Mini Panettone Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes panettone so expensive? ›

Panettone tends to be a little more expensive than most other baked goods, mainly due to the amount of time that goes into making each one. A traditional panettone is usually a lengthy procedure, however, a cheap mass-produced alternative will take shortcuts in the baking process which will be reflected in its taste.

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. But it's not an easy yeast to work with: you need time and patience to master it.

Alternatively, you can also place a high parchment paper sheet inside a greased and floured 23cm-9inch cake pan to create a high sides pan and place the dough into the pan. Cover the top with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place until the dough reaches the mold edges.

With a drink: In Italy, it's not uncommon to enjoy a slice of panettone alongside a cup of coffee or tea, or a sweet wine like Vin Santo. The idea is to tear a piece of the panettone and dip it into the drink, allowing the bread to soak up some of the liquid.

It's common to serve it with a sweet wine and an accompaniment of something rich and creamy, perhaps based on mascarpone (with egg yolks, as used in tiramisu), plus dried or candied fruits. Ice cream, jelly, custard, hot or cold sauces and some fruits make panettone a delicious pudding.

Due to the delicate structure of the dough, which consists mainly of eggs, butter, and sugar, we hang them upside down immediately after baking so the starches can set as they cool. This prevents them from collapsing, which is also why the are so soft and fluffy!

Fat also keeps bread from staling too quickly—the fattier the bread, the slower its decay. Breads like focaccia, brioche, or panettone, made with large amounts of oil and butter, tend to have a longer shelf life.

Traditionally, the dough for Panettone is cured for a couple of days, which results in the fermentation leaving that alcohol taste you're familiar with.

This recipe works best with high gluten flour or normal bread flour modified with added vital wheat gluten. It is available on some stores and online too. But, I used King Arthur bread flour (12.7% gluten) and added some Fairhavan Mill 00 pizza flour. 00 Pizza flour has a very fine granule and high gluten percentage.

Traditionally, Italians will eat panettone for breakfast alongside coffee, however there are a multitude of ways it can be served. So, we've devised a list of our favourite preparation methods & pairings to elevate your Christmas panettone eating experience to the next level.

Why do Italians give panettone at Christmas? ›

Ever since the Middle Ages locals in Lombardy liked to celebrate Christmas with richer, more lavish breads made with premium wheat not typically eaten every day. These breads were larger, hence another likely origin of the name “panettone”, which in Italian also means “big bread”.

Luxury Panettone without Candied Fruit (Pandoro)

A: I used the papers as the pan itself. No problem, plus you do not have to grease them at all. I just made a pannetone on sunday with one of the forms. Yes, I set mine on a cookie sheet.

Nowadays, panettone is sold in many varieties, with chocolate, apricot, candied lemon, citron or pistachios substituting for the raisins and candied orange peel. There are varieties of panettone that are sold covered with chocolate, marzipan and more.

You SHOULD NOT serve Panettone hot, just slightly warm it up to activate its orangy flavor. The right temperature to serve it is about 25°C-77°F. Slice Panettone using a serrated knife for bread. Serve it with my Panettone Frosting and Italian Prosecco wine in a flute glass!