Panettone: Italians consider it a Christmas staple and American grocery stores stack it in enormous displays during the Christmas season, but what's the story behind this seasonal Italian fruit and nut bread?
by Anna Monette Roberts
Panettone: Italians consider it a Christmas staple and American grocery stores stack it in enormous displays during the Christmas season, but what's the story behind this seasonal Italian fruit and nut bread? Panettone is said to originate from the Italian word panetto, or a small loaf cake. Early written records call it pane di tono, or "luxury cake," which is fitting for this rich, brioche-like bread made with butter, eggs, milk, currants, orange zest, and nuts. Panettone typically undergoes hours of proofing and rising to give the bread its distinguishable tall, rotunda-like shape and fluffy, light texture.
Originating in Milan, Italy, it seems the leaven cake dates back to Roman times, and written proof linking the bread to Christmas goes back to the 18th century. It wasn't until the 20th century that commercial bakers decided to make panettone in large-scale batches, thus driving down the prices and increasing panettone's popularity as a Christmas gift. Many Italians gift loved ones panettone during Christmas and New Year's, and it's such a huge symbol of Italian culture that the country is undergoing efforts to stamp authentic Italian panettone products with a controlled designation of origin tag, as Brazilian-made panettone is more readily available in the United States.
It's not uncommon for the average Italian family to end up with more panettone than it knows what to do with. When guests visit during the holiday season, a loaf will often be brought out and served with sweet wine or coffee. Some Italians serve the slices with a dollop of mascarpone cheese. Boxed panettone lasts quite a while, but it's easy to freeze for later (or even next year!). The spongy, dry quality of the bread makes leftovers ideal for French toast or bread pudding.
Have you had panettone, and if so, what's your go-to brand?
Photo: Nicole Perry
I'll be honest with you: I've never been responsible for making the holiday ham. Typically, one of the men in my family (usually my grandfather) is smoking or roasting a ham. I'm not even sure what the process is; because it's never cooked in the oven, I've never even seen the ham prior to its dazzling presentation on the table. However, this year, in an effort to improve my large meat roasting skills, I volunteered to try out a holiday ham recipe. Since I'm from the South, I had to turn to a trusty source, Southern Living, for the recipe.
The key ingredient in this recipe is bourbon. Your kitchen will smell like molasses and bourbon as the ham slow roasts in your oven for several hours. Be sure to roast it the full recommended length so the sauce reduces into a sticky glaze that caramelizes the edges of the ham.
Champagne, bourbon, vodka, or rum — whatever your booze of choice, there's a million accompanying cocktails to match. We're currently obsessed with this Champagne cocktail, made with orange and lemon juices, elderflower liqueur, and apple slices (be on the lookout for the recipe). In the meantime, we want to know what you're drinking, so start shaking that shaker and filling those glasses. Just remember to share the picture with us on Instagram before you click glasses and start sipping the good stuff. 
