Elderflower and Lemon Panna Cotta
A silky, wobbly panna cotta infused with elderflower and brightened with lemon—the flower's honeyed muscat fragrance turns a simple cream dessert into something elegant.
This panna cotta lets elderflower's delicate, floral sweetness take center stage. Steeping dried blossoms in warm cream infuses the custard with a honeyed, muscat-like aroma, while a touch of lemon keeps it bright and fresh. As always with elder, use only the flowers — the stems, leaves, and unripe berries are toxic.
The beauty of panna cotta is its simplicity: just cream, a little sugar, gelatin, and the elderflower infusion set together into a trembling, spoonable cream. The floral notes come through clearly because there is nothing heavy to mask them.
Strain the elderflower infusion carefully so the custard stays perfectly smooth, with no flecks of flower. The finished panna cotta should be pale and silky, releasing its fragrance the moment your spoon breaks the surface.
Serve chilled with fresh berries or a spoonful of elderflower cordial drizzled on top. Strawberries and gooseberries are especially lovely, their tartness balancing the gentle sweetness of the cream.
Ingredients
- 500 ml heavy cream
- 4 tbsp dried elderflower blossoms (or 5 tea bags)
- 3 tbsp sugar
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 2.5 sheets gelatin (or 1.5 tsp powdered gelatin)
- Fresh strawberries or gooseberries, to serve
- Elderflower cordial, to drizzle (optional)
How to make it
- 1Heat the cream with sugar and lemon zest until just steaming (do not boil). Remove from heat, add elderflower blossoms, cover, and steep 15 minutes.
- 2Soften the gelatin sheets in cold water for 5 minutes (or bloom powdered gelatin in 2 tbsp cold water).
- 3Strain the infused cream through a fine sieve to remove all the blossoms, then return it to gentle heat.
- 4Squeeze out the gelatin and stir it into the warm cream until fully dissolved. Stir in the lemon juice.
- 5Pour into 4 ramekins or glasses and cool to room temperature, then refrigerate at least 4 hours until set.
- 6Serve chilled, topped with fresh berries and a drizzle of elderflower cordial if using.
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