How Panettone is made

Italian-made panettone is a delicately sweet leavened bread traditionally filled with candied orange, citron zest, and raisins. It is recognized for its tall dome shape and is beautifully packaged in a festive wrapping, making it ideal for gifting. During the holiday season, Italians buy panettone directly from supermarkets, bakeries, and delis, considering the creation of the dessert is no easy feat. Fresh ingredients and the timely process separate the great artisanal-made panettone from the processed kind.

To make a perfect batch, bakers begin with the starter culture (lievito madre), egg, flour, and butter to create the dough and proceed to work on it for three days. Before baking, sweet raisins, candied fruits (stored in lemon juice), sugar, and other final touches are mixed in. Once warm out of the oven, the panettone is hung upside down for up to ten hours, ensuring its dome shape, and is then carefully packaged by hand. It’s a labor of love appreciated and savored throughout Italy and the world.