Traditional Italian Panettone in a Muffin Size (2024)

Make your holidays extra special with these traditional Italian homemade panettone, in a small and fun muffin shape

I am sure you've all tried panettone before. If not, SERIOUSLY? What is wrong with you!!! ... Just kidding.

What I meant to say: Seriously, you have to try it as soon as possible!

Panettone is THE Italian classic, traditional and a must-have Christmas dessert.

Panettone is a sweet and fragrant bread, originally from Milan, soft and flavorful. Traditionally enriched with dried fruit, citrus and almonds, and shaped in a big domed round loaf.

Today (and for very good reasons!) I present you my muffin-shaped mini panettoni recipe (Italian plural of panettone).

These mini panettoni requires the same amount of labor (and patience!) and have the same texture and aroma of the traditional one. But I simply baked in individual smaller sizes.

The first reason is quite simple. I didn't have any panettone paper mold, which is not easy to find. So I used simple parchment paper, cut in square and folded in these cute tulip shaped muffin liners. I rolled thedough into smaller buns and baked into my muffin pan.

Second of all, these small size panettoni take very little time to bake. After just twenty-five minutes in the oven (way less than a whole panettone) these are ready for the first taste.

Which brings us to the last - and most important - reason of all!

I didn't have to wait for Christmas Eve to slice into the panettone and get my share with everyone else. As soon as these came out of theoven, I justgrabbed one andswallowed it in a few bites. Still warm and amazing! If you ask me, a very good reason to bake individual sized portion desserts!

The recipe for panettone is a little time consuming, but it's really worth the work and wait.

I strongly recommend using a stand up mixer for your dough, so there's not really much work for you to do but adding the ingredients and watching the dough come together.

In addition to (or in place of) raisins and orange zest, you can add other dried fruit, chocolate chips, or candied orange peel (very common in panettone - but my kids don't particularly like it, so I didn't add it in mine).

One more recommendation: give yourself plenty of time for the dough to rise. This recipe requires a couple of steps and a few waiting times. Just follow along, and be patient, and you will soon enjoy these amazing little panettoni!

ANDremember:Weight the flour. As always, it's the safest way to know if you actually scooped up the rightamount with your cup.

Ready to try it too?!?

Here is the printable recipe card.

Happy Holidays! Buon Natale :)