Creative Meals for Today's Cook

  • Recipes
    • Courses
      • Appetizers
      • Breakfast & Brunch
      • EntrΓ©e
      • Sides
      • Salads
      • Soup
      • Baking
      • Desserts
      • Drinks
      • Snacks
      • Pantry
    • Cuisine
      • African
      • Asian
      • German
      • Indian
      • Italian
      • Latin
      • Mediterranean
      • Middle Eastern
      • Western
      • Fusion
    • Main Ingredient
      • Poultry
      • Pork
      • Beef
      • Lamb
      • Seafood
      • Eggs
      • Cheese & Dairy
      • Pasta
      • Rice & Grains
      • Noodles
      • Tofu
      • Vegetables & Fruit
      • Beans & Legumes
    • Diet
      • Vegetarian
      • Vegan
      • Pescetarian
      • Gluten Free
    • Seasons
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Recipe Collections
      • Winter Holiday Recipes
      • New Year’s Eve
      • Sports Parties
      • Party Foods
      • Quick & Easy
      • Healthy
      • Fried Goodness
      • Special Occasions
      • Valentine’s Day Recipes
      • Easter Recipes
      • Mother’s Day
      • Grilling Out
      • Thanksgiving
  • Recipe Index
  • Video Gallery
  • Pantry
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Click for more Hapa Nom Nom!

Pumpkin Panna Cotta with Salted Caramel Sauce

September 28, 2015 by hapagirl 44 Comments

Incredibly creamy Pumpkin Panna Cotta with a Salted Caramel Sauce

Panna Cotta is one of my favorite desserts. It’s incredibly creamy, it can be flavored with just about anything, and it only takes 10 minutes to make! What could be more awesome than that? I mean sure, you do have to plan ahead a bit with this dessert because you have to allow at least 6 hours of refrigerator time for the custards to set-up. But that’s just time you can spend going about your day and doing whatever it is you need to do.

Incredibly creamy Pumpkin Panna Cotta with a Salted Caramel Sauce

To make the custards festive for the autumn season, I’ve flavored these little beauties with pumpkin and served them with salted caramel. Let me tell you, if you’re a fan of pumpkin pie – you are going to LOVE this Pumpkin Panna Cotta with Salted Caramel Sauce. It’s smoother, creamier, and you don’t have to worry about that persnickety pie crust. This is a dessert so easy to make and so delicious,Β you’re sure to love it all season.

Pumpkin Panna Cotta with Salted Caramel Sauce
Recipe Type: Dessert
Author: Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 20 mins
Serves: 6
Love the taste of pumpkin pie, but what to switch it up this year? This ultra creamy Pumpkin Panna Cotta with Salted Caramel Sauce is guaranteed to be a hit!
Ingredients
  • [b]Pumpkin Panna Cotta[/b]
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 packet gelatin (1/4 ounce)
  • 1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • [b]Salted Caramel Sauce[/b]
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pats
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • [b]Garnish[/b]
  • 3 tablespoons pumpkin seeds, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
  1. Measure out the milk and sprinkle the gelatin over top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  2. Combine the remaining panna cotta ingredients in a large bowl.
  3. In a saucepan over medium heat, add the gelatin/milk mixture. Once the gelatin melts add the bowl of prepared ingredients. Cook just until steam rises, stirring occasionally.
  4. Pour into ramekins and carefully place in the refrigerator. Allow to chill for 6 – 8 hours before serving.
  5. To make the salted caramel, heat the sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Using a wooden spoon, stir constantly until the sugar has completely melted. Very carefully add the butter – the mixture will begin to boil vigorously. Continue to stir constantly until the butter has completely melted, about 2 minutes.
  6. Very slowly drizzle the heavy whipping cream into the saucepan. Be careful, again the mixture will begin to bubble vigorously.
  7. Allow to boil while stirring continuously for a minute. Remove from heat and carefully add the vanilla and salt. Allow to cool before using. (Caramel can be made ahead of time. Cover and refrigerate if storing. When you’re ready to use, warm for a few seconds in the microwave).
  8. You can serve the panna cotta in the ramekins if you like. If you want to remove the custard from the cups as I’ve done in the photos – take a thin knife and run it along the edge of the custard (try to do it all in one swipe – sawing can produce jagged looking edges). Fill a small baking dish with boiling water, enough so that the water comes half way up the side of the ramekins. Set the ramekins into the water for 30 – 45 seconds. Remove them from the water and gently smack the sides of the cup to loosen the panna cottta. Place a plate on top of the ramekin and then flip the dish to it’s upright position. Carefully remove the ramekin, serve with salted caramel, chopped pumpkin seeds, and enjoy!
3.4.3177

 

Incredibly creamy Pumpkin Panna Cotta with a Salted Caramel Sauce

Filed Under: Blog, Desserts, Dishes, Fall, Fusion, Gluten Free, Italian, Mediterranean, Quick & Easy, Recipes, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian, Western, Winter Holiday Recipes Tagged With: autumn, caramel, cream, custard, dessert, fall, Halloween, italian, milk, panna cotta, Pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pumpkin seeds, salted caramel, Thanksgiving

« Apple-Date Oat Bran Muffins
One Pot Moroccan Chicken and Rice »

Comments

  1. Debi says

    October 10, 2016 at 4:54 pm

    This was amazing! The caramel makes it extra-special. And the directions for the caramel were easy to follow. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 11, 2016 at 9:13 am

      That’s great, Debi! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I think caramel makes everything a little more special πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  2. nicole (thespicetrain.com) says

    October 9, 2015 at 7:30 am

    Oh, wow, I love everything about this dessert, the flavors, the looks and the way you photographed it. Wonderful!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 9, 2015 at 11:54 am

      Thanks, Nicole! That’s very nice of you to say πŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Lynn | The Road to Honey says

    October 7, 2015 at 3:18 pm

    Such a fun little dessert for Autumn. It reminds me of a candy apple. . .only in custard form. Of course I will be drizzling mine with a extra serving of the caramel sauce. πŸ˜‰

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 8, 2015 at 12:29 pm

      Ha! Yes, I must admit that after I photographed the panna cotta, I poured a little more caramel over the top πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  4. Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says

    October 7, 2015 at 3:52 am

    This is such a brilliant idea, Kathleen! Love the addition of pumpkin to the panna cotta! That caramel sauce sounds divine too!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 8, 2015 at 12:35 pm

      Thanks so much, Jess! It tastes like a creamier pumpkin pie πŸ™‚

      Reply
  5. Bam's Kitchen says

    October 6, 2015 at 5:36 pm

    Kathleen, this photography is just stunning!!! Loving those dark moody photos! In addition I think that this would be just so silky and delicious and elegant for a dinner party. Just pinned!!!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 8, 2015 at 12:47 pm

      Thanks so much, Bobbi! I started with a white set-up, but it was just calling for a dark backdrop. I’m so glad you like it πŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. karrie @ Tasty Ever After says

    October 6, 2015 at 7:38 am

    Where has this wonderful recipe been all my life?? πŸ™‚ I always order panna cotta out but it’s one of those dishes that I never make it at home. Thanks for this recipe so I can see how easy it is and start making it. BTW, I’m doing up a double (or triple) batch of the salted caramel sauce so I can put it on everything! Yum!!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 8, 2015 at 12:50 pm

      Oh I hope you give it a try! Until I made panna cotta for the first time, I always thought it would be too difficult. I couldn’t have been more wrong – it’s one of the easiest desserts to make!

      Reply
  7. Kristen @ The Endless Meal says

    October 5, 2015 at 11:44 am

    I made a vanilla panna cotta with bourbon caramel sauce at the supper club this weekend. Great minds think alike! I love that you’ve added pumpkin to yours. So good!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 5, 2015 at 10:51 pm

      Oh my, Kristen! That sounds amazing! Of course anything with bourbon always catches my attention πŸ˜‰ I’ll have to give that a try.

      Reply
  8. Marissa (@pinchandswirl) says

    October 4, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    What a brilliant idea – adding pumpkin to panna cotta! And with salted caramel sauce!? This dessert (or breakfast if no one is looking πŸ™‚ – looks drool worthy!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 5, 2015 at 10:43 pm

      Ha! You read my mind. I actually did eat this for breakfast… a few times πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  9. Kelley @ Chef Savvy says

    October 4, 2015 at 1:41 pm

    What a beautiful dessert! I’ve never made panna cotta before. Looks wonderful!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 5, 2015 at 10:42 pm

      You haven’t? Oh you must make it! I am not a baker, nor a dessert person, and this dessert is ridiculously easy to make and so delightfully creamy!

      Reply
  10. thebrickkitchen says

    October 4, 2015 at 2:27 am

    Oh my goodness, pumpkin panna cotta?! I thought I had seen everything pumpkin, but you have just proved me wrong. Looks gorgeous, and I am loving that caramel sauce layer – it just goes with everything, doesn’t it? So good!
    Claudia x

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 5, 2015 at 10:40 pm

      Thanks so much, Claudia! This was such a hit in my house, it’s definitely going to be on our Thanksgiving table πŸ™‚ And yes… I could put caramel on everything!

      Reply
  11. Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says

    October 1, 2015 at 8:05 pm

    Genius! This pumpkin panna cotta looks amazing, but add in the salted caramel and I’m totally in! I need this stat!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 1, 2015 at 11:09 pm

      Thank so much, Rachelle! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  12. hipfoodiemom says

    October 1, 2015 at 6:10 am

    Kathleen, I love Panna Cotta!!! and love this seasonal spin! so beautiful!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 1, 2015 at 9:32 pm

      Thanks, Alice! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  13. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    September 30, 2015 at 10:51 am

    Oh WOWZA, Kathleen! These Panna Cotta are GORGEOUS! I, too, am a pretty big fan of panna cotta – love it’s creamy, rich texture and the fact that it isn’t ginormous in size.. it’s just the right size. I’m totally digging your pumpkin spiced panna cotta! And WITH salted caramel? Ummm.. yeah- GIMME! Pinned! Cheers, girlfriend! XO

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 1, 2015 at 9:45 pm

      Thanks girl! I think I could eat panna cotta (in one form or another) every single day! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  14. Traci | Vanilla And Bean says

    September 30, 2015 at 6:21 am

    Beautiful work, Kathleen! Panna Cotta isn’t always easy to keep in one piece when removing it from ramekins. I used agar agar once to make Panna Cotta and it worked well, but now I’m trying to remember how much I used (shheesh!). And the pumpkin? Oh my goodness… pure luxury! Can’t wait to give this a go! Are you settled in to your new place?

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 1, 2015 at 10:28 pm

      Oh, I never thought to use agar agar, but that’s a great way to keep it vegetarian/vegan! Does it make any difference when removing from the molds? I totally know what you mean about forgetting ingredient amounts. I’ve kicked myself numerous times after making a fantastic dish and then forgetting to write down the details. Ack!

      Reply
  15. Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says

    September 30, 2015 at 5:29 am

    Absolutely! Nothing can beat a creamy panna cotta. And this pumpkin and salted caramel one is incredibly YUM! Thank you for sharing this awesomeness! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 1, 2015 at 10:31 pm

      Thanks so much, Anu! And Happy Friday! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  16. Sabrina says

    September 29, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    I absolutely love this!! The toppings are wonderful too. Pumpkin panna cotta is officially on my to-make list.

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 29, 2015 at 10:18 pm

      Aww thanks, Sabrina! I just know you’re going to love it πŸ™‚

      Reply
  17. MiraL (@miralsl) says

    September 29, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    Pumpkin and caramel is a great combination and I love it! This panna cotta looks awesome and so easy to make! Pinned!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 29, 2015 at 10:15 pm

      Thanks, Mira! I’ve been enjoying it for dessert all week πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  18. Lokness says

    September 29, 2015 at 3:12 pm

    I am a huge fan of panna cotta too! Smooth and creamy. Love that you flavored it with pumpkin. And that salted caramel sauce is to die for! Awesome!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 29, 2015 at 10:07 pm

      Thank you my dear. I must admit… I ate all of them already πŸ˜›

      Reply
  19. Helen @ Scrummy Lane says

    September 29, 2015 at 12:56 pm

    Panna cotta is heavenly in any form, so I can only imagine how delicious it is with all those lovely flavours added. I’m glad you gave us good instructions about how to get the desserts out of the ramekins. Would be just my luck to take lots of care over making them then see them come out in a big horrible splodge!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 29, 2015 at 9:30 pm

      Ha! Yeah… I’ve been guilty of ‘man-handling’ delicate panna cotta before I knew what I was doing. Needless to say, presentation what not optimal πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  20. annie@ciaochowbambina says

    September 29, 2015 at 8:12 am

    I love this! I actually have Panna Cotta slated for an upcoming post! Your fall flavors are incredible, here! I can’t wait to make this! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 29, 2015 at 9:19 pm

      Ooo… I can’t wait to see your panna cotta recipe! I think it’s honestly one of the best desserts – it’s so easy and so versatile!

      Reply
  21. Janette@culinaryginger says

    September 29, 2015 at 7:38 am

    I love panna cotta too. The pumpkin and salted caramel sauce are a great combination.

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 29, 2015 at 9:17 pm

      Thanks so much, Janette!

      Reply
  22. Mon Petit Four (@byMonPetitFour) says

    September 28, 2015 at 11:21 pm

    This is so genius, Kathleen! I also adore panna cotta, especially because its so simple to make. This idea is so great for fall…I will definitely be making this for one of my gatherings this season! Thanks so much for sharing <3

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      September 29, 2015 at 8:39 pm

      Me too! I think panna cotta must be one of the simplest desserts to make, but it always looks so elegant. I hope you enjoy!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Find a Dish!

I'm Kathleen and I live in the Atlanta area. In a lifelong search to discover where I belong and what group I identify with, I found that food is the strongest tie that brings us together. On Hapa Nom Nom, food is a kind of connective tissue, bringing my background, family, travels, and tastes together in one delicious bite. Find out more!

« Click for more recipes! »
Creative Commons License
Hapa Nom Nom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at hapanom.com.

Sharing Recipes

All images, recipes, and text on this site are my intellectual property and are protected under copyright. You are welcome to write about my recipe in your own words; however, please re-write the recipe and instructions and link back to Hapa Nom Nom as the original source. Thank you!

Copyright © 2013–2021 Hapa Nom Nom