Slow-Rise Italian Panettone

Instructions

• STIR raisins with rum and 2 tbsp water in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, 1 min. Stir, then cover with plastic wrap and set aside.

• COMBINE flour with sugar, salt, yeast and orange zest in the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix, using the paddle attachment, at low speed.

• WHISK eggs with 2/3 cup lukewarm water, honey and vanilla. Gradually pour into flour mixture. Increase speed to medium-low. Continue beating, and add 1 1/4 cups butter, 1 tbsp at a time, until blended. Increase speed to medium-high and beat dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 min. (Stand mixer may move around the counter as the beating proceeds.)

• REMOVE paddle, keeping dough in bowl. Drain raisins, discarding any liquid. Add to dough along with orange and citron peels and 1 tbsp melted butter. Gently knead fruit and butter into dough until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a cold oven until doubled in size, 12 to 15 hours. Note: In the winter, some kitchens are cooler, so the first rise may take at least 24 hours.

• REMOVE plastic wrap and lightly sprinkle top of dough with flour. Turn out onto a floured counter. Dust dough with a little more flour. Fold edges into the centre and place seam-side down in same mixing bowl. Cover with a damp kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and let rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 5 hours.

• POSITION oven rack in lower third of oven. Preheat to 350F.

• TRANSFER dough onto a floured cutting board. Divide dough into 12 equal portions. (A kitchen scale will make this easier.) Place dough portions in 12 2 1/2-in.-wide paper panettone baking molds, or in an ungreased 12-cup muffin tin. Dough will be about even with the top edges of molds. Brush tops with remaining 1 tbsp melted butter.

• BAKE in lower third of oven until a skewer inserted into centre of a panettone comes out clean, 30 to 35 min.