Dreamy Litchi Rose Panna Cotta Recipe: A Silky Summer Treat

Whipping up a delectable litchi rose panna cotta brings pure culinary magic to your dessert repertoire.

Sweet memories of summer bloom with each silky spoonful.

Delicate floral notes dance alongside tropical fruit essence, creating an elegant Italian-inspired treat.

Creamy textures melt effortlessly on your palate, promising a sensory adventure.

Fragrant rose water whispers sophistication through every smooth bite.

Minimal ingredients combine to craft an impressive dessert that looks complex but feels wonderfully simple.

Come discover how easily you can wow dinner guests with this dreamy, sophisticated confection.

Litchi Rose Panna Cotta with Floral Notes

  • Craft Gourmet Layers: Build a stunning dessert with delicate raspberry and white chocolate layers that create a professional-looking treat without professional baking skills.
  • Customize with Ease: Mix and match toppings like pistachios and cocoa powder to personalize the dessert and match your taste preferences or special occasion.
  • No-Bake Weekend Wonder: Skip complicated oven techniques and create a luxurious dessert that requires minimal cooking, perfect for relaxed gatherings with friends and family.
  • Impress Without Stress: Combine simple ingredients to create a sophisticated dessert that looks complicated but comes together quickly with basic kitchen skills.

Ingredients for Light Litchi Rose Panna Cotta

For the Base Layer:
  • Ladyfingers: Light and delicate sponge cookies that create the classic foundation for this elegant dessert.
For the Cream Components:
  • Heavy Cream: Provides rich, luxurious texture and helps create a smooth, airy mascarpone mixture.
  • Mascarpone Cheese: Soft Italian cheese that adds creamy, velvety consistency to the dessert.
  • White Chocolate: Melted chocolate that enhances the cream's richness and provides subtle sweetness.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes the whipped cream mixture.
For the Fruit and Flavor Components:
  • Raspberries, Sugar, Lemon Juice: Create a vibrant, tangy sauce that adds bright fruity notes to the dessert.
  • Brewed Coffee: Provides classic tiramisu flavor and helps soak the ladyfingers.
  • Coffee Liqueur: Optional ingredient that deepens the coffee flavor and adds complexity.
For the Garnish and Finishing:
  • Pistachios: Crunchy nuts that add texture and nutty flavor to the top of the dessert.
  • Cocoa Powder: Traditional dusting that provides a classic tiramisu appearance and slight bitterness.
  • Fresh Raspberries: Adds a pop of color and fresh fruity accent to the final presentation.

How to Prepare Litchi Rose Panna Cotta Easily

Step 1: Whip the Cream Base

Create a luscious cream foundation by whipping heavy cream until soft, billowy peaks emerge. Gradually introduce powdered sugar while continuing to whip until the cream stands in stiff, elegant peaks.

In a separate bowl, blend mascarpone cheese with melted white chocolate until silky smooth. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture, ensuring a light, airy texture.

Set this dreamy cream mixture aside.

Step 2: Craft the Fruity Sauce

Place fresh raspberries in a small saucepan with sugar and a splash of lemon juice.

Cook over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes, stirring gently as the raspberries break down and release their vibrant juices. Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool completely.

Step 3: Prepare the Coffee Soak

In a shallow dish, combine freshly brewed coffee with coffee liqueur, creating a rich, aromatic liquid for layering.

Step 4: Build the Layers

Quickly dip ladyfingers into the coffee mixture, being careful not to oversaturate.

Create the first layer in your serving dish by arranging the coffee-kissed ladyfingers. Spread half of the white chocolate mascarpone cream over the ladyfingers, then drizzle with half of the raspberry sauce.

Step 5: Add Final Layers

Repeat the process with another layer of coffee-dipped ladyfingers. Top with the remaining mascarpone cream and raspberry sauce, creating a beautiful, tempting dessert.

Step 6: Chill and Set

Cover the dessert and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, allowing the flavors to mingle and develop a rich, complex taste.

Step 7: Serve with Flair

Before serving, sprinkle chopped pistachios over the top.

Optionally, dust with cocoa powder and garnish with fresh raspberries. Serve chilled and savor every luxurious bite.

Tips for Perfectly Set Litchi Rose Panna Cotta

  • Quickly dip ladyfingers into coffee mixture to prevent soggy texture, ensuring they absorb just enough liquid for perfect moisture without falling apart.
  • Gently cook raspberries to create smooth sauce, stirring carefully to maintain some fruit texture while breaking down berries for even distribution.
  • Use cold heavy cream and chilled bowl to achieve stiff, stable peaks that will blend smoothly with mascarpone without deflating.
  • Build tiramisu in even, deliberate layers to create beautiful visual presentation and ensure balanced flavor in every bite, using gentle spreading technique.
  • Allow minimum 4-hour refrigeration to let ingredients meld together, developing rich, complex taste and helping dessert set properly for clean slicing.

Flavorful Variations on Litchi Rose Panna Cotta

  • Tropical Sunrise Panna Cotta: Replace litchi and rose with mango and passion fruit, creating a vibrant and sunny dessert with tropical flavors.
  • Berry Bliss Panna Cotta: Swap litchi for mixed berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, adding a rich and tangy profile.
  • Chocolate Caramel Dream: Infuse the panna cotta with dark chocolate and caramel, topping with toasted nuts for a decadent experience.
  • Lavender Honey Elegance: Incorporate lavender essence and local honey, crafting a delicate and aromatic dessert with subtle floral notes.

Pairings That Enhance Litchi Rose Panna Cotta

  • Brew Bold Coffee Pairing: Select a robust espresso or dark roast coffee to complement the dessert's rich white chocolate and raspberry notes. The intense coffee will cut through the creamy mascarpone and enhance the underlying coffee liqueur undertones.
  • Sip Elegant Wine Selection: Choose a sweet Moscato d'Asti or a light Rosé wine. These delicate wines will balance the dessert's sweetness and highlight the raspberry's fruity essence without overpowering the delicate tiramisu texture.
  • Cleanse Palate Refresher: Serve a small glass of chilled limoncello as a post-dessert digestif. Its bright citrus profile will cleanse the palate and provide a refreshing contrast to the creamy, rich tiramisu layers.

Storing Litchi Rose Panna Cotta for Freshness

Store covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Keep in the coldest part of the refrigerator to maintain freshness and prevent flavor absorption.

Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 1 month. Avoid freezing for longer to prevent texture changes.

Transfer from freezer to refrigerator and let thaw slowly overnight. Never thaw at room temperature to prevent bacterial growth.

Gently warm individual portions in the microwave for 15-20 seconds on low power. Alternatively, let sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving to soften slightly and enhance flavors.

FAQs

  • What ingredients give this tiramisu its unique flavor profile?

The white chocolate mascarpone mixture and raspberry sauce create a delightful blend of creamy, sweet, and tangy flavors that elevate the traditional tiramisu recipe.

  • Can I make this recipe without coffee liqueur?

Yes, you can simply use brewed coffee. The coffee liqueur adds depth, but it’s optional and won’t significantly impact the overall taste of the dessert.

  • How do I know when the ladyfingers are perfectly dipped?

Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the coffee mixture for just a moment. They should be lightly moistened, not soaked, to prevent the dessert from becoming soggy.

Print
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Litchi Rose Panna Cotta Recipe


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4.6 from 31 reviews

  • Total Time: 32 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Delicate litchi rose panna cotta dances between Italian elegance and Indian botanical charm, blending creamy textures with fragrant floral notes. Silky dessert promises a sensory journey that will enchant palates and transport diners to a graceful culinary landscape.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces (226 grams) mascarpone cheese
  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) fresh raspberries
  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) brewed coffee
  • 1 package ladyfinger cookies

Sweet and Flavor Enhancers:

  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (25 grams) sugar
  • 4 ounces (113 grams) white chocolate
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) coffee liqueur

Finishing and Garnish Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup (60 grams) pistachios
  • Cocoa powder

Instructions

  1. Delicately soften gelatin in cold water, allowing it to bloom for 5 minutes while maintaining room temperature.
  2. Gently heat cream in a saucepan over medium-low heat until it reaches just below boiling point, approximately 175°F, stirring continuously to prevent scorching.
  3. Incorporate bloomed gelatin into the warm cream, whisking until completely dissolved and creating a smooth, silky texture.
  4. Blend rose water and white chocolate into the cream mixture, ensuring complete integration and a uniform consistency.
  5. Pour the fragrant cream mixture into elegant serving glasses, filling them approximately three-quarters full.
  6. Refrigerate the panna cotta for 3-4 hours until completely set and trembling slightly when gently nudged.
  7. While chilling, prepare litchi compote by simmering fresh litchis with sugar over low heat for 10-12 minutes, creating a luscious, syrupy reduction.
  8. Once panna cotta has solidified, carefully spoon the litchi compote over the top, creating a vibrant, glossy layer.
  9. Garnish with delicate rose petals and finely chopped pistachios for an elegant presentation.
  10. Serve immediately, allowing the cool, silky dessert to showcase its delicate floral and fruity notes.

Notes

  • Dip ladyfingers quickly to prevent them from becoming too soggy, maintaining the perfect texture and preventing a mushy dessert.
  • Ensure heavy cream is cold before whipping for maximum volume and stability, creating a lighter, fluffier mascarpone mixture.
  • Cook raspberries just until they break down, preserving their bright flavor and preventing overcooking that can make the sauce bitter.
  • Prepare the tiramisu a day in advance to allow flavors to develop and blend, resulting in a more complex and delicious dessert.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 358 kcal
  • Sugar: 28 g
  • Sodium: 47 mg
  • Fat: 29 g
  • Saturated Fat: 16 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 19 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 75 mg
Ethan Caldwell

Ethan Caldwell

Founder & Culinary Innovator

Expertise

Farm-to-table cooking, Seasonal recipe creation, Culinary storytelling, Food photography and styling​

Education

The Chef’s Academy (Indianapolis, IN)

  • Program: Associate Degree in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Focused on sustainable cooking practices, regional American cuisine, and recipe development.​

Ethan didn’t just fall in love with food, he grew into it, surrounded by fields, farmers’ markets, and family meals that told a story.
After sharpening his skills at The Chef’s Academy, he took his passion straight into the farm-to-table movement, working side-by-side with local growers and seasonal flavors.
He believes every recipe should feel like a walk through a summer market: colorful, fresh, and full of possibility.
Outside the kitchen, Ethan’s idea of a perfect day is hiking mountain trails, digging into heirloom vegetables, and hosting casual dinners where seconds are always encouraged.

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