Panettone Italian Christmas Sweet Bread

Panettone, an Italian Christmas Sweet Bread a not too sweet yeast bread, filled with raisins, candied fruit or Chocolate Chips. A delicious way to celebrate the Holidays.

Panettone, this is a much easier and quicker Italian Christmas Sweet Bread Recipe to make, everyone will love it.

Every time we head into the Fall months and Christmas is just around the corner, the Italian asks “why don’t you make a Homemade Panettone”.

Every year I think forget it, 3 days to make something that I can buy in a store? No I don’t think so. And then a friend of mine gave me this Panettone Recipe, so much easier and faster she said, you will love it.

Recipe Ingredients

For the Panettone

• Flour – all purpose
• Sugar – granulated or fine sugar
• Water – lukewarm water
• Butter – room temperature
• Salt – if you use unsalted butter add a bit more salt
• Yeast – active dry yeast
• Eggs – 2 large eggs and 1 yolk
• Zest – the lemon and orange peel
• Vanilla – extract
• Chocolate chips – or raisins, candied fruit or even a mixture

Topping

• Almond flour
• Cornstarch
• Sugar
• Egg white
• Powdered sugar – also known as
• Almonds – skinned

How to make homemade Almond Flour

If you like you can even make your own almond flour, place almonds, 1/4 -1/3 cup at a time, in a food processor. Pulse until you have a flour-like consistency. Then sift the flour into a container, any large bits pulse again.

Why use room temperature ingredients?

With cakes and other baking, it’s always better to use room temperature ingredients. So, take any cold ingredients out of the refrigerator an hour ahead of time or sooner if it’s cool in your kitchen. Room temperature ingredients blend easier, creating a silky batter or dough, which will help to create a light tender baked good.

How to make it

In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attached, add sifted flour, in the center add yeast, sugar, butter, eggs, yolk, zest, vanilla and half the water. Mix 20 seconds, then change to the dough hook and add the remaining water and salt.

Mix, stop to scrape the hook and bowl. Add either the raisins, candied fruit or chocolate chips (or even a mixture if you wish) mix on low for a couple of minutes until combined.

Remove to a flat lightly floured board, lightly rub hand with butter and gather the dough into a ball. Place in a large oiled bowl, cover with plastic and a dish towel. Place in a draft free, warmish spot to rise until tripled in size.

Once risen, move back to a lightly floured flat surface, with hands lightly buttered and roll again into a ball, place in greased Panettone mold. Cover with plastic and a clean tea towel and let rise.

In a small/medium bowl mix together almond flour, cornstarch, sugar and egg white. Set aside.

Pre-heat the oven. Carefully brush the risen Panettone with the topping, top with the almonds and sprinkle with icing / powdered sugar. Bake until done, using a toothpick for doneness. Move to a wire rack to cool completely before cutting.

Where did Panettone originate?

The tradition of panettone has its origins in Lombardy. It is believed that panettone was introduced, almost by chance, in the kitchens of the famous Ludovico il Moro.

Ludovico il Moro was the regent of the Duchy of Milan from 1480 to 1494. His court was one of the most splendid in Europe.

Apparently during a Christmas Eve banquet, the court’s personal cook mistakenly burned the after dinner dessert. He panicked and requested the servant boy to resolve his problem.

The poor boy “Toni” decided to take advantage of a stick of yeast which he had saved up for his Christmas lunch, he added flour, eggs, raisins, candied fruit and sugar to it, and he created “Pane di Toni. Later to become Panettone!

When to eat Panettone

Christmas in Italy begins earlier, usually early November when Panettone and Pandora are easily found in grocery stores. Panettone is the most consumed Christmas dessert in Italy. The second most consumed dessert of the holidays is Pandoro which, unlike Panettone, is the most loved dessert by children.

Panettone is the preferred dessert for the end of the festive dinner, and is also consumed by many for breakfast, soaked in a cappuccino, in a caffe latte or even eaten for a snack in the afternoon.

What you will need to make this Homemade Panettone

• Mixer –  I have a mixer that will knead bread, but my dream mixer is this one.
• Mold –  I use a very tall cake Pan which is about 6 inches tall but these molds are very good too.
• Flour –  If you want to make bread you are going to need flour!
• Active Dry Yeast –  I prefer this to cake yeast which is very popular here.

What is the difference between Panettone and Pandoro

To start Panettone has a round shape, with a fairly thick crust and is filled with raisins, chocolate chips or candied fruit, whereas Pandoro, has the typical star shape. The outside is a little darker than the inside, but both are soft and it is always served dusted with an abundant amount of powdered sugar.

How to store it

Panettone should be kept in an airtight bag at room temperature. It will keep for up to 3 days.

How to freeze Panettone

You can choose whether to freeze them whole or in slices by placing them in freezer safe bags, it can be frozen for up to 3 months.

I remember my first Christmas here and after our huge Christmas lunch, out would come the nuts, big slices of Pandoro and Panettone, chunks of Torrone, Chocolate and Nougat,

And of course every Italian has their preference whether it be a tasty Panettone filled with candied fruits or raisins or a delicious Pandora which is more cake like and dusted with powdered sugar. Olives and of course my personal favourite bowls of Lupini, or Lupin Beans.

This is the perfect recipe to make on the weekend, you will probably need about 3-4 hours just for the rising time. If you have never made a yeast dough before, this is the most delicious thing to start with. Enjoy!

More Italian Christmas Recipes

• Pandoro Italian Christmas Cake
• Papetelli – Italian Christmas Cantucci
• Chocolate Torrone 
• Italian Christmas Bread