Autumn recipes: Divine Chocolate Panettone

Getting into the spirit of Autumn, we’re enjoying this traditional Italian treat normally reserved for Christmas – Divine Chocolate Panettone. It’s a deliciously rich fruity bread dotted with your favourite Fairtrade chocolate.

Ingredients:
Makes 1 medium loaf

350g strong white bread flour
7g sachet easy-blend dried yeast
3 large free range eggs, at room temperature (or perhaps try VeganEgg)
2 large free range yolks, at room temperature
75g caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
grated zest of 1 unwaxed orange
grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon
175g unsalted butter, very soft
75g sultanas
50g candied peel, very finely chopped
50g Divine orange milk chocolate, finely chopped
40g unsalted butter, melted, for brushing
extra flour for working

You will need:
15cm round deep cake tin (or large coffee tin which is traditionally used in Italy). You need to grease and line the base and sides so your parchment paper extends 5cm above the height of the tin.

Method:
Add half of the flour into the bowl of a food mixer. Add the yeast and combine using the dough hook attachment. Beat the 3 whole eggs until just mixed then add to the yeast mixture. On low speed work the ingredients together to make a very thick, smooth batter. Cover the bowl with a lid or cling film and leave in a warm spot until doubled in size – about 1 hour.

Mix the two egg yolks into the batter then add the rest of the flour, the sugar, salt, plus the orange and lemon zest. Mix the ingredients together on low speed to form a very soft and sticky dough. Cut up the butter into small pieces and gradually work into the dough, still at low speed. Knead the dough in the machine on low speed for 3–4 minutes until it is no longer streaky but looks smooth and silky.

Cover the bowl as before and leave in a warm but not hot spot until doubled in size – about 2 hours. Flour your knuckles then punch down the dough to deflate it. Cover again and leave to rise as before until doubled in size – about an hour this time. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and punch down.

Combine the sultanas with the chopped peel and chocolate in a small bowl. Add a teaspoon of flour and toss gently – this helps to prevent them sticking together in the dough. Scatter the mixture over the dough and gently knead in with your hands. Shape the dough into a ball and gently drop into the prepared tin. Cut a cross in the top of the dough with the tip of a sharp knife. Cover the top of the tin loosely then leave in a warm spot until doubled in size – about 1 hour. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.

Brush the top of the loaf with plenty of melted butter then bake in the heated oven for 10 minutes. Brush again with melted butter, then reduce the oven temperature to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and bake for about 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Set the tin on a wire cooling rack and leave to cool for 15 minutes (the crust of the panettone loaf can be very fragile) then gently turn out and leave to cool completely before slicing.

Store in an airtight container and eat within about 5 days, or you can toast any remaining pieces that feel slightly stale for a still-delicious aromatic treat. A chocolate panettone makes a beautiful gift too!

Try this with your favourite flavour of Divine Chocolate – let us know how your taste experiments go!