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Hi Bold Bakers!
If you’ve never had Panettone, or Italian Christmas Bread, before, then I’m willing to bet you’ve at least seen them for sale at bakeries or grocery stores. Their height and iconic look are hard to miss!
Originating in Milan, panettone is now a Christmas staple in homes around the world. Unlike fruitcake, which has a reputation for being quite dense and maybe even a bit dry, panettone is an incredibly fluffy, slightly sweet bread full of dried fruits and candied citrus peels.
To get that light, fluffy texture, you do have to start this bread the day before you plan on baking in order to make the starter. This is a preferment starter known as BIGA, it is a firm-textured starter that you blend with the other ingredients. You want to give the starter plenty of time to rest, around 8 to 12 hours, so you get a super light panettone!
Speaking of holiday sweet bread — have you tried my new Stollen recipe yet? It’s a part of my Bold Baking Holidays Worldwide! You can find the other recipes from around the globe in my Holiday Headquarters.
What Is Panettone?
Panettone is an Italian yeast-leavened bread usually made with dried fruits and candied citrus peels. I like to use golden raisins, dried apricots, dried cranberries, and candied orange peels. If you like you can soak the dried fruit in a little water or juice and drain it before adding to the dough.
The history of panettone is a matter of debate, but it’s believed to have been invented way back during the Roman Empire!
Panettone may get its name from “pan del ton,” which translates to “cake of luxury,” but after World War II, the iconic Christmas bread had become cheap enough for more people to afford, and it’s popularity soared. According to Smithsonian.com, Italy produces over 7,100 tons of panettone a year!
What You Need To Make Panettone
You do some special equipment to make panettone, but if you can’t find them in stores, you’ll be able to find them on Amazon or other online retailers!
- Paper Panettone Mold
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Stand mixer (optional)
- Panettone pan or a straight-sided, tall 1 1/2- to 2-quart pan
How To Make Panettone
This Christmas bread does take time, as you need to let the starter rest overnight. This is a firm starter, a Biga, so be sure to start this recipe the day before you plan to bake! Here’s how you make it (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below):
- To make the starter, combine 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, instant yeast, and 1/3 cup of lukewarm water in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Cover the bowl and all the starter to rest overnight (8 to 12 hours.) The starter sponges a little but will not rise too much.
- The next day, make the dough by combing all of the dough ingredients, except the dried fruit and zest, and knead them by hand or using a stand mixer until it is a soft, smooth dough.
- Let the dough rise, covered, for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until it’s puffy (but not nec3ssarily doubled in size.)
- Once puffy, gently deflate the dough and knead in the fruits and citrus zest.
- Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a panettone pan or a straight-sided, tall 1 1/2- to 2-quart pan. Cover the pan and let the dough rise until it just crests over the rim of the pan. This should take about 1 hour.
- Bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375°F and bake for another 10 minutes. Reduce the heat once more to 350°F and bake for 25 to 35 minutes. If the crust is brown too quickly, tent it with aluminum foil. Panettone should be a deep brown when it is done and should sound hollow when tapped. If you have a digital thermometer, stick it into the center of the bread. It should be 190°F.
- Remove the panettone from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Panettone
- Read through the recipe fully before you start. This recipe has to be started the day before to make the starter!
- I like to use raisins, apricots, candied peel, and cranberries, but feel free to mix it up and add what you have.
- Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature, so they easily blend into the other ingredients.
- Add in some chopped, bittersweet chocolate for the chocolate lovers out there!
How Do I Store Panettone?
You can store any leftover panettone at room temperature, well-wrapped, for up to a week. You can also freeze panettone for up to 2 months!
Make More Holiday Bread Recipes!
And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!
Full (and printable) recipe below!
Try These Recipes!
Panettone Recipe (Italian Christmas Bread)
Ingredients
Starter
- ¾ cup (3 ¾ oz/105 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/16 teaspoon instant yeast* see note
- ⅓ cup (2 ½ fl oz/71 ml) lukewarm water
Dough
- 2 ¼ cups (11 ¼ oz/319 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) granulated sugar
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 4 tablespoons (2 oz/57 g) butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup (2fl oz/57 ml) lukewarm water
- ½ teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia flavoring OR 1 teaspoon vanilla + ⅕ teaspoon orange oil
- ½ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) golden raisins
- ½ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) dried apricots chopped
- ½ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) dried cranberries
- ½ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) candied peel
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
Instructions
Make the Starter the Day Before
- Combine the starter ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl, cover, and allow them to rest overnight (8 to 12 hours).
The Next Day Make the Dough
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, add the flour, sugar, salt and yeast and mix briefly.
- On Medium speed at the softened butter and mix until the butter is rubbed in lumps.
- In a jug, mix together the eggs, warm water and Fiori di Sicilia. Slowly add the wet into the dry until your dough comes together.
- Knead on Medium speed for about 4-5 minutes until the dough is smooth and shiny. This is a soft, sticky dough.
- Cover the dough tightly with cling wrap and allow it to rise at room temperature for 1 - 1 ½ hours, or until it's puffy. Due to this being a heavier it will not fully double in size like most doughs.
- Gently deflate the dough, and knead in the fruits and citrus zest.
- Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a panettone pan or other straight-sided, tall 1 ½ - 2-quart pan. Cover the pan with cling wrap and let the dough rise again at room temperature until it's just crested over the rim of the pan, about 1 hour.
- Bake the bread in a preheated oven 400°F (200℃) for 10 minutes; reduce the oven heat to 375°F and bake an additional 10 minutes; then reduce the heat to 350°F and bake for 25 to 35 minutes, tenting with aluminum foil if the crust appears to be browning too quickly. Panettone should be a deep brown when done, should sound hollow when tapped,
- Remove the panettone from the oven and cool completely. Store at room temperature, well-wrapped, for up to a week or freeze for up to 4 weeks for longer storage.
Hi Gemma, I would also see a video on this recipe. Thanks
Hello
I’m so happy you are sharing a Panettone recipe!
Can u use orange extract instead of just orange oil it has oil and orange oil in it?
I can’t access pure orange oil
Thank you
🌸
This is my third time to write a review keep losing them. This one I’ll keep short and sweet, what a beautiful bread. Thanks for the recipe Gemma. Emmet
Hi there
do u place the starter in the already kneaded dough? Or with the unmixed dough ingredients?
Kind regards
I’m looking forward to making this at Christmas! I have a question though – do you use the paper Panettone mold alone on a baking sheet instead of a metal panettone pan?
Could I use regular yeast?
Hi Gemma. I Love panettone but not the fruits in it. I’ll change it for chocolate. Do I need to measure the exact quantity as the total of the fruits or it will be too sweet?? Thanks from Spain
Hi , do you this will work on dough mode on a bread maker and then cook in the oven? Thanks
Sorry am finding this a little confusing
After 8 hours or so do you then add all the started items to all the dough items
Hi Gemma,
I really enjoy making this recipe and it is delicious. Is there a metal pan you can recommend me using?
thank you.