Step 1
Prepare the sponge the night before you mix the dough: Mix 1.5 cups all-purpose flour with 1/8 teaspoon yeast in a bowl. Add 2/3 cup cool water. Cover with plastic wrap and let sponge stand at room temperature 8 hours to overnight.
Step 2
Toss raisins with Cointreau in a bowl. Mix orange and lemon peel in with raisins and add an extra tablespoon of Cointreau and let them soften if they are on the hard side. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand 8 hours to overnight.
Step 3
Pour milk into a saucepan and crumble in saffron threads; heat just to a simmer. Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer taking care to get all of the saffron bits into the bowl. Let cool to just barely warm (110 degrees F) or room temperature.
Step 4
Transfer sponge to a mixing bowl breaking up slightly with a spoon. Mix in eggs stirring a few times by hand. Add 2 1/3 cups bread flour sugar 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast and salt. Mix with the paddle attachment on low speed for about 5 minutes stopping to scrape down sides of bowl occasionally; the dough will be very loose.
Step 5
Switch to the dough hook attachment and increase speed to medium. Add butter one piece at a time mixing until each piece is fully incorporated. Increase to high speed for 1 minute if the mixer can handle it; the dough should be climbing the dough hook and starting to clear the sides of the bowl. Add soaked raisins orange peel and lemon peel. Mix on low speed for 2 minutes; the fruit may not be fully dispersed.
Step 6
Transfer dough to a greased bowl. Flop the dough over itself a couple of times (it's a little too wet to fold) cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise for 60 minutes.
Step 7
Fold dough a few times to release gas and mix in fruit. Cover again with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Step 8
Turn the dough onto a floured work space. Divide in half and shape into 2 balls. Place each ball seam-side down in a 6\ paper panettone form and set on a baking sheet. Beat egg with water and brush egg wash onto each loaf. Cover panettone forms loosely with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled about 90 minutes.
Step 9
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Step 9
Brush loaves with egg wash again and sprinkle pearl sugar on top.