Panettone (Italian Christmas Bread)
User Reviews
4.8
Panettone (Italian Christmas Bread)
Description
This panettone recipe begins with preparing a starter dough overnight to develop flavor. The next day, a dough of flour, sugar, salt, and yeast is mixed with softened butter, eggs, warm water, the starter, and Fiori di Sicilia flavoring, which can be substituted with vanilla and orange oil. The dough is kneaded until smooth and allowed to rise until doubled.
Once risen, dried fruits and citrus zest are kneaded into the soft, sticky dough before shaping. Traditional additions include golden raisins, dried apricots, cranberries, candied peel, and grated lemon and orange zest, imparting aromatic complexity. The dough may also be enriched by soaking the fruit in whiskey or rum if desired, or by adding chopped bittersweet chocolate for variation.
The bread requires careful starter preparation but yields a festive, aromatic loaf with a tender crumb that embodies the Italian Christmas tradition.
Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature for smooth mixing. The recipe should be reviewed fully before starting due to the overnight starter preparation.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (3 ¾ oz/105 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ cups (11 ¼ oz/319 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/16 teaspoon instant yeast
- ⅓ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (2 ½ fl oz/80 ml) water lukewarm
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 4 tablespoons (2 oz/57 g) butter softened
- 2 large egg at room temperature
- ¼ cup (2fl oz/60 ml) water lukewarm
- ½ teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia flavoring
- ½ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) golden raisins
- ½ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) dried apricot chopped
- ½ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) dried cranberries
- ½ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) candied peel
- 1 tablespoon orange zest grated
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest, grated
Notes
- Fiori di Sicilia flavoring can be replaced with 1 teaspoon vanilla plus 1/5 teaspoon orange oil if unavailable.
- Prepare the starter dough the day before to allow proper fermentation and flavor development.
- Using room temperature eggs and butter helps achieve smooth dough consistency.
- Soaking dried fruits like raisins, apricots, candied peel, and cranberries in whiskey or rum enhances flavor but is optional.
- Chopped bittersweet chocolate can be added to the dough for a chocolate variation.
- Read the entire recipe before starting as it involves multiple stages and timing considerations.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
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