Torta Paesana Brianzola (Bread Cake)

For the full experience, make this recipe with the Kenwood Recipes app.

recipe by Kenwood https://kenwoodworld.com/

  • Time icon
    Total Time
    1hr 20mins
  • Serves icon
    Serves
    12
  • Calories icon
    Calories
    573

Torta Paesana Brianzola, also known as Torta di Pane (bread cake) or Michelacc, is a traditional dessert from the Brianza area of Lombardy, Italy. It's a rustic cake with humble origins, created as a way to use up stale bread. As with many traditional recipes, there isn't one definitive recipe. Each family within Brianza might have their own slightly different version, using what they have on hand. This version uses plenty of rich cocoa powder, juicy soaked raisins, pine nuts, and crushed amaretti biscuits to create the richly dense texture. This cake is best served the next day, at room temperature, and can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

recipe updated Oct 22, 2025

Ingredients

  • Amaretti biscuits icon
    Amaretti biscuits
    400 g
  • Dark chocolate icon
    Dark chocolate
    400 g
  • Egg icon
    Egg
    1
  • Water icon
    Water
    as needed
  • Raisins icon
    Raisins
    200 g
  • Whole milk icon
    Whole milk
    1 kg
  • Breadcrumbs icon
    Breadcrumbs
    330 g
  • Pine nuts icon
    Pine nuts
    100 g

Tools

  • kCook icon Oven
  • kCook icon Stove
  • kCook icon Kenwood Chef
  • kCook icon Large mixing bowl
  • kCook icon Saucepan
  • kCook icon Round pan - 10"

Step preview

  1. Add raisin into a bowl
  2. Then add water until the raisins are completely submerged
  3. Let soak - 20 minutes
  4. Grease the tin and line with parchment paper
  5. Preheat the oven - 190ºC
  6. Add milk into a saucepan
  7. Heat until just below boiling - 5 minutes, medium heat
  8. Remove the saucepan from the heat
  9. Fit the Creaming Beater
  10. Transfer the milk into the appliance bowl, fit the splashguard
  11. Then add the next ingredients
  12. Mix until combined - 20 seconds, speed Min
  13. Then add the next ingredients
  14. Mix until combined and then scrape the bowl - 40 seconds, speed Min
  15. Remove the Creaming Beater and fit the K-Beater
  16. Drain the raisins and transfer them into the appliance bowl
  17. Then add pine nuts
  18. Mix until combined - 1 minute, speed Min
  19. Transfer the mixture into the tin and flatten the top with a spatula
  20. Bake until a skewer inserted comes out clean - 40 minutes, 190ºC
  21. Remove from the oven and let cool in the tin
  22. Serve
Open in app

With the Kenwood World app and a connected kCook Multi, you can create this dish in your own kitchen with ease.