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With the year about to end in barely 20 days, we know it’s time for all things joyous, happy and of course delicious. With the unfolding of the upcoming festivities, we know that it’s that time of the year again when the streets will smell of freshly-baked pies, cakes and numerous other indulgent festive delights. Along with various regional festivities in India, it is obvious to note that Christmas is the most-widely celebrated winter festival in the country and across the world as well. Although a Hindu, I eagerly wait for Christmas as the festival brings with it a different vibe altogether. From giant Christmas trees decorated with bright and shimmering lights, hanging socks, brimming excitement in almost everyone around and the vast array of delicious goodies, Christmas has everything that one can expect from a festivity.
Last Christmas, on my visit to one of my neighbour’s place, I had a slice of a fluffy, delicious and airy cake that made me drool with the first bite itself. Upon asking about it to the woman who had made it, she said that it was an Italian Christmas classic and she had gotten the recipe from a youtube video. As curious as I am, I came home and googled about it and found out that the cake was called Panettone loaf and was an Italian Christmas tradition. Upon researching some more, I came across some articles that stated that the cake was created due to an error by the baker himself.
Legend has it that one Christmas eve, the Duke of Milan held a Christmas banquet. At the end moment, the chef of the Duke burns the splendid dessert that he was preparing for the guests. To his misery, he neither had ingredients or time to make another cake. To his rescue, a scullery boy named Toni came to his rescue with the Christmas cake that he had made for his family. Without another way out, the chef skeptically accepted the boy’s comparatively smaller loaf of cake that he had made with minimal ingredients. To his surprise, the duke and the guests loved the cake. With the chef’s suggestion, the cake was named after the scullery boy- Pane Di Toni (Panettone).
Now that you know the history behind this delicious cake, you know who to thank the next time you relish a slice of it. Also, don’t forget to try the recipe and let us know how your Panettone cake turns out.
