Italian · Baking

Panettone

The Milanese Christmas bread: a sweet, heavily enriched dough proved three times over two days, studded with candied peel and raisins, and hung upside down to cool so it does not collapse under its own weight.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 1 hr 50 min hands on plus 20 hr proving Serves 12 servings Hard
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Panettone — Italian baking recipe, served and ready to eat

Photograph credit: Panettone Coffee Cream-Mascarpone - Milos 2025-11-16 by Andy Li · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Ingredients and preparation for panettone
Ingredients and preparation for panettone

Photograph credit: Panettone Glassato con Mandorle* by DinaBenedettoFerrandina · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Method

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  1. For the first dough, whisk the yeast and sugar into the milk, add the flour and yolks, and knead 6 minutes. Work in the butter and knead 6 more. Prove 2 hours until tripled.

  2. Add the second-dough flour, sugar, yolks, salt, vanilla and zests, and knead 10 minutes in a stand mixer.

  3. Add the butter a third at a time, kneading until each addition disappears. Continue until the dough passes the windowpane test — this takes 15 minutes and the dough will look broken partway. Keep going.

  4. Prove, covered, for 2 hours, then refrigerate overnight.

  5. Fold in the soaked raisins and candied peel by hand, distributing them evenly without tearing the dough.

  6. Shape into a tight ball and drop it into a 1 kg panettone case.

  7. Prove 4 to 6 hours at warm room temperature until the dough crests the rim of the case.

  8. Cut a cross in the top, set a knob of butter in the centre, and bake at 165°C / 330°F for 50 to 60 minutes until 94°C at the centre.

  9. Immediately skewer the base with two long metal skewers and hang the loaf upside down between two chairs. Leave it for at least 6 hours before turning it over.

Chef’s Tips

  • This is a two-day bake and a stand mixer is essential. Do not attempt the butter stage by hand.
  • Hang it upside down. A panettone left to cool the right way up collapses, every time.
  • It keeps far longer than an ordinary bread — a week wrapped is normal.

Pairing Suggestions

  • A glass of Moscato d'Asti or Vin Santo
  • Mascarpone cream
  • Espresso

Storage & Reheating

Keeps 1 week wrapped tightly at room temperature and freezes 2 months. Never refrigerate.

Common questions

How long does Panettone take to make?

About 1 hour 50 minutes of hands-on work — 1 hour of preparation and 50 minutes of cooking — plus 20 hours of proving, so allow 21 hours 50 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 12.

What are the key tips for making Panettone?

This is a two-day bake and a stand mixer is essential. Do not attempt the butter stage by hand. Hang it upside down. A panettone left to cool the right way up collapses, every time. It keeps far longer than an ordinary bread — a week wrapped is normal.

What should I serve with Panettone?

A glass of Moscato d'Asti or Vin Santo; Mascarpone cream; Espresso.

Can Panettone be made ahead or frozen?

Keeps 1 week wrapped tightly at room temperature and freezes 2 months. Never refrigerate.

Is Panettone suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is vegetarian. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Panettone?

About 486 kcal per serving, with 9 g protein, 62 g carbohydrate and 22 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

486Calories
9gProtein
62gCarbs
22gFat
2gFibre
28gSugar
320mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.