Panettone Panini

by Dorothy Reinhold on December 16, 2014


Print This Post Print This Post Panettone Panini | Grilled Ham and Cheese on Panettone Bread | ShockinglyDelicious.com

Have you had panettone? It’s a traditional sweet Italian Christmas bread, made golden with butter, sugar and eggs, and stuffed with raisins and candied orange peel.

It’s all that and more.

It’s baked in a cylinder, so it rises tall and makes a stately presentation at the table. Usually we just cut big hunks of it and wolf them down for breakfast. The next morning, we fight over who ate the last of the panettone and didn’t tell anyone. Good times here in the ShockD household.

But when Bauli, the makers of the very fine Il Panettone di Milano,  sent over a fragrant loaf with the challenge to join the Bauli Bake Off, I couldn’t resist.

In the past, I’ve French-toasted panettone (wonderful!), and I’ve made bread pudding out of it. However, it was lunchtime. So out came the George Foreman grill and this time I panini-ed it!

Panettone Panini assembly on ShockinglyDelicious.com

Panettone Panini goes into the grill on ShockinglyDelicious.comPanettone Panini grilling on ShockinglyDelicious.comPanettone makes a wonderful panini. Because the bread is so fragrant and flavorful, you only need a couple of other ingredients to make a wowser of a sandwich. I didn’t even use any condiments on my sandwich, because I didn’t want to mask the panettone flavor at all.

Panettone Panini 2 on ShockinglyDelicious.comIt’s a new beloved panini, and I’ve already had marching orders to make it again. I’m thinking Christmas Day lunch…

Panettone Panini

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Yield: 1 panini

A classic ham and cheese panini gets wild new flavor from panettone, the traditional Italian Christmas bread.

Ingredients

  • 1 slice Bauli Panettone, cut vertically from the center of the loaf
  • Sliced ham
  • Sliced cheese (I used Kerrygold Dubliner)

Directions

  1. Cut bread slice in half lengthwise, so you have two sides for the sandwich. Layer ham and cheese slices inside, put the bread “lid” on, and place on a hot grill or in a panini press until outside is crispy and cheese is beginning to melt.
  2. Remove from grill, slice in half and enjoy!
  3. Makes 1 panini.

Notes

Condiment: If you must have a condiment on your sandwich, I would suggest Dijon mustard, which goes well with the ham and cheese, and is a nice counterpoint to the sweet bread.

Butter or not: Many people butter the outside of the bread when they make a grilled panini. The panettone is so rich itself that I don’t think it needs butter on the outside. It crisps up nicely without it.

https://www.shockinglydelicious.com/panettone-panini/

What would YOU make with panettone?

Bauli has opened the Bauli Bake Off to anyone who would like to show how they’re celebrating the holidays with Bauli. Grand prize is an all expenses-paid weekend trip for 2 to Chicago, Miami or L.A., which will include a dining experience at Bauli chef ambassador Fabio Viviani’s restaurant, followed by a meet & greet with Fabio himself after dinner. And each week a contest participant will win a signed copy of Viviani’s new cookbook, along with pandoro and panettone. Go to the Bauli Facebook page to enter — one #BauliBakeOff submission allowed per day

Disclosure: Bauli sent a loaf of panettone for recipe testing.

{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }

Helene December 26, 2014 at 4:49 pm

Mmmm, that looks good. And while you are eating that panini, get out that dark chocolate ice cream you’ve been squirreling away, and plop a scoop in the middle of another piece of panettone, fold and enjoy!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 27, 2014 at 7:16 am

Helene,
Om myyyyy…now THAT’S a good idea!

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Heather @ Sugar Dish Me December 23, 2014 at 5:23 am

Gahhhhhhh this sandwich looks melty cheese delicious!

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Dorothy Reinhold December 24, 2014 at 3:20 pm

Heather,
It really IS all that!

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Agnieszka December 20, 2014 at 5:46 am

These look delicious! I can’t wait to make them for my family.

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Adri December 18, 2014 at 3:15 pm

Oh my, but do we ever love Panettone in our home. Each year we get loaf after loaf from friends and relatives. I use it for everything from panini to French Toast, to tarts and bread pudding. Your panino looks wonderful. Best of luck in the contest, and Buon Natale!

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Barb @ A Life in Balance December 18, 2014 at 5:41 am

Oh, I’ve never thought of using panettone as sandwich bread. I definitely need to try this.

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Dorothy Reinhold December 18, 2014 at 12:00 pm

Barb,
Oh yes, you DO! You might not eat it for breakfast anymore because it will be all gone from lunch!

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Sippitysup December 17, 2014 at 4:37 pm

This is creative and I love how you came up with based on the mealtime. GREG

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Dorothy Reinhold December 17, 2014 at 9:44 pm

Thanks Greg! It’s fun to riff on different ingredients.

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Linda | Brunch with Joy December 17, 2014 at 10:54 am

Oh this is super creative! I love panettone but making them into panini is brilliant.

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Brooks December 17, 2014 at 9:03 am

My word, Dorothy, you’ve given me a new reason secure another panettone this season! In our household we adore the bread as you do in yours, but as a panini? I’m so all over this. Thanks for sharing the recipe, and happy holidays.

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Dorothy Reinhold December 17, 2014 at 10:18 am

Thanks Brooks!

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Jeanne @JollyTomato December 17, 2014 at 8:52 am

OK, I love this so much! I think you just found me my new favorite breakfast AND lunch!

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Dorothy Reinhold December 17, 2014 at 10:19 am

Jeanne,
This is right up your alley!

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Cate O'Malley December 16, 2014 at 6:58 pm

Such a unique idea … but you had me at cheese.

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Dorothy Reinhold December 17, 2014 at 10:19 am

Cate,
Yeah…where would we even BE without our beloved cheese?

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Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts December 16, 2014 at 4:59 pm

What a great idea to use panettone for a sandwich! Sounds so good!

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Dorothy Reinhold December 17, 2014 at 10:20 am

Thanks Erin! Man, it was.

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Michelle @ The Complete Savorist December 16, 2014 at 2:01 pm

I love the Italian Christmas bread and turning into a panini is genius.

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Dorothy Reinhold December 17, 2014 at 10:20 am

Michelle,
I declare that panettone should be in the stores 12 months a year!

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sue|theviewfromgreatisland December 16, 2014 at 1:30 pm

Dorothy this is brilliant!! Wish I had one now…

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Dorothy Reinhold December 17, 2014 at 10:21 am

Thanks Sue. Me too!

Reply

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