The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

What is the difference between a panettone and a pan d'oro?

madruby's picture
madruby

What is the difference between a panettone and a pan d'oro?

I would love to bake a pandoro (or maybe a panetonne) this Christmas but I feel a little intimidated with the many steps involved, which may sometimes take up a few days.  Furthermore, many of the "sophisticated" recipes I came across use some sort of a starter, biga, etc...that needs a lot of TLC (feeding every odd hours).  However, in reading some of the blogs on TFL, I may have stumbled on a recipe that calls for none of the forgoing and perhaps less kneading.  Unfortunately, the recipe was for a panetonne.  Let me explain why I used the word "unfortunately".

First of all, I would like to know what is the difference between these 2 Italian sweet breads.  Are the crumbs identical ie airy, light, fluffy, easily pulled apart (the pandoro I have eaten has that kind of texture and crumb)?  I have never actually tasted a panetonne.

Secondly, if the addition of dried fruits or candied fruits is what makes the difference between these 2 breads, can I use a panetonne recipe for a pan d'oro bread?  I am not a big fan of dried fruits, therefore I do not care for them in my breads.  The fact that one has to soak the fruits (to help with flavor and moisture) makes it even less tempting for me to want to make this particular panetonne recipe. 

But if I can use this more "simplified" panetonne recipe without having to add the dried fruits, I would definitely make it.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.  Thank you.

flournwater's picture
flournwater

Panettone is a Christmas cake, often compared to a fruit cake.  Pan d' oro is also a Christmas cake, similar to Panettone, but contains no fruit and the Pan d' oro is, in my experience, a lighter textured cake.

madruby's picture
madruby

That is what I like about the pandoro, its lightness.  Since I have never eaten a panettone, I cannot comment on its taste and lightness.  On the other hand, I did find an "easy" panetonne recipe that I am considering using save and except that I'd be doing it without the fruits.  Before I embark myself on this Christmas adventure, I wanted to see what people thought were the differences between these 2 breads and whether one can use a panetonne recipe (without the fruits) in lieu of a pandoro recipe.

nicodvb's picture
nicodvb

Hi,

pandoro and panettone don't have a lot in common except the nature of ingredients: panettone generally has more yolks, while pandoro is laminated and more buttery. Actually you can think of pandoro as an envelope for the laminated butter ;-)

Pandoro also contains cocoa butter or white chocolate plus a good amount of vanilla,  ingredients that both give it a unique flavor.

The crumb is very different, too: due to lamination, in a well made pandoro the crumb is regular and tight (but of course not at all dense) and it offers some resistence when you try to split it, while in panettone the crumb is more irregular and open. Moreover the consistence is more full-bodied in a pandoro.

I wouldn't call "lighter" a pandoro, generally it's quite the opposite due to the massive amount of butter. A fluffly pandoro is not genuine.

flournwater's picture
flournwater

Well, nicodvb, you're from across the big pond so you're a lot closer to the original thing than I am but I have to say I have never in all the years I've been baking seen a Pan d' oro recipe using white chocolate or cocoa butter.  I've seen them filled with all kinds of wonderful stuff but the basic recipes I've read are fairly simple using flour, sugar, yeast, eggs, butter, lemon zest, and cream and vanilla sugar.

Share your recipe with us if you will.

nicodvb's picture
nicodvb
flournwater's picture
flournwater

Credo che il terzo è qualcosa che mi sarebbe piaciuto provare così sarò cominciare da lì. Grazie.

http://profumodilievito.blogspot.com/2007/11/il-pandoro.html

madruby's picture
madruby

The pandoro I have had so far were store bought (the typical Italian, glossy boxes we see everywhere this time of year).  I guess the one I intend on making will be neither panetonne (cuz I'll exclude the fruits) nor pandoro.  Glad that I now know what are the differences between the two.

nicodvb's picture
nicodvb

That means liquid levain, that is a 100% hydratation sourdough just like most american sourdough starters. Italian sourdough are firm most of the time, but I prefer liquid stuff :-) Lilì is the acronym that "la vecchia saggia" (a TFL user, too) gave it the first time I told her about it.

The pandoro you saw is prepared with the traditional wallet-like double fold, just like croissants. It's very tricky to do because the main dough is quite sticky. Nothing that can't be fixed with some rest in the fridge, though.

joem6112's picture
joem6112

Take a look at Mario Batali's Panettone at The Food Network site. He uses cream of tartar and baking soda rather than yeast as leavening. After looking at so many varied and complcated recipes, I may give it a try.  If you REALLY want to cheat, Trader Joe's has delicious panettones for about $5.00. Does that break the rules at The Fresh Loaf site? Yes, I am a bread baker. Prefer my own to store bought atrocities.

madruby's picture
madruby

I just found this recipe while browsing through the WildYeast blog.  This pandoro looks yummmmy.  The recipe does not seem to call for any lamination, but then again, I do not read Italian so I cannot be completely certain.  The pictures on the other hand do not show any lamination.  In any event, thought I'd share this with you in case someone (who is fluent in Italian) might like to take on this challenge.  If you do, please let us know how it turns out...

http://misrecetasfavoritas2.blogspot.com/2010/12/pandoro.html