The Colomba is the spring counterpart to the Christmas Panettone, shaped like a dove to symbolize peace and rebirth. Tre Marie, a historic Milanese institution, follows a rigorous three-day leavening process using their secret "Madre" yeast. The result is a cloud-like dough enriched with fragrant Sicilian candied orange peels and topped with a hand-applied glaze of crunchy whole almonds and sugar pearls.
The Frank and Sal Difference: We source Tre Marie because they refuse to rush the process. While industrial cakes are forced to rise in hours, this Colomba takes three full days. That extra time is why the dough grabs the flavor of the butter and citrus so deeply, staying moist long after you cut the first slice.
While the dough is similar, a traditional Colomba contains only candied orange peel (no raisins) and is topped with a crunchy almond macaron-style glaze. The dove shape is also specific to the Easter season.
Keep it in its original cellophane bag and seal it tightly with a clip. Store it in a cool, dry place. Because of the high butter content and natural yeast, it stays soft for several days if kept away from air.