It is aromatic, fluffy, very soft, and melts in your mouth, making every bite a vehicle to paradise... Panettone, especially in recent years, has been greatly loved by the Greek public, who know how to appreciate good food. Below, you will learn some things about its origin and an easy recipe to make your own!

For the history...

Panettone is a traditional Italian dessert with a rich history and a special place in Italian gastronomy. Its name comes from "pane di Toni," which means "Toni's bread." There are many stories about its origin, but the most common one connects it to a 15th-century nobleman from Milan, Ughetto degli Atellani.

According to the story, Ughetto fell in love with the daughter of a poor baker named Toni. To win her over, he took a job as an apprentice in the bakery and created a sweet bread with butter, eggs, candied fruits, and raisins. This sweet bread became known as panettone and became popular during the Christmas season. Today, it is enjoyed all over the world and is a hallmark of Christmas sweets, often given as a gift to friends and family!

Recipe for Authentic Italian Panettone

Ingredients:

• 4 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon
• 1 cup mixed fruit pieces
• 1/2 cup raisins
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

• In a small bowl, mix the warm milk and yeast and let it rest for about 10 minutes until it starts to foam.
• In a large bowl, mix together the softened butter and sugar until fluffy.
• Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add the foaming yeast mixture, vanilla extract, salt, and citrus zest to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well.
• Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. It will become a sticky dough.
• Place the dough on a surface and knead for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
• Place the dough in a large greased bowl, cover with a clean cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 2 hours or until it doubles in size.
• Once risen, knead in the fruit pieces and raisins until evenly distributed.
• Place in a panettone mold or a paper mold placed on a baking sheet.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C.
• With a sharp knife, lightly score the top of the dough.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes or until golden brown.
• Let the panettone cool completely before removing from the mold.
• Give the final touch by dusting with powdered sugar and serve.

If you love panettone but aren't good at baking, you can find wonderful ready-made ones on the market: