Panna cotta is an Italian dessert, most popular in Northern Italy, and probably originated in the Piedmont region of the country. Its name translates to cooked cream, but it is actually not cooked that much. Milk and cream, plus sugar and flavorings are cooked together for a brief period of time, and then added to a thickening agent (most often gelatin). This simple pudding gets firmer as it cools and is usually served chilled.