Panettone.....just a big dry cake?

[BaconAndAvocado]

What do people do with this Italian fare?

I really want to like them but the only one I ever had, given as a gift, was very dry.

Are you supposed to toast it and add butter?

I don’t get what all the fuss is about....

I got one years ago with lemon curd through it (Lidl or similar)
I bught 4x mini ones last year which were ideal

For me , no fruit, candied peel and no chocolate .
Just a slice and lemon curd layered on.

Hello in this household (we live in Italy) we follow the family tradition of serving whipped mascarpone on it, that has had a bit of sugar and decent amount of brandy added to it. This household is half English, so we also toast it and put butter on it for breakfast, to me it tastes like a toasted Teacake!

I buy the little ones and cut off slices and toast and butter them.

I had some of the small Marks choc chip one yesterday which was nice

Hhmmmmm pandoro can be dry. I can take or leave pandoro. But panettone isn't dry- it's more like a really good brioche in texture- with delicious sultanas and candied peel.
I'm a bit of a purist- so don't really like variations- I particularly dislike chocolate versions. I can, however, eat multiple Crosta & Mollica mini cherry versions. Mmmmmmmmm.

I'm not an expert but I don't think they meant to be dry. Usually spongy and light, tasty and great with coffee or prosecco))

We all love it in this house, it shouldn't be dry. Never had a bad one from Aldi or Lidl (I find their Christmas goodies often superior quality to other more expensive supermarkets).
W r love it on Christmas morning with coffee. Agree re making B&B pudding if you have a dry one but we've never had that problem.

I love panettone and my Italian family/friends do eat it during the festive period. But it can go a bit dry when it's old and you can get bad ones - like any bread / pastry / cake!

We have it toasted and buttered for breakfast all over Christmas.

I don't understand the fuss about them, either. I bought one once and it was just like very dry, slightly fruity bread

I don't really like them either or pandoro.

But I did follow this 'cheat' recipe from a Jamie Oliver book where you slice it up and put cream and strawberries in between the layers, then cover it outside with cream and nuts. That was quite nice if you can be bothered doing all that.

I love Stollen - lovely and moist!

I just love panettone (the traditional ones with bits of candied fruit peel going through them) - the large ones, as the smaller ones seem to go stale quickly. Lovely with a cuppa with or without butter and yes it should taste light and buttery and a little heady. I can't have it in the house as I just eat my way through them. I do think some of the "looks-likey" versions have spoiled the perception of them though.. Used to adore good stollen too, but too sweet for me these days. 🌹

They're always soft and fluffy in Italy and dry here. I wonder if the ones on our UK shelves are many months old

I think panetonne is more a sweet bread than a cake. I love it! Is nice to put in the oven for a couple of minutes just before eating😋.

I like both pandoro and panettone, I don't recall ever having a dried out one.

I have them for breakfast, often with jam & soft cheese. If I'm getting a bit bored with them, one thing I do is cut into thick slices, and briefly fry in butter, and use as a base for serving poached fruit or berry compote, with soft cheese or ice cream etc.

Panettone cut into thick slices, lightly toasted and served with unsalted butter and best quality orange marmalade is Christmas breakfast in our house every year.

Gently toast it under the grill until golden and serve warm with a satsuma. Absolutely delicious 😋

If your panettone sucks, you have yourself a shitty panettone. Yes, toast it with butter if it’s too dry.