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Panettone has always been a holiday tradition in my house, and today my recipe gets an update with Craisins® Dried Cranberries available in variety of flavors.
Edna Ferber remarked that “Christmas isn’t a season, it’s a feeling,” a quote that I think cuts to the spirit of the season, so much so that it’s almost as if “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful,” as Norman Vincent Peale put it.
You see, I’ve always felt that just as each character and event in a novel has their own trademark, such as the nearsighted wizard and his lightning bolt scar, or how the changes in the air prophesized a continent wide war for a ring, that each season bears its own heralds as well. It is perhaps for this reason that winter bears the aura of ‘Christmas’ as its foremost trait. Without looking at a calendar, or feeling the chill in the air, the holiday season makes itself known. Whether it’s the softer, more reserved cheer of being with friends and family, or the memories of such, or the deliberate ‘spirit’ of seasonal merriment spread across the store windows, or life set against the backdrop of our favorite holiday tune, or the traditions that both create and frame our memories, these are what ‘announce’ the season to us each year.
In my family, the aroma of freshly baked panettone was as much as herald of the season as well as indoor evergreens strung with electrical lights. Whether forming a delicious addition to the dessert table, or serving as a morning loaf with coffee, or wrapped as gifts, they were an ever-present part of our holiday, and yet for the past few years, I will admit I have allowed the tradition to the fall by the wayside.
Strangely enough, it was the idea of giving them as gifts that got me back into making these. You see, I was picking up holiday supplies at Walmart when I saw a display of the typical Holiday Panettones wrapped in their red Christmas boxes, which were copiously decorated with gold lettering and bows, and naturally I could not help thinking of the loaves I used to make by hand. I was still under the spell of those memories when I came across Cherry-flavored Craisins® dried cranberries and Craisins® Dried Cranberries in the dried fruit aisle, and decided it was time to pick the tradition back up. I just knew the Craisins® would add a perfect bit of ‘zing’ to the old family recipe.
Besides, there is always that one impossibly difficult-to-shop-for person on your gift list, and what better solution than a Panettone Christmas loaf? After all, prepared with dried citron, orange zest, lemon essence and Craisins® this loaf combines all of the season’s warmest and most inviting flavors.
Holiday Panettone
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 1 envelope of active dry yeast, about 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon
- 1 cup warm milk
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 3 cups flour, plus 1 cup
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- 4 tablespoons shortening, chilled
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon essence
- Zest of 1 whole orange
- 1/2 cup chopped dried citron
- 1/2 cup Craisins® Dried Cranberries
- 1/4 cup Craisins® Dried Cranberries Cherry Juice Infused
Instructions
For Proofing:
- In a small saucepan gently warm 1 cup of milk. Do NOT overheat.
- Pour the milk into the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle yeast and a teaspoon of sugar.
- Whisk and let stand until the yeast has proofed. It should be foamy after about 5-10 minutes.
For the Dough:
- Add 3 cups of flour, sugar and salt to the yeast. Mix until a sticky dough has formed with the dough hook attachment.
- Cover with a towel and let sit for about an hour in a warm, dark place.
- Once the dough has risen, mix in the beaten eggs and mix on low speed with the paddle attachment. Scrape the sides down to make sure all of the dough has been incorporated.
- Add butter, shortening, almond extract, lemon essence and orange zest. Add remaining cup of flour while mixing on low speed, just until the dough pulls from the sides of the bowl. Do NOT overmix. Add the dried citron, cranberries and cherries; mix just until incorporated.
- Turn the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead for 3-5 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball and leave it in the refrigerator overnight.
- Take the dough out of the refrigerator and let rest to room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Transfer to a Panettone molds or a tall well-greased cake pan (I used an angel food cake tin). Brush the Panettone with an egg wash and sprinkle generously with white sugar.
- Bake for about 45-50 minutes until golden. Let cool completely before slicing.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
*Prep Time does not inclued Inactive Prep Time
What are some of your favorite holiday recipes and traditions? We would love to hear from you.
Complete the holiday season with Craisins® available in a variety of sizes and flavors to suit all your needs. From delicious desserts to wholesome snacking, just 1/4 cup of Craisins® provide 1/2 cup serving of fruit!
Enjoy with Love,
Catherine
xo
David @ Spiced says
Wow! Just wow! I have been wanting to make panettone for a while now, but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. This post is definitely going to make me put on my baker’s hat! Thanks for sharing! #client
speedy70 says
Complimenti per questo splendido panettone cara, lievitato alla perfezione…. un grande lavoro ma che soddisfazione, applausi!!!! Un abbraccio con i migliori auguri di un sereno Natale!
Manila Spoon (Abby) says
We just bought Panettone the other day and I was hoping to make one, too and then I saw your delightful post! Thanks for sharing and I can imagine how delicious this is especially with sweet-tangy craisins! Pinned.
★★★★★
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
What a beautiful recipe! Panettone and pandoro have always been tradition in our house too. I really need to try my hand at making my own one year.
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Dear Catherine, this is the most beautiful panettone I have ever seen. I would like just one bite!!!! Merry Christmas!
★★★★★
Big Daddy Dave says
Catherine, I’ve never had a Holiday Panettone. It looks like a welcome and less dense version of fruitcake. Love craisins and we use them regularly with cold cereal and oatmeal in our household… Merry Christmas! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Laura Dembowski says
I love panettone but I haven’t made it yet. I am so going to try this, after all panettone is so good it shouldn’t have a season.
Pat Morrison says
I have never made pannettone but now I must try this. Cannot get authentic panettone here where we live, so this will be a new Year’s project. Looks so good with the cranberries too.
★★★★
dottie says
love it
★★★★★
Cynthia/What A Girl Eats says
Such a beautiful bread Catherine! I’d love to make this next christmas…Pinned to my Christmas board!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan says
What a beautiful Panettone!! I’ve never made one before but I lived in Peru for a summer and they had lots there. It’s so delicious!
lisa lundy says
hello Catherine, I am going to make the panettone this week – I have two questions, my son in law keeps a gluten free diet so I am going to use gluten free yest and gluten free flour – have you ever made this recipe gluten free? and my second question is where you state shortening, are you referring to crisco sticks? and also is lemon essence – lemon extract? i look forward to hearing your response – thank you in advance.
i have found a great gluten free flour – one for one – i think its the bob redmill and its a light blue package
Living the Gourmet says
Dear Lisa, Thank you so much for stopping by! I have not used this recipe with GF yeast or flour, so I cannot tell you how that will make a difference with the recipe, and yes, you can use Crisco shortening sticks and lemon extract for this recipe as well. I do hope you give it a try and I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I did. Enjoy and please let me know how it works for you! Have a wonderful weekend. xo, Catherine
Claudia Lamascolo says
I have never seen one more beautiful than this one! BRAVO!
http://bestresumewriting.services/ says
We are on the eve of the festive season. Literally every detail makes this atmosphere special. This also applies to the preparation of such delicious desserts.