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    Home > Recipes > Vegan Desserts and Sweets

    Vegan Banana Split Panna Cotta

    Published: Nov 18, 2016 · by Amanda · 4 Comments

    Gorgeously delicate with the perfect wobble this vegan panna cotta is simple to make but special enough to serve at your next dinner party. Inspired by banana ice-cream splits, the kids will love it too. 

    Skip to Recipe

    A rustic wooden box resting on a swing seat with three jars of vegan panna cotta, textured napkins and spoons.


    Simple Things

    From our small corner of the planet we have watched the events of the past weeks unfold with increasing befuddlement. In a political climate where elections can be won by garnering the support of the hateful at worst, the scared at best, I have felt an urge to hold fast to the simple things.

    Things that make sense. Things that are pure in their simplicity and enjoyment. On a hot day like today it's a small clam shaped plastic pool filled with cool water, small feet splashing and a dog chasing the hose. In keeping with our mood, we're enjoying a lovely vegan banana split panna cotta. Simple to make and simple to enjoy.

    lovely vegan banana split panna cotta 2

    What is Panna Cotta?

    Panna cotta is a very simple and delicate cold Italian pudding. The term "panna cotta" literally means "cooked cream" with the finished pudding set with gelatine. The earliest versions were made of thick cream sometimes thickened with fish bone...how gross is that? 

    How to Make A Vegan Panna Cotta?

    Traditional panna cotta is made with cream, milk and gelatine. To get a perfectly wobbly vegan panna cotta I am using coconut milk and agar agar to set the pudding.

    Agar agar is a plant-based substitute for gelatine. It is a gelatinous substance derived from red algae and is generally sold in powder or flake form. 

    A front-on image of a freshly set vegan panna cotta in a jar sitting on a white table cloth with a spoon in the foreground

    A good panna cotta is determined by its wobble - they say a perfect panna cotta wobbles like a woman's breast. Oh, my.

     My search for the perfect wobble had mixed results. First there was the solidified bases (coconut milk in a can), odd textures (soaked cashews) and finally crime scene effects (the addition of raspberries). It took many attempts and drawing boards before I found the perfect wobble.

    But I did find it.  The base recipe for this vegan banana split panna cotta works and works every time.

    Silky and smooth this recipe is so simple to make. Using coconut milk from a carton instead of a can I overcame solidification issues and set the mixture with agar agar.

    overhead image of the sticky caramel with peanuts as it sets on the vegan pan cotta

    While you can blend flavours in to the mix such as mango, chocolate or caramel I have stuck to a light vanilla bean and coconut milk blend and added a sinfully sticky caramel sauce, fresh banana and peanuts. All the nostalgia of a soda shop banana spilt made lighter and lovelier with feathery panna cotta.

    So as things get a little more confusing outside of our house amongst the trees we hold on to simple pleasures. An old creaky swing  and a spoonful of banana split. Enjoy.

    Notes

    I know many bloggers use canned coconut milk with lovely results - check out this gorgeous Ginger Coconut Panna Cotta from Amber at Quite Good Food - but I found it tricky. I used the carton variety instead which is in the same aisle as almond and nut milks.

    This recipe uses agar agar flakes NOT powder. The powder is more dense.


    If you love banana as much I do you might like to try these recipes:

    Coconut Gluten-Free Pancakes w Banana

    Vegan Banana Coconut Cream Pie

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    A jar of banana panna cotta with nuts

    Vegan Banana Split Panna Cotta

    Perfectly wobbly, this vegan banana split panna cotta is a lovely and delicate version of the ice-cream banana split complete with nuts and caramel sauce.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Italy
    Prep Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Setting Time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 22 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 466kcal
    Author: Amanda Logan

    Ingredients 

    For the Panna Cotta

    • 1 teaspoon agar agar flakes
    • 2 tbs warm water
    • 400 ml coconut milk I used milk from a carton not a can
    • 1 and ½ tbs raw caster sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

    For the Caramel and Banana

    • ¼ cup raw sugar such as demera for the caramel sauce
    • ¼ cup water
    • ¼ cup raw peanuts
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • pinch sea salt
    • 1 ripe banana thinly sliced.

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, combine the warm water and agar agar flakes to bloom - about five minutes.
    • In a small saucepan combine the coconut milk, raw sugar, vanilla and agar agar (including the water). On low to medium heat, bring the mixture up to a boil before reducing the heat and simmering for five minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 7 minutes.
    • Strain the mixture in to a jug before pouring in to small jars or ramekins. If you want to tip the panna cotta out on to the plate, lightly grease the container first. Set on the counter for 15 minutes to cool before placing in the fridge for 2 hours to set.

    For the Caramel and Banana

    • Combine the raw sugar, water, vanilla and sea salt in a small saucepan and bring to the boil over medium heat. Watching carefully, allow the caramel to bubble away for around 3 minutes or until the mixture thickens. Stir in the peanuts and set aside.
    • To serve the vegan panna cotta, remove the set pudding from the fridge and place thinly sliced banana on top. To finish ,spoon a good amount of peanut caramel sauce over the top and serve.

    Notes

    NOTES: As mentioned in the post, use agar agar FLAKES in this recipe. Not powder. 
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 466kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 525mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 25IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried This Recipe?I'd love to hear your feedback. Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below. Or you can tag @mygoodnesskitchen or hashtag #mygoodnesskitchen on Instagram.

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    Jars of banana panna cotta with nuts with text

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. jeffstroud

      November 18, 2016 at 1:21 pm

      How is this different than a flan?

      Reply
      • Amanda

        November 18, 2016 at 8:08 pm

        Hey Jeff, in Australia a flan usually has a base or crust of some sort. Panna Cotta means "set cream" so it is similar to desserts like flan, creme caramel and to a lesser extent creme brûlée. Does that help?

        Reply
    2. Quite Good Food

      November 18, 2016 at 8:04 am

      Oh I love the look of this! I have to say I found panna cotta tricky too, there were a fair number of failed attempts getting that ginger one right!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        November 18, 2016 at 8:22 am

        And your ginger recipe is amazing, Amber. I had so much trouble with the coconut milk cans - I think it might have been the brands I was using or perhaps user error ;-).

        Reply

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    Hello & Welcome! I’m Amanda ...and that's Scout with her eye on you. I'm a trained plant-based cook, long-time vegan, cookbook author and frazzled Mum (are you feeling me?). Oh, and I'm working towards my Masters in Nutrition. I'm here to help you create easy vegan meals that never skimp on flavour. It's vegan food but in a totally fuss-free way. Are you hungry? Me too! So let's cook. 

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