eggnog panna cotta

chilled, spiced, festive

these eggnog panna cottas suit a hot day better than the real thing

you still get the gentle spice and that holiday feeling, just in a chilled, jiggly dessert instead of a heavy drink

they’re the kind of thing you can make the night before and forget about until you want something festive that won’t make you melt

simple, chilled, and very easy to eat after a long warm day

serves four

ingredients

2 egg yolks

30g caster sugar

0.25 nutmeg, freshly grated

0.25 tsp almond extract

500mL milk

2 tsp gelatine powder

method

whisk the egg yolks (2), sugar (30 g), nutmeg (¼), and almond extract (¼ tsp) in a bowl until smooth and a little frothy

heat the milk (500 ml) in a saucepan until just steaming, then slowly pour a bit into the egg mixture while whisking to warm it up without cooking the eggs

pour the egg mix back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk and cook gently over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon

take off the heat, sprinkle in the gelatine (2 tsp) and stir until completely dissolved

divide into serving glasses or ramekins, let cool a bit, then chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours or until set

serve as is or dust with a little extra nutmeg or a few festive sprinkles for fun