The holidays in the European Union are all about family, tradition—and delicious breads. Two stars of the season? Italy’s fluffy, sweet panettone and Germany’s rich, dense stollen. While both are sweet, fruit-studded treats, their textures are quite different.
Luckily, you don’t have to hop on a plane to enjoy these festive breads. Panettone and Stollen are available worldwide at bakeries and other local shops or online.
Panettone From Italy: light and pillowy
Panettone (which means “big bread”) is a tall, dome-shaped bread with a soft, almost cake-like texture. Traditional Milanese panettone is made with a sourdough starter instead of yeast. This gives it a complex flavor, extra moistness, and a longer shelf life.
Studded with raisins and candied citrus (and sometimes chocolate or nuts), it’s a holiday favorite in Italy and, increasingly, around the world. Italians enjoy it for breakfast with espresso coffee or as a dessert with sweet wine, like Moscato d’Asti. It’s frequently given as a gift, too, presented in elegant boxes that symbolize goodwill and abundance.
I discovered it at a party about ten years ago, and it has become my annual breakfast treat (a slice with butter!) for the few weeks leading up to Christmas.
Panettone Pro Tip: You get what you pay for. Unlike the dreadful dried-out versions in many grocery stores, the best ones have a bright, citrusy flavor and soft, pillowy texture. Two of my favorite brands are Olivieri 1882 (The New York Times’s “unanimous favorite” which retails for around $90)
This Article was originally published on The Wine Chef
