Italian panettone, a sweet Christmas bread, in a bakery in Milan, Lombardy, Italy
getty
If you are a panettone enthusiast, it’s time to order the delicious golden sweet bread that is synonymous with Christmas in Italy.
Although Milan, Italy (in the Lombardy region) is said to be the birthplace of panettone, its popularity rapidly spread across Italy and later, with immigration, around the world.
Specific recipes for this sweet indulgence vary from region to region and producer to producer, usually differentiated by their local ingredients.
The best artisanal panettone is crafted with high-quality ingredients and traditional techniques handed down over generations. “Made in Italy” panettone is handmade from a “mother dough” yeast starter, baked in a heavy baking mold with tall sides, and studded with locally-sourced candied fruits, citrus peel, chocolate, or nuts.
Due to its sweet, fluffy, airy texture, panettone is sometimes referred to as a cake, but most experts consider it a type of bread. Around the holidays, this decadent treat is enjoyed in homes in Italy and beyond.
A beautifully packaged panettone (and its equally tasty cousin, the star-shaped pandoro) makes the quintessential Christmas gift, for friends, neighbors, relatives and colleagues—whether elegantly boxed, tinned, or wrapped in paper.
Some of the best artisanal Italian panettone for holiday gifting are featured here, including some you’ll be tempted to keep for yourself. Follow the links to order.
Bilena Settepani of Settepani Bakery, known as Princess Panettone
Settepani
The Best Italian Panettone 2025
Giusti Panettone with Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (Emilia Romagna region)
Giusti Panettone with Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
Giusti/NicolaTanzellaPhotography
Giuseppe Giusti has produced balsamic vinegar in Modena (Emilia Romagna) since 1605, making it the oldest vinegar in Italy. Claudio Stefani Giusti, a 17th-generation member of the Giusti family, now leads the company.
Handcrafted by this historic Modenese house, this panettone is made with natural sourdough and enriched with the brand’s signature Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI. The raisins are macerated in vinegar, resulting in a unique balance of sweetness and acidity, along with a soft, fragrant texture.
Olivieri 1882 Pannetone (Veneto region)
Olivieri 1882 Panettone Classico
Olivieri 1882
Olivieri 1882 is a family-run bakery in Arzignano, Vicenza, Italy. Helmed by head baker and 5th-generation Nicola Olivieri, the pasticceria is celebrated for its award-winning holiday cakes, including panettone, pandoro, and colomba.
Each panettone is worked by hand, taking four days (more than 48 hours of natural fermentation) to produce an Olivieri 1882 Panettone. Only first-rate raw ingredients are used, including Australian 5 crown sultanas, candied oranges (candied by Olivieri staff, chopped by hand and added into the dough, yielding a panettone with a unique and natural citrusy aroma), Tahiti Bourbon vanilla beans, Italian wheat flours, raw cane sugar, Belgian centrifuged butter and Italian acacia honey. Olivieri’s panettone contains up to four times more eggs than others on the market, achieving an exceptional flavor, texture and color.
Fiasconaro Panettone (Sicily region)
Fiasconaro Panettone
[email protected]
Crafted in Castelbuono, a small town nestled in the Madonie mountains in Sicily, each Fiasconaro Panettone reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to quality, slow production methods, and the authentic ingredients and flavors of the island, including Sicilian pistachios, citrus, honey, and Modica chocolate.
Under the vision of master pastry chef Nicola Fiasconaro, this extraordinary taste experience tells the story of Sicily itself.
Order by phone (1-646-410-4839) or email ([email protected]) from the New York Store
Settepani Nutella Panettone
Settepani Nutella Panettone
Settepani
Italian-born chef Nino Settepani initially imported Panettone before baking it himself. His family-led Williamsburg bakery uses only the finest ingredients—many sourced directly from Italy. Now, his daughter, Bilena Settepani, is head baker; combining innovation with tradition, she’s not afraid to experiment while staying true to her roots.
While Panettone is traditionally a holiday staple, Settepani has reimagined “Panettone Tutto L’Anno,” which can be enjoyed year-round, proving that moments of joy need not be limited to a few weeks each year. Chocolate lovers will enjoy the Settapani Nutella Panettone, which is dotted with chocolate chips and melted dark chocolate, filled with Nutella, and covered with chocolate ganache.
T’a Milano Pear and Chocolate Panettone (Lombardy region)
T’a Milano Pear and Chocolate Panettone
Tasty Ribbon
T’a Milano is a premium Italian chocolatier and artisan bakery founded in 2008 by brothers Tancredi and Alberto Alemagna in Milan, Italy. Grandnephews of the legendary Gioacchino Alemagna, their name has become synonymous with Italian pastry excellence for over a century. Sold in Italy’s most prestigious stores, the company has earned multiple International Chocolate Awards.
This authentic Milanese-style panettone is crafted with tender candied pears and rich chocolate chips, resulting in a sophisticated sweetness that’s indulgent yet never cloying. At 2.2 lbs, it’s generously sized for sharing during gatherings, while the delicate balance of fruit and chocolate offers something special for those seeking beyond traditional candied citrus flavors. (Tasty Ribbon is a woman-owned purveyor of luxury food gifts offering a curated line of artisanal products from Italy.)
Scarpato Lemon Panettone (Veneto region)
Scarpato Lemon Panettone
Dolceterre
Scarpato panettone has been a Veronese pastry tradition for more than a century, produced by this family-run company. Master pastry chefs craft these naturally leavened products using a slow and careful three-dough 72-hour leavening process, where time, temperature, and touch come together in perfect harmony.
From the first kneading to the final packaging, every detail reflects a respect for tradition and the pursuit of perfection. Only premium ingredients are used: pure butter, fresh eggs, candied fruits, and natural sourdough starter handed down through generations. (Dolceterra is a company that partners with small Italian producers.)
Palazzo di Varignana Dolce di Natale Panettone (Emilia Romagna)
Palazzo di Varignana Dolce di Natale
Palazzo di Varignana
From the hills of Bologna, Palazzo di Varignana crafts this limited-edition panettone using only extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) from its own estate, instead of butter — making it lighter and less fatty while preserving all the softness and aroma of a traditional recipe.
Naturally leavened and made with select ingredients grown on the estate, it embodies Palazzo di Varignana’s philosophy of farm-to-table excellence and authentic Italian craftsmanship. For the first time this year, the recipe for this panettone was created by Luigi Biasetto, Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie winner.
Eataly Tres Chocolate Panettone (Eataly private label, made in Italy)
Eataly Tres Chocolate Panettone
Eataly
New for 2025, Eataly’s Tres Chocolate Panettone is a sophisticated twist on the classic Christmas cake, handcrafted for artisanal excellence. Designed for chocolate lovers, the traditional dough is enriched with three different kinds of chocolate: 50% dark, 28% milk, and 24% white. Naturally leavened for 48 hours using sourdough, its soft, fragrant, and highly digestible dough reflects meticulous attention to detail. Presented in an elegant gift box, this panettone is a perfect festive treat or a luxurious gift for loved ones.
Eataly is recognized for its dedication to promoting the distribution and promotion of high-quality Italian food and wine excellence. The company currently operates in over 60 locations across 15 countries worldwide, with ambitious plans for further expansion. Eataly also offers an extensive selection of panettone sourced from five different regions.
Note: In Italian, the plural form of panettone is panettoni.
A Few Panettone Buying Tips:
- Some producers only make limited quantities, so order early.
- Follow your tastebuds and explore the wide variety of panettone offered by these producers beyond the specific ones described here.
- Most panettone serves 10-12 people. Before making a purchase, check the package weight to avoid disappointment.
- Don’t ever worry about excess. Panettone leftovers make delicious French toast.
*Additional tips for buying and serving the Best Italian Panettone
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/irenelevine/2025/11/16/best-italian-panettone-for-getting-and-gifting-2025/
