Vanilla, Cinnamon, and Lime Panna Cotta

This recipe comes straight from one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago, Birrieria Zaragoza. All they serve is birria, a Mexican goat stew served with fresh thick tortillas, and it's impeccable, moan-worthy. But on my last pilgrimage, chef Jonathan Zaragoza offered me this dessert, the best panna cotta I've ever eaten.

Panna Cotta

This is cereal milk Panna Cotta, the brilliant invention from the genius mind of Cristina Tosi of Milk Bar that launched an empire and was certainly an evolution of the pan a cotta. It's incredibly easy to make and a make-ahead dessert, it's refreshing, it's nostalgic, and but before we make cereal milk Panna Cotta, we need to learn what the hell Panna Cotta is in the first place so lets just jump right into it.

Creamy Banana Pudding

Steeping sliced bananas in fresh milk infuses this creamy banana custard with flavor from the inside out.

How to Make Pastry Cream (Crème Pâtissière Recipe)

Pastry cream—made by heating milk, sugar, eggs, starch, and flavoring together—is a rich, thick, and creamy custard that's a versatile workhorse in the baker’s kitchen.

Vanilla Rice Pudding

Make the silkiest, smoothest rice pudding that actually tastes like rice with just milk, leftover rice, and sugar.

Spiced Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe | Scooped

I have long resented the use of the word "vanilla" to mean bland, blah, and boring. Real vanilla is deep and complex. Anyone who thinks vanilla is boring hasn't tasted this ice cream.

Light and Silky Banana Crémeux

No need for gelatin in this whipped banana custard that's thickened with cornstarch and lightened by cream.

Scotch Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

This is everything vanilla ice cream should be: impossibly rich and smooth with deep notes of honey, caramel, and flowers. A good Highland Scotch (I'm partial to Glenlivet 12) brings out the best flavors of vanilla while also adding depth. There's a good amount of salt to keep you coming back for another bite. Add salt slowly and adjust it to your tastes.

DIY Pudding Pops

Few desserts are both rich and refreshing at the same time, but that's what pudding pops do best. They're as creamy as top-notch soft-serve, but light enough to feel just a little bracing on a hot summer's day. In fact, they turn out particularly nice with skim milk, which gives the pops an icy quality that I absolutely adore. If you like, dip 'em in melted chocolate cut with coconut oil to make a quick Klondike Bar–like treat.

Gelato de Crema Recipe | Cook the Book

This Gelato de Crema acts as a base for many of the gelato recipes in The Ciao Bella Book of Gelato and Sorbetto, but frozen on its own, this is a wonderful introduction into the subtle differences between ice cream and gelato. Without the buttery richness of a base made entirely of cream, this custard allows the delicate flavors of milk, egg yolks, and sugar to come through. The sugar is kept to a minimum, giving the gelato a clean, austere sharp flavor with none of the cloying qualities of an ...