Easy Panettone Recipe - Taste of Artisan (2024)

by Victor @ Taste of Artisan 3 Comments

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Back in the day, every time I would consider making panettone I would be very quickly put off by a number of challenges associated with making this sweet bread. The first one is the special molds which I never keep on hand. Getting them takes time and my enthusiasm would disappear because of that. They are also quite expensive at most places. The second turn off for me is the use of candied fruits peels. Likewise, I don't keep them on hand and, frankly, I don't like them. Finally, a few panettones that I tried were quite rich and eggy, while I prefer lighter breads.

Easy Panettone Recipe - Taste of Artisan (1)

If you are experiencing the same challenges, let me offer you this simplified panettone recipe. It's less rich, it doesn't include candied orange peels, and you can make it without panettone molds. This recipe makes two loaves of outstanding panettone that everyone whom I served it to loved it. The crumb is moist, subtly sweet, airy, soft, slightly chewy and delicate. It's very enjoyable. Even addictive.

The best part - this panettone can be made in about three hours, which is quite a bit faster than any panettone recipes I've come across.

Easy Panettone Recipe - Taste of Artisan (2)

Panettone molds

Panettone dough is soft, silky-smooth and tacky, so you need to use some sort of a liner. Greasing works, to a point, but you may still experience sticking.

Panettone mold substitutes are abundant. You can use used unlined tin cans, about 4-5 inches in diameter and 5-7 inches in height. If you use cans, do not remove the bottoms, otherwise the dough will proof and bake out from both ends. You can also use 6-inch cheesecake pans, which I use most of the time.

To prevent sticking, line the pans or cans with parchment paper. This will make it much easier to remove panettones from the cans.

Easy Panettone Recipe - Taste of Artisan (3)

Easy Panettone Recipe

Panettone recipe that makes light, less eggy panettone bread with the ingredients you have on hand.

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Course: Bread

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: panettone, sweet bread

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Resting time: 2 hours hours

Servings: 16 servings

Calories: 234kcal

Author: Victor

Ingredients

  • 4 cups bread flour 610 g; if using cups, used the 'scoop and sweep' method
  • 2 Tbsp instant yeast 18 g; also known as Quick Rise or Rapid Rise yeast
  • 1 cup warm water 240 g; 105F to 115F
  • 10 Tbsp powdered sugar 85 g; or 7 Tbsp granulated white sugar
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1/2 Tbsp kosher salt level
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 Tbsp orange flower water 15 g; substitute for plain water if you do't have it
  • 8 Tbsp unsalted butter 112.5 g; at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup golden raisins 85g; or black raisins; see notes
  • 2/3 cup candied orange peel 60 g; diced; optional; if not using, substitute for an equal amount of rasins

Egg wash

  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tsp heavy cream or milk

Instructions

  • Add the egg yolks and the powdered sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat by hand for a few seconds using a whisk.

  • Add the salt, yeast, lemon zest, warm water, orange flower water, and all but a handful of the flour. Add the softened butter and, using the dough hook, knead for 5 minutes on low speed (2-3 on Kitchen Aid mixer). Adjust by adding the remaining flour, if necessary, to make a smooth, elastic dough. The dough should be very soft and tacky, but you should be able to lift the dogh and shape it into a ball without it sticking to your hands.

    Easy Panettone Recipe - Taste of Artisan (4)

  • Cover the bowl, place into a cold oven with the light on, and let rise until the dough has doubled in volume, about 1 hour to 1.5 hours.

  • Knead the raisins and candied orange peel into the dough by hand. Another way to incorporate dried fruit is to divide the dough, stretch it, evenly top with dried fruit then roll up and shape into a ball.

  • Line the inside of panettone molds/cans/cheesecake pans with parchment paper.

  • Split the dough into 2 equal pieces and shape each one into a round ball. Place the loaves in the pans, seam side down. Let rise in a warm place until the dough just rises above the rim of the pans, about 30 minutes.

    Easy Panettone Recipe - Taste of Artisan (5)

  • Whisk the egg yolk with one teaspoon of cream in a small bowl. Brush egg wash over the tops of the loaves.

  • Bake at 375F for about 35 minutes or until baked through. The loaves are done when they have a light brown crust all over. You can gently lift one loaf out of the pan to check for doneness.

  • Take the breads out of the oven, remove from the pans and let cool on a rack. If they are left in the baking forms, the loaves will become soggy from condensation.

Notes

I like to soak raisins in sweet cold water for a few hours or overnight, which makes them incredibly juicy. If you soak them, make sure to blot them with paper towels before adding to the dough. Soaked raising will be a little harder to knead into the dough, but well worth the effort. The best way to add them is to stretch the dough as much as you can, spread the raisins on top and roll up before shaping into a ball. Easy as that.

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 229mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 247IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

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  1. Liana

    Easy Panettone Recipe - Taste of Artisan (13)
    Hello! I made the panettone last night to replace the traditional New year's cake my family always made on New year's Eve. It came out great (for my taste). I used raisins and pieces of orange. The orange came from what we call in Greece "spoon sweets". It is actually fruit boiled and preserved in syrup. I rinsed the orange from the syrup and added it to the panettone. I also beat one whole egg with the powdered sugar instead of three yolks. I suppose the dough would have a different, much better consistency if I followed the recipe but for health reasons, I prefer to avoid using too many eggs -and I had already used some for another dish. All on all, the recipe is simple and the bread is delicious. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Victor @ Taste of Artisan

      Glad you liked it. Enjoy! I love this bread.

      Reply

  2. Ron

    Easy Panettone Recipe - Taste of Artisan (14)
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Easy Panettone Recipe - Taste of Artisan (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good panettone? ›

Essential to a good panettone is mature sourdough starter, which gives bread its unique character, and distinguishes one baker from another. “If you want something special, you will cultivate your own yeast,” says Li, who has been nurturing his starter for 15 years. “It's like cheese or winemaking.”

What is the best flour for panettone? ›

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.

What makes panettone taste like panettone? ›

Panettone is a leavened bread, but the way we eat it is more like a cake. The sourdough base is incredibly rich, fortified with eggs, sugar, butter and dried fruit. It can also be flavoured with chocolate drops, while some even have a whole layer of melted chocolate over the top.

What is the difference between cheap and expensive panettone? ›

Made in Italy: entry-level vs.

Artisanal panettone will have higher amounts of yolks and butter without emulsifiers or preservatives. They will contain real vanilla beans and not the cheaper vanillin.

Why do you hang panettone upside down? ›

Cooling the panettone upside down prevents it from collapsing before it is fully set. You'll need to set up a hanging apparatus or create a hanging area to do this.

Why do bakers hang panettone upside down? ›

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!

What temperature do you bake panettone at? ›

Bake the bread in a preheated 400°F oven 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.

Do you put butter on panettone? ›

Panettone can be eaten in a variety of ways. It's commonly sliced and enjoyed as is, but it can also be toasted, buttered, used in desserts like bread pudding, or even paired with savoury dishes.

Is panettone the hardest bread to make? ›

Making an artisan panettone takes days of careful work. Here's why it's worth it. It's been called the Mount Everest of holiday baking, considered by bakers to be the most difficult baked good to perfect.

Why are panettones so expensive? ›

The cost of Panettone is a reflection of the quality of the ingredients, the labour-intensive process and the craftmanship that goes into creating this most loved treat.

How do Italians eat panettone? ›

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.

How long does homemade panettone last? ›

Homemade panettone, a delightful Italian Christmas bread, generally maintains its freshness for about 3-4 days when stored at room temperature. During this time, it retains its optimal texture and flavor.

What is the best panettone Italian brand? ›

The Best Panettone Makes the Perfect Edible Gift
  • Olivieri 1882. If I had to pick one brand of panettone to eat for the rest of my life, it would be Olivieri 1882. ...
  • Fabbri. ...
  • Settepani. ...
  • Chiostro di Saronno. ...
  • Pasticceria Scarpato.
Dec 13, 2023

What is a panettone without fruit called? ›

Luxury Panettone without Candied Fruit (Pandoro)

Where is Aldi panettone made? ›

The Aldi panettone is made by its in-house brand Winternacht (meaning winter night in German) and comes in two flavors: traditional or chocolate chip. The traditional is made with dried fruit—raisins and candied orange peel, in Aldi's case. And the Winternacht Panettone is made in Italy, so you know it's the real deal.

Are you supposed to butter panettone? ›

Unwrap packaging but keep the Panettone in its paper mold. Heat in oven (not microwave) for 5-10 minutes. Toast it and butter it. Great if you want a little at a time.

Should you butter panettone? ›

Panettone can be eaten in a variety of ways. It's commonly sliced and enjoyed as is, but it can also be toasted, buttered, used in desserts like bread pudding, or even paired with savoury dishes.

How do you keep panettone moist? ›

After slicing, store the remaining inside of the cellophane bag that it was originally wrapped in. This bag is specific for keeping the shelf-life of the panettone long, even after it is cut. If left whole and stored properly, the panettone will stay fresh and moist for about 4 weeks.

Why is my panettone dense? ›

The thing gone wrong was the yeast. Without extremely lively yeast, panettone is essentially a bad fruitcake—dense, sickeningly sweet, and not a pretty sight.

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