Don’t be afraid of Panettone! Your new holiday tradition.

Me thinks you have never had Panettone.  But you MUST try it.  For years I would see the box and pass right by it.  I mean, why does bread need to be sold in a box?  Who does this bread think he is?  The box does not allow you to see what is inside and if you read the box, the ingredients and description sound pretty dang close to fruit cake.  But there is a well kept secret inside that box.  And it is freaking delicious.  Panettone seems to be an Italian tradition and I only see it in stores at the holidays.  Like fruitcake, there are dried fruits and sometimes nuts in the bread but that is where the similarities end.

While fruit cake can often be very heavy, this bread from the God’s is ridiculously light.  The way that I like to eat it is broiled on both sides until golden brown and then topped with a salty butter.  YUM!  P.S. you must use the broiler because you eat this in big hunks.  No toaster worthy skinny slices here.  It will seem wrong to take such a big helping of carbs, but fight through it.  It is SO right!  There is a subtleness to the dried fruit and an amazing hint of orange that wakes you up and puts you in a happy place.

World Market sells a version. Trader Joe’s is touting a chocolate covered version.  But my fave ready made version comes from Whole Foods and comes in various sizes (couldn’t find a link, but check out this recipe for a Panettone Parfait!).  If you aren’t 100% sure you will like it they sell a really cute little (kind of like an extra large muffin) size so you can try it out.  This bread would make a great hostess gift for the holidays!  It screams holiday comfort and might introduce them to something they wouldn’t have bought themselves.  If you don’t add in anything else new this holiday, you should at least give this bread a shot!  I’m dying to try it in a bread pudding recipe!

If you want to attempt your own version, try out this recipe from Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day.  I have not made the recipe as I prefer others to bake for me.

Sharon

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