Beth's 12 Days of Christmas - Day 2

Artisan Panettone

Traditional Italian Christmas Cake: Why must Panettone be on the Christmas menu? Because it is the authentic icon of the Christmas table. How do you choose the best one -by their Craftsmanship. THE ORIGINS In Italy Panettone comes with an often varied history, but one that invariably states that its birthplace was Milan. The word “panettone” derives from the Italian word “panetto”, a small loaf cake. The augmentative Italian suffix “-one” changes the meaning to “large cake”. The origins of this cake appear to be ancient, dating back to the Roman Empire, when ancient Romans sweetened a type of leavened cake with honey. It is made during a long process that involves curing the dough, which is acidic, similar to sourdough. The proofing process alone takes several days, giving the cake its distinctive fluffy characteristics.

It contains candied orange, citron, and lemon zest, as well as raisins, which are added dry and not soaked. It is served in wedge shapes, vertically cut, accompanied with sweet hot beverages (hot chocolate) or a sweet wine, such as Asti or Moscato d'Asti. In some regions of Italy, it is served with crema di mascarpone, a cream made from mascarpone, eggs, sometimes dried or candied fruits, and typically a sweet liqueur such as Amaretto.

AJ’s offers Panettone from 3 Italian companies, known for their craftsmanship and dedication to the tradition of this Christmas cake. Loison • Filippi • Rustichella d'Abruzzo Filippi

Listen below to hear what Beth had to say!