Aperol-Orange Panna Cotta with Citrus Zest

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-03 · Updated 2026-04-03

A silky, elegant dessert where Aperol's vibrant notes balance the sweetness of cream, finished with a bright orange zest garnish. This Italian-inspired recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, layers heavy cream, Aperol, fresh orange zest into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 2, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp Aperol
• 1 tsp fresh orange zest
• 1.5 tsp gelatin
• 2 tbsp cold water
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Step 1: Sprinkle 1.5 tsp gelatin over 2 tbsp cold water in a small bowl and let sit for 5 minutes to bloom.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 cup heavy cream and 3 tbsp sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming and sugar dissolves, stirring gently. Remove from heat and whisk in 2 tbsp Aperol and 1 tsp orange zest.
3. Step 3: Add the bloomed gelatin to the warm cream mixture, stirring constantly until fully dissolved and smooth, about 1 minute.
4. Step 4: Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into 2 ramekins, then chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours until set and jiggly.