panna cotta

noun

pan·​na cot·​ta ˌpa-nə-ˈkä-tə How to pronounce panna cotta (audio)
plural panna cotta or panna cottas
: a dessert made of sweetened cream thickened with gelatin
For a more summery treat, try the vanilla bean panna cotta. The creamy gelatin is served with a berry coulis, perfect for a hot day.—Lindsey Styrwoll
Panna cotta, which is lightly thickened with gelatin and often topped with caramel or fruit or both, piques the curiosity of diners …—Pamela Parseghian
Serve your panna cotta either in the ramekins with the strawberries on top or you can unmold and serve on a plate.—Theresa Greco

Examples of panna cotta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dessert ranged from cocoa panna cotta to roasted pear with miso and macadamia ice-cream. — Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 7 June 2026 Don’t miss out on a dessert of tiramisu, cannoli, or panna cotta. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026 Desserts like black tea panna cotta and topinambur mille-feuille were also delectable. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026 Desserts include panna cotta, truffle Earl Grey Basque cheesecake and other sweets. — Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for panna cotta

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, literally, "cooked cream"; panna "cream," feminine derivative of panno "piece of cloth, layer formed on the surface of a liquid," going back to Latin pannus "piece of cloth, rag"; cotta, feminine of cotto "cooked," past participle of cuocere "to cook," going back to Latin coquere — more at pane, cook entry 1

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of panna cotta was in 1984

Rhymes for panna cotta

See All Rhymes for panna cotta

Browse Nearby Words

Panmunjom
panna cotta
pannage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Panna cotta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/panna%20cotta. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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