Halloween Zombie Brain Panna Cotta

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Alright, so this dessert looks disgusting in the best possible way. It jiggles like an actual brain and when you pour the raspberry sauce on top it straight up bleeds.

Kids lose their minds over it and adults pretend not to be impressed but then ask for seconds.

The cool part is that it looks super creepy but it is honestly so easy to make. If you can heat milk without burning it, you are qualified.

INGREDIENTS :

What You Need for the Green Gooey Brain

2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
Half a cup sugar
1 vanilla bean or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 and one fourth teaspoons unflavored gelatin powder which is one envelope
One fourth cup cold water
A couple drops of green or gray gel food coloring until it looks sickly

Bloody Raspberry Sauce

2 cups raspberries fresh or frozen
One fourth cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

Gross Decorations if You Want to Go Extra

Candy eyes or red sprinkles

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Making the Brain

First you gotta bloom the gelatin which basically means sprinkle it over the cold water and let it sit for like 5 to 10 minutes until it looks like wet sponge.

That is normal do not panic.

While that is doing its thing grab a saucepan and heat the heavy cream milk and sugar on low. Do not let it boil or it will do weird things.

If you are using a vanilla bean scrape the seeds in and toss the whole pod. If you are lazy like me just dump in vanilla extract. Give it a good stir until the sugar melts.

Now toss in the bloomed gelatin and stir like your life depends on it until it dissolves completely. No grainy bits allowed.

Add your food coloring until it looks like zombie skin. I like mine pale and gross looking.

Strain it just to be fancy and then let it cool for a bit so it does not melt your mold.

Pour it into a brain mold if you have one.

If not use a bowl and lie to people later. Pop it in the fridge for at least four hours but overnight gives it the perfect wobble.

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Now for the Blood

Heat the raspberries sugar and lemon juice until they fall apart.

Mix your cornstarch and water in a separate bowl then pour that in and cook for another minute or so until it thickens.

Strain if you want it smooth or leave the seeds if you want it chunky like gore. Let it cool.

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Assembling the Horror

To unmold the brain dip the mold in warm water for a few seconds then flip it onto a plate like a dramatic reveal.

If it refuses to come out just give it a little jiggle or run a knife around the edge.

Then pour the blood sauce over the top and let it drip down like a crime scene. Stick candy eyes on it if you want it staring at people while they eat it.

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How I Serve It

I slap it on a tray with crushed cookies around it to look like dirt and maybe some fake fog if I am feeling theatrical.

Turn off the lights or use candles for full impact. It wobbles like crazy and people scream in delight or actual fear which is honestly the goal.

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Leftovers if You Somehow Have Any

Keep it in the fridge for a few days. The sauce stays good for about a week.

Do not freeze it unless you want sad mush.

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My Tips

Start with less food coloring and build up unless you want neon green brain.

Add a tiny bit more gelatin if you live somewhere humid or want a firmer jiggle.

If your sauce gets too thick just splash in some water. No brain mold? Use cups and call them brain chunks. Boom. Problem solved.