Panettone French Toast Bake

In Italy,

Christmas and New Year's would be incomplete without

a Panettone on the table

Serve Panettone with coffee, tea or a Sweet Italian Wine

The flavor and texture of Panettone

make it ideal for French Toast or Bread Pudding~

What is Panettone?

This is the first year that I purchased a Panettone

I'm sure you have seen the festive, brightly colored, hexagon shaped boxes at stores throughout the Holiday Season

Every Christmas season, I see Panettone but for some reason I have never purchased one

This year I decided to change that fact and I bought a Panettone, well three actually.

The first Panettone we sampled sliced and lightly buttered

Very delicious I might add....

For the second and third Panettone, I had this recipe in mind

I thought that Panettone French Toast Bake would be the perfect dish to serve on Christmas morning

Panettone French Toast Bake was Delicious~

I am so glad I picked up an extra two Panettone(s)

I'm so happy I finally decided to try this classic Italian Christmas Bread too

Surprisingly, Panettone is very light and airy, not at all dense and heavy

Like other fruitcakes or fruit-style breads.

The fruit was in nice bite size pieces.

The flavor was citrusy and delicious.

If you get a chance to pick up a Panettone or two or three, don't hesitate to put them in your shopping cart, you'll be so glad you did! Who knows, they might even be on sale now:)

Another plus, they freeze well too. (I have three more in my freezer as we speak)

What is Panettone?

Panettone is a traditional sweet Italian Bread filled with dried fruit and spices. Unlike fruitcake, Panettone is light and airy. Delicious eaten sliced and toasted, used in place of pound cake as a Dessert or used in this delicious breakfast bake.

Panettone French Toast Bake

• 2 loaves panettone bread
• (2- 1 lb. 10.5 oz boxes)
• 6-8 large eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• (heat cream to 70 to 80 degrees)
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1 T sugar
• 1/2 t ground cinnamon
• 1 t vanilla or almond extract
• 1/8 t salt and pepper
• 3 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• Powdered sugar for dusting, optional
• Serve with maple syrup
• Slice each panettone into large cubes
• Generously butter a 13 x 9 baking dish
• Place cubes in prepared pan
• Whisk the remaining ingredients together in a large bowl
• Pour the mixture evenly over the bread cubes in baking dish
• Push bread cubes into egg mixture

Cover the baking dish and place in the refrigerator for 6 hours or overnight

Remove dish from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Bake for 35 minutes or until top is golden brown and

French toast bake is puffed.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar and

Serve with Maple Syrup

*Duca Riserva Panettone

*Note: The views and opinions stated here are my own. I have not been compensated by any company mentioned in this post.