Keto Panna Cotta Recipe With Mascarpone Cheese – Easy Rich and Creamy Classic Italian Dessert that’s low carb friendly. Made with mascarpone cheese, vanilla and a few simple ingredients, this low carb Italian dessert has just 2.2g net carbs per serving. Serve with fresh berries or your favourite low carb topping for an elegant make-ahead dessert.

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Keto Panna Cotta Recipe

This easy keto panna cotta recipe makes a rich, creamy Italian dessert with mascarpone cheese, vanilla and a few simple ingredients.

Mascarpone gives this low carb panna cotta an especially silky and indulgent texture, while gelatin helps it set perfectly in the fridge. It’s a simple make-ahead dessert that’s delicious topped with fresh berries or your favourite low carb fruit topping.

Panna Cotta has always been one of those recipes that had intimidated me in the past. So it wasn’t until recently that I experimented with a low carb friendly version with mascarpone cheese. 

What I learnt was that it’s so much easier to make tasty panna cottas than I had thought. 

With just 2.2g net carbs per serving, this mascarpone panna cotta is a lovely keto and gluten-free dessert for dinner parties, Valentine’s Day, Christmas or whenever you’re craving something creamy and sweet.

And despite how fancy panna cotta sounds, it’s surprisingly easy to make.

Why You’ll Love This Keto Panna Cotta

• Easy to make – the mascarpone mixture comes together quickly on the stovetop.
• Only a few ingredients – you don’t need any complicated ingredients or equipment.
• Rich and creamy – mascarpone gives the panna cotta an indulgently smooth texture.
• Make ahead – prepare it in advance and keep it chilled in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
• Low carb and keto friendly – each serving contains only 2.2g net carbs.
• Easy to customise – serve it with berries, chia jam, lemon zest or another favourite low carb topping.

How To Make Keto Panna Cotta With Mascarpone

In Italian Panna Cotta translates to “cooked cream” and so a classic panna cotta involves cooking cream that’s then set with a gelatin mixture to create a superb dessert of creamy richness, that’s made with simple ingredients.

Instead of making panna cotta with cream alone, this version uses mascarpone cheese to create an especially rich and silky texture. And, the finished dessert is much creamier and richer than one made with cream. (Here are 10 more easy keto recipes with mascarpone.)

Ingredients

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this easy mascarpone panna cotta:

• Mascarpone cheese – gives the panna cotta its rich, creamy texture.
• Almond milk – I use unsweetened almond milk to keep the recipe low carb.
• Gelatin – helps the panna cotta set in the refrigerator. Agar agar can also be used.
• Stevia – adds sweetness without adding sugar. You can use another keto-friendly sweetener if preferred.
• Vanilla extract – adds classic vanilla flavour.
• Water – used to bloom the gelatin before adding it to the warm mascarpone mixture.

To actually make the low carb panna cotta, start by blooming the gelatin or agar agar by mixing it with water and leaving it for a few minutes to thicken in a small bowl or jug.

I tested using both and it just depends on which you prefer to use. (And whether you’d like the dessert to be vegetarian friendly.) 

Then, mix together mascarpone cheese, milk, vanilla and stevia in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed but not bubbling and the sugar dissolves. You can use unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk or any milk you usually enjoy in your diet. Or, for an even richer cream mixture with a silky texture you can feel free to mix through luxurious heavy cream or coconut cream. 

Stevia is my keto diet friendly sweetener of choice in the easy recipe, but you can feel free to swap in monk fruit sweetener, erythritol or you low carb and keto friendly sweetener of choice in the delicious dessert.  I like the subtle sweetness that 1/4 of a cup provides, but you can feel free to add in additional sweetener if you’d prefer a sweeter keto vanilla panna cotta. 

For the vanilla you can use vanilla extract, essence or even vanilla bean or paste for a deep vanilla flavor. If you’d prefer a citrus panna cotta, you can mix lemon zest, lemon juice, orange zest or orange zest through the panna cotta mixture. 

You want to be sure the mascarpone mixture is warm enough for the gelatin to easily mix through. 

Once the mascarpone has warmed, pour the bloomed gelatin into the warm milk mixture, take off the heat and whisk until completely smooth.

Then, it’s just a matter of allowing the mixture to cool to room temperature and then move into lightly greased individual glasses, ramekins, molds, bowls or a serving dish. 

How Long Does Keto Panna Cotta Take to Set?

Allow the panna cotta to cool to room temperature before transferring it to the refrigerator. It needs several hours in the fridge to fully set, so I recommend making it ahead of time rather than trying to prepare it immediately before serving.

Keep the panna cotta covered and refrigerated until you’re ready to serve.

Because this is such a rich dessert, small individual glasses or ramekins work particularly well for serving.

You can top your panna cotta with any fresh fruit such as fresh berries, as they are, mashed or as a berry puree.  I prefer to top mine with homemade strawberry chia jam, which perfectly balances the richness of the panna cotta. 

It’s up to you how many portions of panna cotta you make. This is an incredibly rich dessert so would comfortably serve 4.

I, however, tend to pour mine into two glasses, store them in the fridge and my Husband and I each devour a glass of panna cotta slowly through the weekend – by the teaspoon full when we are craving something sweet. 

Low Carb Panna Cotta Recipe With Mascarpone

• 2 teaspoons Gelatin or Agar Agar Powder
• 1/3 Cup Water 
• 250g/0.55lb Mascarpone Cheese
• 1/2 Cup Almond Milk 
• 1/4 Cup Stevia
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 

1. Mix the gelatin or agar agar and the water together in a small bowl until the gelatin dissolves. 
2. Set the gelatin aside for 5-10 minutes to bloom. 
3. In a small saucepan, combine the mascarpone, milk, stevia and vanilla. 
4. Place over medium heat and cook until warmed but not bubbling. 
5. Remove from the heat and whisk through the softened gelatin until completely combined. 
6. Pour into 2-4 glasses or small dishes and move to the fridge, serve as is or topped with fresh strawberries, fresh raspberries or your topping of choice. 

Panna Cotta Topping Ideas

This creamy keto panna cotta is delicious on its own, but there are plenty of ways to add extra flavour.

Try topping it with:

• Fresh strawberries
• Fresh raspberries
• Blueberries
• Homemade strawberry chia jam
• A few slices of fresh fruit
• Lemon or orange zest
• A small amount of berry puree
• Sugar-free chocolate shavings

For a simple summer dessert, fresh berries are especially delicious with the rich mascarpone panna cotta.

More Panna Cotta Recipes

If you love creamy panna cotta, try some of my other easy panna cotta recipes, including chocolate panna cotta, coconut panna cotta, lemon panna cotta and ricotta panna cotta.

This panna cotta is such a rich and heavenly creamy dessert that’s perfect to enjoy all year around. From a romantic Valentine’s Day dessert to a no bake summer sweet treat topped with in season berries, this popular Italian dessert is the perfect option.

You can even whip up a batch of panna cottas as a festive Christmas no bake dessert that you can make ahead so that you can free up your oven for other festive favorites and have the delicious Italian dessert made well ahead of time. 

Since sharing this recipe for the easy keto dessert, I’ve also shared a chocolate panna cotta recipe, a keto coconut panna cotta recipe and a ricotta panna cotta recipe – I just can’t get enough of experimenting with creamy panna cotta flavours.

Low Carb Panna Cotta Recipe Video Tutorial

Here’s the video where you can watch the easy dessert of the rich low carb panna cotta being prepared, step by step. Hit play below or click here to watch on YouTube.

Keto Panna Cotta FAQ

Is panna cotta keto?

Traditional panna cotta is usually made with cream and sugar, so the amount of carbohydrate depends on the recipe. This keto panna cotta uses a keto-friendly sweetener instead of sugar and contains just 2.2g net carbs per serving.

Is mascarpone keto friendly?

Mascarpone cheese is naturally low in carbohydrates and can be included in many keto and low carb recipes. Always check the nutrition information on the particular mascarpone you use, as brands can vary.

What is mascarpone panna cotta made of?

This mascarpone panna cotta is made with mascarpone cheese, unsweetened almond milk, gelatin or agar agar, stevia, vanilla extract and water.

How long does panna cotta take to set?

Panna cotta needs several hours in the refrigerator to fully set. For the best results, make it ahead of time and allow it plenty of time to chill before serving.

Can I make panna cotta ahead of time?

Yes. Panna cotta is an excellent make-ahead dessert. Prepare the individual portions, cover and refrigerate them until you’re ready to serve.

Can I use agar agar instead of gelatin?

Yes. Agar agar can be used instead of gelatin, although the setting properties are different, so follow the instructions for the particular agar agar product you’re using.

What can I serve with keto panna cotta?

Fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, berry puree, homemade chia jam and citrus zest all work well with creamy mascarpone panna cotta.

Is mascarpone the same as panna cotta?

No. Mascarpone is a soft, rich Italian cheese, while panna cotta is a chilled Italian dessert traditionally made from sweetened cream that is set with gelatin. Mascarpone can be added to panna cotta to create an especially rich and creamy version, like this recipe.

Recommended Kitchen Tools

A few simple kitchen tools make this panna cotta particularly easy to prepare and serve:

• Small saucepan – for gently warming the mascarpone mixture.
• Whisk – useful for combining the mascarpone, milk, sweetener and vanilla and making sure the gelatin is completely incorporated.
• Small ramekins – perfect for individual portions of panna cotta.
• Measuring cups and spoons – helpful for accurately measuring the small quantities of gelatin, vanilla and sweetener.

I use simple kitchen equipment for this recipe, so you don’t need any specialist gadgets to make homemade panna cotta.

More Easy Keto Desserts: 

Chocolate Mousse with Cream Cheese

Flourless Chocolate Brownies

Lemon Ricotta Cake

Updated in September 2026 with new recipe tips, variations, FAQs and serving suggestions.

Disclaimer – this post is meant for informational post only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your health professional before making any dietary changes.

Disclosure – this post contains affiliate links.