No! Crème brûlée is a French dessert made from a custard that is first cooked in a water bath, then topped with sugar. The sugar is then caramelized by using a blow-torch or a broiler (the name means "burnt cream," which refers to this caramelization process). Panna cotta, on the other hand, is more like a pudding in preparation. While it means "cooked cream," all of the cooking is done on the stovetop; the oven and water-bath never come into the equation. Panna cotta is also usually made without eggs, whereas eggs are usually a big component of crème brûlée. If you're eager to make a comparison, panna cotta is similar to Mexican flan, but without the built-in caramel sauce.