The savory mini panettones are an original and tasty Christmas appetizer to serve during the holiday season. Christmas is just around the corner, and people often wonder how to enrich the table during these festive days. I thought of preparing soft mini panettones to place on the tables as placeholders that can be enjoyed as an appetizer.
Making them is very simple, although I admit the preparation requires some time for kneading and rising. You can, however, prepare them in advance, freeze them, and then reheat them to enrich your holiday tables. For the recipe, I used my basic milk roll dough, to which I added diced speck and provola cheese. However, you can fill them in many different ways. I recommend using ingredients that do not release water during cooking to avoid compromising it.
The result will surely be appreciated by everyone, both adults and children, and you’ll see they will disappear in no time. At home, when I prepared them, they vanished quickly. Now, let’s get our hands in the dough and head to the kitchen because the savory mini panettone placeholders will be ready in a click!
If you are interested in other Christmas appetizer recipes, also read:
- Difficulty: Medium
- Cost: Very cheap
- Rest time: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Cooking time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 20 mini panettones
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas
- Energy 155.95 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 20.46 (g) of which sugars 3.33 (g)
- Proteins 6.38 (g)
- Fat 5.83 (g) of which saturated 3.26 (g)of which unsaturated 2.41 (g)
- Fibers 0.81 (g)
- Sodium 267.45 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 49 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (or W 350)
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 3 1/3 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 1/2 tsp dry yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 2.8 oz diced speck
- 3.5 oz provola cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 tbsp milk
- sesame seeds (to taste)
Tools
- Bowl
- Work Surface
- Spoon
- Baking Tray
- Molds for 3.5 oz mini panettone
- Brush
- Small Bowl
Steps
To prepare the savory mini panettones, first melt the butter in the microwave and then let it cool. Then place the flour in a bowl with the milk, yeast, and sugar and start mixing with a spoon. As soon as the dough begins to form, add the melted butter and salt and continue mixing first with the spoon and then with your hands until you obtain a smooth and homogeneous dough.
Place the dough in a bowl, cover with cling film, and let it rise for at least 2 hours or until doubled in size.
Meanwhile, dice the provola cheese into very small cubes. Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto the work surface. Divide it into 1.5 oz portions. Flatten each portion with your hands and place a little bit of diced speck and some cheese cubes in the center. Of course, if you prefer, you can get creative with the filling using other cheeses or deli meats of your choice. However, I recommend using ingredients that are not too moist, as they might affect the cooking and, consequently, the final result.
Close the portions to form balls, placing them in the molds with the seam side down. Then place the molds on a baking tray and let them rise for at least half an hour, or until doubled in size.
After the resting time, beat an egg with the milk in a small bowl and brush the top of the mini panettones. Sprinkle the surface with sesame seeds and bake in a preheated static oven at 356°F for 30 minutes, or until the surface is golden brown.
After the cooking time, remove the mini panettones from the oven and let them cool.
Variations and Tips for Savory Mini Panettones
The savory mini panettone placeholders can be stored in a cool, dry place for 2 or 3 days, covered with a glass dome. You can also prepare them in advance and freeze them. Once defrosted, reheat them in the oven for a few minutes before serving.
FAQ Questions and Answers for Savory Mini Panettones
What can I use instead of speck and provola?
You can use any ingredients you like. The important thing is that they are not moist. Feel free to use cooked ham, prosciutto, salami, mortadella, scamorza, or pizza mozzarella.
