Panna Cotta with Caramel Sauce

Name: Panna Cotta with Caramel Sauce
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H10M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H10M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT2H20M0.000S
Yield: 10 to 12 servings
Cuisine: italian
Ingredients: 1 cup confectioners' sugar; 3 cups half-and-half; 1 cup heavy cream; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/3 cup hot water; 2 (1/4-ounce) packets unflavored powdered gelatin; Orange Caramel Sauce, recipe follows; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1/3 cup light brown sugar; 1 small navel orange zested and juiced; 1 whole star anise

Getting reviews...

Super easy, elegant dessert. Do this at least a few hours ahead of time so that the panna cotta has time to set and to take away last-minute stress. Only thing that has to be done near the time of serving is the caramel sauce because you want the contrast of the warm sauce against the cold panna cotta.

Level: Easy
Total: 2 hr 20 min

Prep: 10 min
Inactive: 2 hr
Cook: 10 min

Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Level: Easy
Total: 2 hr 20 min

Prep: 10 min
Inactive: 2 hr
Cook: 10 min

Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

1 cup confectioners' sugar

3 cups half-and-half

1 cup heavy cream

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/3 cup hot water

2 (1/4-ounce) packets unflavored powdered gelatin

Orange Caramel Sauce, recipe follows

Orange Caramel Sauce:

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1 small navel orange zested and juiced

1 whole star anise

Directions

Combine sugar and 1 cup of half-and-half in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, whisking until combined. Add remaining half-and-half, heavy cream, and vanilla and cook for 3 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together hot water and gelatin, whisking until gelatin dissolves. Whisk gelatin mixture into half-and-half mixture until thoroughly combined.
Remove from the heat and pour into ramekins or cupcake tins and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight until set.
Remove panna cotta from refrigerator. Dip the bottoms of the ramekins or cupcake tin into a warm water bath for about 15 seconds. Turn out the panna cotta forms onto serving plates. Top with Orange Caramel Sauce and let run down sides. Serve while sauce is still warm.

Orange Caramel Sauce:

Melt the butter and brown sugar together in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the orange juice and star anise and simmer until smooth and thick, about 5 minutes. Stir in the orange zest and remove from heat.