Get ready to serve up the most spine-tinglingly delicious dessert that's part culinary art, part Halloween horror! These Panna Cotta Brain Cookies are not just a treat for your taste buds, but a showstopping conversation piece that will have your guests both impressed and slightly creeped out. Imagine the perfect blend of creamy Italian panna cotta atop a soft sugar cookie, crafted to look like an anatomically intriguing brain – this is dessert meets mad scientist magic that you absolutely must try!
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 24 cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 packet unflavored gelatin
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 package sugar cookie dough
- Red food coloring
- Chocolate chips for decoration
Instructions
- In a small bowl, bloom the gelatin by sprinkling it over 2 tablespoons of cold water. Let sit for 5 minutes until it becomes soft and spongy.
- In a medium saucepan, combine heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves completely. Do not let the mixture boil.
- Remove cream mixture from heat and stir in the bloomed gelatin until fully dissolved and smooth. Let the panna cotta mixture cool to room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out the sugar cookie dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into brain-shaped outlines using a brain-shaped cookie cutter or by hand-shaping.
- Bake the cookie shapes for 12-15 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Remove and let cool completely on a wire rack.
- Add several drops of red food coloring to the cooled panna cotta mixture to create a realistic brain-like pink color.
- Once cookies are completely cool, pipe or spread the colored panna cotta mixture over the cookies, creating a brain-like texture with ridges and folds.
- Use chocolate chips to create small detail accents or veins on the panna cotta surface.
- Refrigerate cookies for 30 minutes to set the panna cotta topping completely before serving.
Tips
- Gelatin is the secret to a smooth, set panna cotta – make sure to bloom it properly and dissolve completely.
- When heating the cream mixture, keep the temperature low and stir constantly to prevent scorching.
- Use a piping bag or the back of a spoon to create realistic brain-like texture and ridges.
- For the most realistic effect, use varying shades of pink and add chocolate chip "veins" strategically.
- Refrigeration is key – give the cookies enough time to set completely for the best texture and presentation.
- If you don't have a brain-shaped cookie cutter, don't worry! You can hand-shape the cookies or use a template for tracing.
- Choose a high-quality vanilla extract to enhance the overall flavor of your panna cotta topping.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: mg
