Panettone bread and butter pudding recipe | Jamie Oliver (2024)

FAQs

Should you butter panettone? ›

Panettone can be eaten in a variety of ways. It's commonly sliced and enjoyed as is, but it can also be toasted, buttered, used in desserts like bread pudding, or even paired with savoury dishes.

Panettone is an Italian sweet bread containing sultanas, citrus peel, crunchy hazelnut frosting and sugar strands. I hope you like the recipe, it makes a fab alternative for those people not keen on traditional Christmas pudding.

While panettone is technically a type of sweet bread due to its yeast-based dough, it is commonly considered a festive dessert or cake-like treat.

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.

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.

You SHOULD NOT serve Panettone hot, just slightly warm it up to activate its orangy flavor. The right temperature to serve it is about 25°C-77°F. Slice Panettone using a serrated knife for bread. Serve it with my Panettone Frosting and Italian Prosecco wine in a flute glass!

It's not just Waitrose saying this; Selfridges too has reported sales of panettone outstripping those of Christmas pud every year since 2016, with the ratio now standing at 3:1.

Panettone is a versatile treat. It's delicious for breakfast, pairs perfectly with a cup of tea for a snack, and can even make a delightful dessert.

Warmed & served with stewed fruit.

A great option for an Italian-inspired dinner party is to serve your warm panettone with stewed fruit such as poached pears in saffron or red wine. Alternatively, spiced stewed apples with cloves and cinnamon certainly ticks all the festive boxes.

noun. , plural pan·et·to·nes [pan-i-, toh, -neez], Italian pan·et·to·ni [pah-net-, taw, -nee]. an Italian yeast-leavened bread, traditionally eaten on holidays, usually made with raisins, candied fruit peels, almonds, and brandy.

What does panettone mean in Italian? ›

In Italy, historical accounts of panettone invariably state that it originated in Milan. The word panettone derives from panetto, a small loaf of bread. The augmentative suffix -one changes the meaning to "large bread".

Made in Italy: entry-level vs.

Artisanal panettone will have higher amounts of yolks and butter without emulsifiers or preservatives. They will contain real vanilla beans and not the cheaper vanillin.

To preserve its quality for a longer duration, consider placing the panettone in an airtight container or wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap. This helps to prevent exposure to air and maintain its moisture. If you intend to keep your homemade panettone beyond the initial 3-4 days, refrigeration is a practical option.

Storing: Keep your panettone in a dry and cool place (54-65°F), away from direct sunlight. This is especially important if you have purchased a panettone with a glaze; they will be extremely sensitive to heat and light. After slicing, store the remaining inside of the cellophane bag that it was originally wrapped in.

Traditionally, panettone is served after the enormous Christmas day feast, however, very few have any room left for dessert, so we also eat our panettone in the mornings with a milky, frothy cappuccino. We also love it as our “Merenda” , a sweet snack in the afternoon with an espresso.

It's common to serve it with a sweet wine and an accompaniment of something rich and creamy, perhaps based on mascarpone (with egg yolks, as used in tiramisu), plus dried or candied fruits.

Toasted with sweet topping

Perhaps our favourite combination must be freshly toasted panettone topped with a decadent, sweet topping. For example, thickly spread with rich Piemontese chocolate & hazelnut spread or simply buttered and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar for a festive twist.

Cooling the panettone upside down prevents it from collapsing before it is fully set. You'll need to set up a hanging apparatus or create a hanging area to do this.