Homemade holiday gift idea: Panettone

Fragrant, yeasty holiday panettone -- studded with colorful bits of dried and candied fruit -- is festive just to look at and sweetly satisfying to eat.

RECIPES: 25 homemade holiday gift ideas!

Classic panettone is just one way to get crafty this holiday season with homemade gifts from the kitchen. We’ve compiled 25 great ideas, ranging from quick and simple gifts (perfect if you’re working with kids) to more intricate projects that call for a little extra time and patience.

Some gifts will last for weeks, perhaps more. Others are best eaten within a day or two.

Not only are homemade gifts a great way to save money during the holiday season, they’re a thoughtful and creative way to show how much you care.

For additional homemade holiday ideas, check out our updated “Los Angeles Times Holiday Cookies” e-book. The cookbook now includes 65 recipes from a wide range of sources including world-famous pastry chefs, favorite bakeries and home cooks. And check out the favorite holiday recipes we’ve collected in our “Los Angeles Times Holiday Handbook.” The book shares more than 110 seasonal recipes to help you celebrate Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s.

Each book is $4.99. They are available at the Los Angeles Times bookstore for Kindle, Nook and iBooks.

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You can find Noelle Carter on Facebook, Google+, Twitter and Pinterest. Email Noelle at noelle.carter@latimes.com.

Panettone

Total time: 1 1/2 hours, plus rising time

Servings: 12 to 16 (6 to 8 per panettone)

Note: From former Test Kitchen director Donna Deane. Panettone liners are available at selected Sur La Table stores.

1/2 cup diced candied orange peel ( 1/4 -inch dice)

1/4 cup golden raisins

1/4 cup dark seedless raisins

2 tablespoons dark rum

2 packages active dry yeast

1/2 cup sugar, divided

2 eggs, at room temperature

2 egg yolks, at room temperature

Seeds of 1/2 vanilla pod

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups flour

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1. In a small bowl, combine the orange peel, golden raisins, seedless raisins and rum and let stand 30 minutes.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl, sprinkle the yeast over one-fourth cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees) and stir until dissolved. Stir in 1 teaspoon of the sugar. Let stand until the yeast begins to bubble, about 5 minutes.

3. To the yeast mixture, add the eggs, egg yolks, remaining sugar, vanilla pod seeds and the salt. Beat until combined with the whisk attachment on a stand mixer, or with a whisk by hand. Beat in the flour until blended with a paddle attachment or by hand using a fork.

4. Beat in the softened butter (if not using a stand mixer, this may need to be done with your hands), a little at a time until dough has a glossy sheen and becomes ropey, about 5 minutes (10 minutes by hand).

5. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead on a lightly floured board about 10 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball and let rise in a lightly buttered bowl until doubled in bulk, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

6. Punch down the dough and lightly knead in the macerated candied orange peel and raisins. Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a ball. Place 1 ball into each of two 5-inch-wide and 3-inch-deep paper panettone liners on a baking sheet. Cut a cross on the top of each of the balls of dough. Brush the tops with melted butter.

7. Let the panettones rise until doubled, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Brush with butter. Put a second baking sheet under the panettones and bake in a 350-degree oven 30 to 35 minutes. When done, the panettones will be puffed and rich golden brown.

Each of 16 servings: 237 calories; 4 grams protein; 37 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 8 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 69 mg. cholesterol; 85 mg. sodium.