Tall, light and elegantly simple, this classic Panettone Milano celebrates the traditional style of Italy’s most famous Christmas cake.
Naturally leavened from Lievito Madre, the rich dough is slowly proved before being folded with plump sultanas and fragrant candied citrus peel. Baked without a glaze, its beautifully bronzed exterior gives way to a soft, airy and wonderfully aromatic crumb.
Panettone requires extraordinary patience to perfect. The dough undergoes long periods of proving before baking, then each cake is suspended upside down for many hours as it cools, protecting its height and delicate structure. At its heart is the living Lievito Madre, carefully nurtured and refreshed to give the dough its characteristic fragrance, flavour and lightness.
The earliest Milanese panettoni were prized for exactly this understated style — naturally leavened, enriched with fruit and allowed to showcase the skill of the baker without elaborate toppings or fillings.
Serve in generous slices with coffee, Prosecco or a glass of sweet wine throughout Christmas.
