Homemade Panettone Recipe: Soft Italian Christmas Bread 2026

Homemade panettone is one of the most rewarding baking projects you can take on. This tall, dome-shaped Italian sweet bread is soft, buttery, and studded with candied orange and chocolate chips, making it a showstopper for the holidays or any special occasion.

The process is straightforward but requires patience, as the dough needs long fermentation times to develop its signature light and airy crumb. With this detailed recipe and step-by-step photos, you can confidently bake two medium panettones or one large one at home.

Plan ahead: from making the preferment to pulling the baked panettone out of the oven, it can take up to two days. The result is absolutely worth it—a tender, fragrant bread that will impress family and friends.

Ingredients for Homemade Panettone

For 10 servings

• 55 g whole milk
• 55 g bread flour
• 5 g fresh yeast (or 1.5 g dry baker's yeast)
• 2 medium eggs
• 1 medium egg yolk
• 65 g white sugar
• 225 g bread flour
• The preferment
• 70 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• The first dough
• 2 medium eggs
• 10 g honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
• 1 pinch salt
• 135 g bread flour
• 35 g white sugar
• 90 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 100 g candied orange or raisins
• 100 g chocolate chips
• Powdered sugar for decorating (optional)

How to Make Homemade Panettone Step by Step

1. Prepare the preferment

One day before making the panettone, mix 55 g whole milk, 55 g bread flour, and 5 g fresh yeast (or 1.5 g dry yeast) in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

2. Mix eggs and sugar

The next day, start the first dough. Mix 2 medium eggs and 1 medium egg yolk with 65 g white sugar.

3. Add flour and preferment

Add 225 g bread flour and the preferment from the day before. Knead for 5–10 minutes until the dough is homogeneous.

4. Incorporate butter

Gradually add 70 g unsalted butter at room temperature (softened). Knead for 15–20 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.

5. Let the first dough rise

Shape into a ball and let it rise until doubled in volume. This can take several hours depending on your kitchen temperature.

6. Add eggs, honey, vanilla, and salt

Once the first dough has doubled, add 2 medium eggs, 10 g honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla paste, and 1 pinch salt. Mix to incorporate.

7. Add flour and sugar

Add 135 g bread flour and 35 g white sugar, and knead for 5–10 minutes until everything is integrated.

8. Incorporate more butter

Gradually add 70 g unsalted butter at room temperature and knead for 15–20 minutes. Reserve the remaining butter for baking.

9. Add candied orange and chocolate

When the dough is very elastic, add 100 g candied orange and 100 g chocolate chips. Knead for one minute to incorporate. You can also use raisins instead of candied orange.

10. Shape into balls

Form two balls with the dough.

11. Place in molds and let rise

Place each ball, pretty side up, into a panettone mold or paper. Let ferment until the dough reaches the rim of the mold—this can take more than 24 hours, so be patient. Cover with a bag or plastic wrap to prevent the surface from drying out.

12. Rise until it reaches the rim

The dough is ready to bake when it reaches the rim of the mold.

13. Bake with butter on top

Make a cross cut on the surface and place a 10 g piece of butter on each panettone. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F) with top and bottom heat. Bake for 40–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

14. Cool upside down

Remove from the oven and insert long skewers through the panettones. Place them upside down, resting the skewers on two tall containers, so they cool completely upside down.

15. Decorate and serve

Once cool, enjoy this delicious and delicate sweet bread. Optionally, decorate with a little powdered sugar.

Tips for the Best Homemade Panettone

Plan your time

Despite the simplicity of this recipe, you need a lot of patience with the rising times. Since it uses very little yeast, it takes quite a while to reach the perfect rise. From starting the preferment to taking the panettone out of the oven, up to 2 days can pass, so plan your schedule carefully.

Choose your add-ins

We used simple ingredients easily found in any supermarket. The only one you might not find as is is candied orange, but it's very easy to make at home. You can also substitute it with other dried fruits such as raisins, chopped dried apricots, assorted candied fruits, or chopped walnuts, always respecting the amounts indicated in the recipe.

Adjust the size

This recipe makes two medium panettones or one large one. If you make one large, keep in mind that the final rise may take a little longer, as double the amount of dough needs to rise. You can also divide the dough into 4 and make smaller panettones to give as gifts—they're sure to be a hit wherever you take them.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back To at Home

Maybe you're wired the same way I am: your kitchen rotation is a blend of cozy standbys, well-loved dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a deeply rich Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only fruit-forward comfort will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For quick morning meals and lighter plates, I regularly whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

On evenings built around tapas and Mediterranean tastes, I cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out whenever the occasion calls for a little extra polish.

For stick-to-your-ribs midday meals and comforting suppers, my go-tos are this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something even more substantial, I turn to this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the supremely cozy French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Anytime street food or party fare is on my mind, I'll throw together this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a light starter or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks to go with a full spread, dinner often gets paired with this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this sweet Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring it all together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or capping the meal with this dramatic Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After countless rounds of testing and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest dishes are built on straightforward steps, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely cook on repeat—whether it's a fast solo meal or something festive for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the lush, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is my pick when I want a dessert that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another treat I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When light and easy is what I'm after, I lean on the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly done Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For more filling comfort fare, I frequently suggest the crowd-pleasing Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is yet another category I turn to often, since it delivers speed without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

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