressive dessert to serve at your next gathering.

9. Raspberry Coconut Panna Cotta

Here is a recipe for a smooth, silky raspberry coconut panna cotta that is served with a warming, tart raspberry glaze. This dish is ideal for sharing with a special someone.

10. Panna Cotta

For those who like their desserts to be straightforward, we have another classic panna cotta coming up next. This vegan Italian dish is simple to prepare yet produces beautiful results.

11. Mango Strawberry Panna Cotta

Surprisingly, neither gelatin nor agar-agar are used in the creation of these vividly coloured fruity panna cottas. Despite this, they continue to have that beloved jelly-like texture.

12. Chocolate Panna Cotta

With items from your kitchen, this chocolate panna cotta is produced without the need of gelatin or agar-agar. It won’t take more than fifteen minutes to make this chocoholic’s paradise.

13. Persimmon Panna Cotta

An orange-colored persimmon panna cotta dessert with delicious aromas and even a touch of rum is presented here. This delicious combo will brighten your day!

14. Lemon Panna Cotta

With a mango compote atop, this lemon panna cotta is a creamy vegan dessert that is bursting with citrus tastes and has a melt-in-your-mouth consistency that is to die for.

15. Panna Cotta

For those who prefer a traditional panna cotta without the added tastes, here is another choice. This vegan Italian classic only requires four ingredients.

16. Chocolate Panna Cotta

If you can’t get enough of chocolate-flavored things, then you’re in luck, because here is another chocolate panna cotta recipe. Quick and easy, this dessert is filled with chocolatey goodness.

17. Matcha Panna Cotta

Matcha not only has a crisp, sweet flavor, but also a beautiful, pale green appearance. The elegance of this dessert will entice your visitors to come back for more.

18. Coffee Panna Cotta

Here’s one for all you caffeine addicts.  With a powerful espresso flavor as well as vanilla undertones, this gelatin-free simple coffee panna cotta is a luscious confection.

19. Mint Chocolate Panna Cotta

Mint chocolate hits different, featuring fresh tastes that remind us of our youth. Gelatin and agar-agar are omitted from this minty panna cotta in favor of only basic, creamy ingredients.

20. Saffron Panna Cotta With Rose Jelly

Next, we have a traditional Italian dessert with the ultimate Indian spin. Saffron and cardamom flavor this exquisite panna cotta, which is topped with rose jelly.

21. Coconut Milk Panna Cotta With Honey Citrus Compote

A creamy lemony-honey glaze tops off this decadent delicacy, a coconut milk panna cotta. It is free of dairy, gluten, and processed sugar, making it healthy and delicious.

22. Tiramisu Panna Cotta

It’s impossible to mess up this velvety, espresso-flavored Tiramisu Panna Cotta. For your upcoming event, this swift and simple gluten-free dessert will be loved by everybody.

23. Layered Mango Panna Cotta 

Layers of panna cotta made with exotic mango and smooth cream make up this vegetarian dessert. Minimal ingredients are required for this dish, yet it is brimming with delicious tastes.

24. Chocolate Panna Cotta With Agar Agar

Did you believe we were out of chocolate panna cottas? Think again. Here’s yet another dessert that features lots of milk and dark chocolate, creating a treat that you will love.

25. Mango Panna Cotta

Your hearts will be won over by this velvety mango panna cotta. The dessert itself and the rich sauce drizzled on top are both bursting with this delicious fruit in this delicacy.

26. Coconut Cardamom Panna Cotta

The recipe for panna cotta that follows uses coconut milk and agar-agar. Even non-vegans will adore its cardamom and coconut flavor!

27. Coconut Caramel Panna Cotta

With a blend of coconut, caramel, and a crumble of chocolate-covered nuts, this coconut caramel panna cotta strikes the ideal proportion between sweetness and savory.

28. Panna Cotta

Last but not least, we’ll wrap this list up with another straightforward panna cotta recipe that stays true to the classic, without the gelatin. If you desired, you could experiment with adding your own favorite flavors to this recipe, including fruit and chocolate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Gelatin?

Gelatin, also known as gelatine, is a transparent, flavourless culinary component that is often made from collagen, extracted from deceased animals. 

Although it can also be prepared from flesh, it is generally manufactured from the bones of animals and insects. It is frequently used as an emulsifier ingredient in food, drinks, medicines, beauty products, and more.

What Is Agar-Agar?

Agar, also known as agar-agar, is a jelly-like compound formed of polysaccharides that are extracted from certain species of red algae’s cellular membranes.

Agar-agar is sometimes used as a vegetarian substitute for gelatin, being used in puddings and jellies. When marketed in containers as cleaned and powdered, it is visually light-colored and translucent.

Is Agar-Agar Vegan And Vegetarian-Friendly?

Agar-Agar is not an animal product because it is made from red algae. In light of the fact that agar-agar is free of meat, dairy, and other animal products, it is safe for both vegetarians and vegans to consume.

Vegan and vegetarian versions of jelly, custards, etc., will often use agar-agar in the place of gelatin.

Is Jell-O Made From Gelatin?

Gelatin, which is the main component in Jell-O, gives it its wobbly yet solid consistency. For vegetarians and vegans, this means that Jell-O is made from animal components, such as their bones, skin, and ligaments.

Many people, both vegan and non-vegan, are shocked when they learn that Jell-O and many other jelly-like products include animal byproducts.

Final Thoughts

From chocolate to mango, to coffee to coconut, there are so many flavors of panna cotta in our above list that we have already lost count.

The only thing that we’re certain of is that each and every one of them is so yummy.

Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or neither of the priors, we have no doubt that you’re going to love these desserts as much as we do. Pick out your favorite, and make them yourself!

We hope you found this article useful.