A silky smooth, rich, and decadent Italian dessert made with cream, chocolate, and gelatin.
In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water. Let sit for 5 minutes to soften.
In a saucepan, combine heavy cream and sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until steaming and the sugar has dissolved.
While the cream heats, finely chop the dark chocolate.
Remove the cream mixture from the heat. Add the chopped chocolate and softened gelatin. Whisk until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.
Stir in the vanilla extract.
Divide the mixture evenly among 6 ramekins or dessert glasses.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until set.
Serve the panna cotta chilled, topped with whipped cream, fresh berries, or chocolate shavings if desired.