Making Panettone at home is a wonderful project, but it’s important to know that it requires some time and patience due to the long rising process. Here’s a basic recipe to make Panettone at home:
Ingredients for Panettone:
– 1 cup (240ml) lukewarm water
– 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
– 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
– 4 cups (500g) bread flour
– 4 large eggs
– 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– Zest of 1 orange
– Zest of 1 lemon
– 1/2 cup (75g) mixed dried fruits (raisins, candied orange peel, citron, etc.)
– 1/4 cup (30g) chopped almonds or hazelnuts
Instructions for Panettone:
1. In a small bowl, combine the lukewarm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy.
2. In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine the flour and remaining sugar. Add the yeast mixture, eggs, softened butter, salt, vanilla extract, and citrus zest. Mix until a sticky dough forms.
3. Knead the dough for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. You can do this by hand on a floured surface or with a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment.
4. Once the dough is smooth, transfer it to a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 2-3 hours, or until it doubles in size.
5. Punch down the risen dough and knead in the dried fruits and chopped nuts until they are evenly distributed.
6. Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a Panettone paper mold or a tall, cylindrical panettone mold lined with parchment paper. Make a cross-shaped cut on top of the dough with a sharp knife.
7. Let the dough rise again for another 2-3 hours, or until it reaches the top of the mold.
8. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the Panettone for about 45-55 minutes, or until it’s golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Once baked, remove the Panettone from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Enjoy your homemade Panettone! It’s delicious served with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.
For the featured image, credited to https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panettone_della_tradizione_artigiana_milanese.jpg
