The Italian version of Christmas cake is the traditional panettone, it is so ridiculously delicious. It is believed to have originated in Milano in around the 15th Century, and typically consists of a light, well-raised dough, raisins, and candied citrus peel.
There are many tales about the origin of the pannetone, but this is my favourite version, compiled from the different snippets I have read.
There was once a baker named Toni, who lived in Milano during the 15th Century. Toni had a daughter, Adalgisa, who was very beautiful. A handsome young man named Ughetto della Tela fell in love with her, but he came from a rich family and knew that they would disapprove of his match with a commoner. He was a hawk breeder in the court of Duke Ludovico Maria Sforza, and in the dark of night he would sneak out to meet Adalgisa, when she was mixing bread in Toni's bakery. However, a new rival bakery opened and Toni fell sick, and his daughter had to run the bakery by herself.
Ughetto came to Adalgisa's aid, selling some of his hawks to buy butter to add to the bread, as she could not afford it. As soon as the butter was added, everyone flocked to their bakery, and the customers increased still with the addition of sugar. They were doing so well, Ughetto began to add delicious candied citrus peel and eggs to the bread, and raisins during the festive Christmas season. Toni's once tiny and floundering bakery expanded and became famous throughout Milano. Ughetto and Adalgisa married and their new bread was spread throughout Italy, and became a traditional Christmas dessert.
