Serve a beautiful upscale breakfast with holiday flavors! Perfect for Christmas morning, a winter brunch or a snowy day! Sophisticated yet easy, Snowy Day Panettone French Toast is a definite crowd pleaser and will become a seasonal favorite! Serve with Apple Cider Mimosas for an extra festive touch!
What is Panettone?
Panettone is a classic Italian cake or bread that arrives during the Christmas season. It’s puffy, dome-like appearance is appealing and a sight to see. A bite into a piece that is jeweled with candied fruits and raisins lets one know the holidays have arrived! In Italy, it is typically served as dessert. However, you can be creative and serve it anytime you wish!
But what makes panettone so special? This specialty bread’s origins actually date back to Milan’s15th century. A pastry chef preparing dessert for the Grand Duke of Milan accidentally burned his dessert while distracted secretly trying to steal a kiss from a nobleman’s wife. All he had left was some orange peels, raisins and leftover leavened dough. He threw these ingredients together, presented it to the Duke and to his surprise it was a hit!
In Milan, panettone has also become part of another legend that occurs long after Christmas. San Biagio (also known as Saint Blaise) is revered as the holy protector of the throat, who saved a child from choking with a piece of panettone. Milanese save some panettone from Christmas time and, on February 3rd, they eat a piece toasted with butter in hopes of a healthy year without sickness.
How to Prepare Panettone French Toast
Preparing Snowy Day Panettone French Toast is very quick and easy. Panettone comes in different flavors, but for this recipe it’s best to use the traditional one with bits of oranges and raisins. To get started, simply remove your loaf from the packaging, slice the loaf in half crosswise and begin slicing one inch thick slices. For each long slice, which will make two halves, you will need two eggs along with cinnamon, nutmeg and a bit of pumpkin pie spice. It soaks into the bread and will coat the bread well. Add to your pan with either cooking oil or butter, brown on both sides and add to your serving plate. Dust with powdered sugar and top with berries for a beautiful dish full of holiday flavors! The bits of orange and raisins in the panettone add additional depth and flavor that give us comfort and joy during the holidays and beyond!
Snowy Day Panettone French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 Panettone loaf
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- oil or butter, as desired
- powdered sugar
- fresh berries (optional for granish)
Instructions
- Remove paper border around the perimeter and base of panettone loaf. Slice entire loaf in half using a long serrated knife. Cut a slice again crosswise about 1 inch thick from the largest side. You will have one large slice of panettone. Cut that piece in half to form two rectangular pieces.
- Whisk two eggs with spices until smooth. Dip one slice of the panettone bread into the egg mixture and push down until the egg is soaked into the bread. Flip slice over so other side is coated with egg. Repeat with second slice.
- Add desired oil or butter to pan until hot and melted. Add your panettone slices to pan and cook until brown on both sides.
- Place on serving plate and dust powdered sugar on top. Top with optional fresh berries. Enjoy!
Leave a Reply