Panettone is a type of Italian Christmas bread studded with candied fruit, nuts, and chocolate that not only looks luxurious but tastes heavenly too. It has a darkened dome-shaped top with an interior that is unlike any other bread. It has a light, compact texture and tastes divine and rich owing to the butter that the recipe calls for. It is an airy and perfumed bread that is perfect for Christmas festivities.
Most professional bakers appreciate the process of making panettone since this is a type of yeast-risen bread that is quite hard to bake. Its origins lie in northern Italy, but it is also quite popular in the USA, and you can find it easily in American grocery stores and specialty stores.
The widely available versions of panettone are made using modern, industrial methods. However, if you want to try authentic panettone, you can always find a lot of artisan bakers who bake panettone in small batches.
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History & Background
Panettone is thought to be an ancient Roman invention. It is believed that Romans used to bake soft bread with honey, which has been called an earlier version of the panettone.
The first written account of panettone has been dated back to the Renaissance when this specialty bread was tied to the court of Sforza, Milan. It was mentioned in a manuscript in 1470 by Giorgio Valagussa.
It was also noted in Cherubini’s Milanese-Italian dictionary as Panatton del Natal in 1839 as a type of bread made with sultanas, butter, eggs, sugar, and raisins. The candied fruit and yeast only seem to have been present in the recipe in the Nuovo Cuoco Milanese Economico cookbook in 1853 by Giovanni Felice Luraschi.
In the 1920s, when Angelo Motta started producing his brand of cakes, he contributed to making the Milanese sweet treat even more popular. He also revolutionized the traditional panettone and gave it its tall dome-shaped structure by allowing the yeast in the dough to rise thrice for 20 hours before cooking it.
This cooking technique, smart temperature control, and masterful timing are what gave the panettone its light and airy texture. These factors make the panettone one of the most difficult to master desserts by a pastry chef.
This recipe was also adapted by G. Alemagna, Motta’s competitor, and both his and Motta’s companies are now owned by Bauli, a Verona-based Italian company.
What Does Panettone Taste Like?
The traditional method of baking panettone is quite precise in Italy. A panettone should be at least 16% butter, 20% candied fruits, and 4% egg yolks. Before two decades, panettone recipes called for 400 grams of butter for every kilo of flour, but nowadays, the flour-to-butter ratio has become 1:1.
Bakers who specialize in making panettone can spend over 36 hours preparing it. When it is done right, panettone tastes sublime and has the texture of bread and the taste and sweetness of cake.
Traditional panettone gets its flavor from raisins, butter, candied citrus, and orange peels. It is typically buttery and sweet and has a citrusy flavor that gives it a delicious aroma.
Panettone’s flavor also depends on the kind of bread you have bought. If it has cream, chocolate, or different flavorings, you will taste them separately with the bread. Some chefs in Italy have experimented with savory panettone as well as they swapped the candied fruits with pecorino cheese and aubergines.
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The Best Panettone You Can Buy Online
Bauducco Panettone Classic
The Bauducco Panettone Classic is an excellent premade panettone option if you are craving a sweet treat at Christmastime. It is a bread-type panettone rather than a cake-type panettone which makes it taste so authentic.
Although it doesn’t have as many raisins and candied fruits as you would expect, the taste is superb, and you will find it difficult to just stop after one piece.
For some families in the USA, Bauducco Panettone Classic is a traditional Christmas dessert, and they enjoy it with their tea or coffee in the evenings. It is very fresh, and you can serve it easily to your family on any occasion if they enjoy traditional Italian treats.
Even if you are not a fruitcake fan, the fruit pieces in this bread taste so delicious that you won’t be able to resist them. The Bauducco Panettone Classic comes in a beautiful package, and you can easily buy multiple boxes as gifts to give to your family and friends.
Some people find eating the whole panettone difficult in one sitting with their loved ones. It is important to note that you can easily cut the bread into four sections and freeze each part in plastic wrap to enjoy later.
Gran Panettone Italian Cake
If you are craving panettone and want an affordable and delicious option, we recommend trying the Gran Panettone Italian Cake.
It is one of the most reasonably priced panettones in the market and has been well-received by people who have tried it. It has high-quality candied fruits, which elevate the flavor of the bread spectacularly.
Although it might not compare to Motta’s panettone, a classic brand in Italy, it is still an excellent choice for many Americans. The packaging of Gran Panettone Italian Cake is great, and the fresh and rich candied fruits are soft and yummy.
Unlike Bauducco Panettone Classic, Gran Panettone Italian Cake has a lot of candied fruit and peels in it. No matter how many times you try this panettone, you’ll be sure never to get disappointed. It has a homemade taste that is bound to bring up happy holiday memories.
Bauducco Mini Panettone Classic
If you don’t want to splurge on a large Bauducco Panettone Classic, you should consider the Bauducco Mini Panettone Classic.
Each package contains six mini panettone classics, which are small holiday cakes perfect for enjoying during the holiday season. They are fresh, moist, and fragrant and are packaged separately to be enjoyed anywhere you like.
Each mini panettone is made with the original Italian recipe of the Bauducco family and goes through a natural fermentation process of 52 hours.
These mini panettone classics also make for a perfect holiday gift as they contain high-quality raisins and candied fruit. They are cute and delicious and loved by children and adults.
You can also enjoy a fun activity with mini panettones in the kitchen with your kids by helping them prepare them with cream, chocolate, or ice cream.
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Panettone – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can Panettone Be Left Out?
You can leave panettone out but always be sure to keep them in a dry and cool location, away from direct sunlight. If you have bought a panettone with a glaze, it might be extremely sensitive to light and heat. Therefore, always be sure to wrap the remaining panettone after enjoying it in a cellophane bag.
How Long Can You Keep Panettone?
A panettone’s shelf-life is longer than any other bread and cake. An average panettone can keep for at least four to six months. Nevertheless, panettone with flavored creams can last up to two to three months.
How Long Will Panettone Stay Fresh?
A panettone stays fresh for up to five days. After five days, a panettone can become a bit drier, although it still remains good to eat.
Does Panettone Bread Need to Be Refrigerated?
Panettone bread keeps very well but can go stale quickly if you don’t store it properly. It doesn’t necessarily need to be refrigerated. You can keep it at a cool room temperature in an airtight container or cling wrap to keep it fresh.
How Long Can Panettone Last in The Fridge?
The panettone can last for a month or more in the fridge, depending on the brand type and how you have stored it.
What’s The Best Way to Store Panettone?
The best way to store panettone is to wrap it in the same cellophane bag it came in correctly. Afterward, you can store it in a cool and dry environment or place it in the freezer to be reheated later.
What Makes Panettone Last So Long?
The double rising of natural yeasts is what ensures panettone’s long shelf-life. This is how you can enjoy fresh candied fruit bread made months before in a totally different location, such as Italy.
How Long Can Panettone Be Frozen?
Panettone can be generally frozen for up to one month. You can freeze different brands of panettone for longer, but it is best to keep the bread frozen for one-month maximum.
How to Cut a Panettone?
Cut the panettone with a long serrated knife in the middle of the loaf at a 45-degree angle. You can then cut the loaf into triangular portions of your desired size and then cut it horizontally to enjoy it in small bites.
Is Panettone Kosher?
Panettone is kosher dairy, but if it is bread, it can’t be enjoyed since dairy bread is not allowed.
Can You Eat Panettone When Pregnant?
A panettone is pre-cooked, so you don’t have to worry about ingesting raw eggs or unpasteurized milk while enjoying it.
How Do You Say Panettone?
Panettone is an Italian word pronounced as “pa-nuh-tow-nuh”.
What Country Does Panettone Come from?
Panettone comes from Italy, specifically a northern part of Italy, Milan.
How Traditional Panettone Is Made in Italy | Regional Eats
Panettone is famous for its tangy flavor and yellow, soft, and gooey dough that is unlike no other. The secret behind it is an Italian yeast called lievito madre, or mother yeast.
It gives a panettone a tangy flavor and just the perfect texture. We visited Pavé, a local bakery, to find out what makes Milanese panettone special.
Summary
Panettone is one of the most popular Italian Christmas desserts. It contains candied fruits and raisins and is made using a special type of yeast-rising process.
The result of the lengthy process is a dome-shaped, tall, fragrant, and delicious bread that you can enjoy with tea or coffee. It is a classic Italian dish with a rich history dating back to Roman times.
My name is Jay and I started this website to share my love of Deli Food. I am Jewish with Italian ancestry and grandparents who emigrated to the US from Poland, Russia and Turkey. This website is my celebration of the delicious flavors of international deli culture. Please feel free to send me your suggestions and feedback through the contact form.
