Panettone - Italian Christmas Bread
Calories: 27
Adjust Servings Here: 10 slices
Description
Picture yourself walking through the bustling streets of Italy during the holiday season, where the air is filled with the warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked Panettone. This iconic Italian Christmas bread is more than just a festive treat – it symbolizes celebration and togetherness.
Ingredients
- ½ cup (120 ml) Warm milk or water (110℉)
- 3 tsp (11 g) Active dry yeast
- 4 large (200 g) Eggs
- ½ cup (100 g) Granulated sugar divided
- ¼ cup (85 g) Honey
- 2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 4 cups (500 g) All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Salt
- 1 Orange zest
- 1 Lemon zest
- ½ cup (113 g) Unsalted butter melted
- ½ cup (75 g) Candied orange peel
- ½ cup (48 g) Candied lemon peel
- ½ cup (70 g) Golden raisins
- ½ cup (70 g) Sultanas or currants
- ½ cup (120 ml) Brandy or rum
Plus
- ½ Egg white for egg wash
- 2 tbsp Butter cold, cut into 4 pieces
- 2 tbsp (16 g) Pearl sugar optiona
- 2 tbsp (16 g) Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Soak the fruit - Warm the dried fruits with brandy in the microwave for 1–2 minutes. Let them soak for 30 minutes, then drain well. This keeps the fruit soft and prevents it from drying out in the oven.½ cup Candied orange peel, ½ cup Candied lemon peel, ½ cup Golden raisins, ½ cup Sultanas or currants, ½ cup Brandy or rum
- Activate the yeast - Mix warm milk or water with a little sugar and yeast. Let it stand for 10 minutes until foamy. This ensures your panettone dough rises tall and light.½ cup Warm milk or water, 3 tsp Active dry yeast
- Mix the wet ingredients - In your mixer bowl with the paddle: eggs, yeast mixture, remaining sugar, vanilla, and honey. Beat until pale and frothy.4 large Eggs, ½ cup Granulated sugar, 2 tsp Vanilla extract, ¼ cup Honey
- Dry ingredients - Switch to the hook attachment on the mixer. Add the flour and salt, followed by the orange and lemon zest. Combine well until no dry flour is visible.4 cups All-purpose flour, 1 tsp Salt, 1 Orange zest, 1 Lemon zest
- Incorporate the butter: Gradually add the melted butter, a little at a time, kneading continuously until the butter is fully incorporated and the dough is smooth and shiny.½ cup Unsalted butter
- Knead the dough: Once all the butter is in, knead the dough for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Add the fruits: Drain the fruit from the brandy and add it all into the dough. Combine well into the dough, making sure they are evenly distributed. But, do not over-knead at this point, as we do not want the fruit to get mushed into the dough.
- First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 2 hours.
- Shape the Panettone: Punch down the dough and shape it into a smooth round ball. Place it in a 7-inch diameter Panettone paper mold or a tall, cylindrical panettone mold lined with parchment paper.
- Second rise/ Proof: Cover the panettone mold with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise for 2 hours until it has doubled in size again. It should reach about an inch from the top of the mold.
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 3750°F /190°C / Gas Mark 5 for at least 30 minutes while the panettone rises.
- Bake: Before baking, brush the top of the Christmas bread with egg white, make a shallow "X" on top, and place a small piece of butter in the center of those cuts. Bake in the preheated oven for about 50-55 minutes, until the panettone is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes clean.½ Egg white, 2 tbsp Butter, 2 tbsp Pearl sugar
- Cool: Allow the panettone to cool in the mold upside down for a few hours, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve: Dust the bread with powdered sugar. Slice and serve your homemade Panettone as a festive holiday treat. Enjoy!2 tbsp Powdered sugar for dusting
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Did you make this recipe? Share it with me.Tag @veenaazmanov_kitchen on instagram or #hashtag it #veenaazmanovkitchen