December is the time for panettone! Learn some fun facts about this classic Christmas treat.
December is the best time of year to enjoy the Italian Christmas treat panettone. This delicious mix between a loaf of bread and fruit cake is available now at Giolitti Deli for your family to enjoy this holiday season. Panettone is a large, dome-shaped bread with a light and airy texture and rich buttery taste. Traditionally, it is filled with candied fruits and raisins, but you can often find brands selling panettone with chocolate chips for an extra sweet taste. Like all traditional Italian foods, panettone has a fun and interesting history. Read on to learn a little more about your new favorite December treat.
Panettone is a Sourdough
2020 has been the year of the sourdough, and even panettone falls into this category! This sweet bread is leavened with yeast from the “lievito madre,” or mother dough passed along to each new batch. This process makes the bread more fragrant and tasty and even easier to digest.
Panettone is Hung Upside Down After Baking
Once traditional panettone is finished baking, it is flipped upside down until it’s completely cool. This eye-catching technique prevents the bread from falling in on itself and keeps the soft and fluffy texture.
Panettone Takes Three Days to Make
When you make panettone from scratch, it takes three days to complete your delicious new treat. This is because mixing, leavening, baking, and resting the bread requires patience as the ingredients take their time.
Fortunately, whether you cook panettone yourself or purchase it from a store, the bread remains uniquely tasty and perfect for cozy winter nights. The leftovers even make for delicious French toast or bread pudding! At Giolitti Deli, we carry a variety of brands in original and specialty flavors. These brands include Balocco, Flamigni, Albertengo, Fratelli Sicilia, and gluten-free panettones in a range of sizes and prices. We also carry another Italian seasonal bread, Pandoro, in two different sizes.
Authentic Italian Cuisine From Giolitti Deli
Giolitti Deli is a full-service Delicatessen in Annapolis, MD, specializing in authentic Italian cuisine. Founded in 1992, we use the freshest ingredients to make time-honed recipes from scratch, with no MSG or preservatives. We believe in real food and offer many healthy options, including vegetarian and vegan menu items. At Giolitti Deli, we make our own sauces, mozzarella, grilled and roasted vegetables, bread, pizza dough, and desserts, and our sandwiches, salads, pasta, pizza, and entrees are made to order. Owner Mary Giolitti has combined her passion for great food and fine wine to offer Annapolis a true taste of Italy!
Team members who also make the business possible include Manager Kathy Hunter, Manager and Catering Director Cheryl Molesky, Head Baker Porfirio Diaz, Chef Alfredo Escobar, and Deli Manager Noe Merino. To contact us, please visit our contact page or give us a call at 410.266.8600. Also, be sure to keep up with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and our blog!
Tags: bread, christmas food, food, pandoro, panettone
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FAQs
Panettone is Hung Upside Down After Baking
Why is panettone so special? ›
It is made during a long process that involves curing the dough, which is acidic, similar to sourdough. The proofing process alone takes several days, giving the cake its distinctive fluffy characteristics.
Why do Italians eat panettone for 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”.
How did panettone get its name? ›
When Toni's boss burned the cake intended for Il Duce's holiday feast, Toni took the sourdough starter he was saving for his own Christmas dinner, kneaded it into a rich confection, and saved the day. The Duke named the bread pan de Toni, which eventually became panettone.
How long does panettone stay fresh? ›
Panettone keeps far longer than other breads or cakes. For a classic panettone the shelf life might well be 4-6 months. However, panettone with flavoured creams are usually shorter, perhaps 2-3 months. Just check the best before date on the pack.
What is a fun fact about panettone? ›
Panettone is Hung Upside Down After Baking
Once traditional panettone is finished baking, it is flipped upside down until it's completely cool. This eye-catching technique prevents the bread from falling in on itself and keeps the soft and fluffy texture.
What is the secret of panettone? ›
Yet the most important element for preparing a super-tasty Panettone is definitely sourdough. Sourdough should be renovated even several times a day and fed with sugar and flour, starting from a few days before the Panettone is made.
Why are panettone so expensive? ›
Many high-quality panettone varieties are produced by artisanal bakeries using traditional techniques. Artisanal production often results in smaller batches and more hands-on attention to detail, which can increase the overall cost of production.
Is panettone a Christmas tradition? ›
Panettone. The “big bread.” (Because this is what panettone just means, and yet and indeed it is The Big Thing when it comes to celebrating Christmas in Italy.) The most popular outcome of Italian pasticceria since its invention.
Why doesn't panettone get moldy? ›
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.
During the luxurious Christmas banquet given by the Duke of Milan, the desert got burnt. A young cook, called Toni, came up with a rich brioche bread, filled with raisins and candied fruit. The Duke loved it, and so the tradition of 'Pane di Toni' was born. Later, in 1821, Panettone became a symbol of liberty in Italy.
What panettone means? ›
Meaning of panettone in English
panettone. noun [ C or U ] Add to word list Add to word list. an Italian Christmas cake containing dried fruit and nuts.
Does panettone have alcohol? ›
Oddly, it tastes slightly alcoholic, though actually no alcohol is added in its production. A solid though hardly exceptional choice. Don't let its size fool you – there's plenty enough for two to share with this cake. Panettone is traditionally served slightly warmed through with a glass of chilled prosecco.
Is panettone warm or cold? ›
Another great way to enjoy panettone is to warm it in the oven and then serve with a scoop of our ultimate vanilla ice cream. The contrast of hot and cold is wonderful.
What gives panettone its smell? ›
Sourdough is a mixture of flour and water that naturally contains some bacteria, and yeast. It makes the panettone ferment, providing it with an unmistakable and very pleasant aroma, and also ensuring that it has a spongy texture for longer.
Why do you cool panettone upside down? ›
The dimensions should be around 13,5 cm / 5.3 inch diameter and a height of 9.5 cm / 3.7 inch. Panetonne needs to cool upside down after baking, because the delicate and fluffy bread would collapse if you leave it standing up after baking.
How is panettone different from cake? ›
Instantly recognisable for its tall, domed shape, panettone is more a bread than a cake, its sweet dough studded with candied fruits and raisins. Popular worldwide, it's usually pinpointed for its two main associations: with Christmas and with Italy.
Why do you need to hang panettone upside down? ›
The dimensions should be around 13,5 cm / 5.3 inch diameter and a height of 9.5 cm / 3.7 inch. Panetonne needs to cool upside down after baking, because the delicate and fluffy bread would collapse if you leave it standing up after baking.
What do Italians do with panettone? ›
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.
