Panettone
Hand-picked from the finest traditional Italian producers, the Sous Chef panettone range includes some of the best celebration Italian Christmas cake you'll try.
Panettone Tin
Chocolate Panettone
Flamigni
Loison
Muzzi
Fiasconaro
-
Business customer? Our trade team is here to help. Learn more >
-
Business customer? Our trade team is here to help. Learn more >
-
Business customer? Our trade team is here to help. Learn more >
Filters
ClosePanettone
The Panettone Cake: A Traditional Italian Delight
What is Panettone?
Panettone is a tall, dome-shaped sweet bread filled with raisins, citrus peel, and almonds. With its soft, rich texture, it’s a beloved winter holiday treat in Italy and beyond.
Traditionally enjoyed during Christmas, panettone is perfect for festive breakfasts or as an impressive dessert centerpiece. Its delicate crumb and balanced sweetness make it a favorite for celebrations, whether served plain or paired with coffee or sweet wine.
History and Origins
The origins of panettone trace back to the Renaissance period in Milan, Italy. Legend has it that a young baker named Ughetto Atellani fell in love with the daughter of a local baker.
To win her father’s approval and the heart of his beloved, Ughetto crafted a sweet bread that would captivate the town. His creation was a resounding success, and panettone quickly became a cherished staple of Italian holiday celebrations.
This romantic tale adds a layer of historical charm to the already beloved sweet bread, making it a symbol of festive season of love and festivity.
Ingredients and Preparation
To produce panettone, you’ll need a blend of high-quality ingredients, including wheat flour, natural yeast, caster sugar, egg yolks, and butter. The preparation begins by mixing the dough in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
The dough is kneaded vigorously for 10-15 minutes until it passes the windowpane test, ensuring a smooth and elastic texture. Butter is then incorporated into the dough, beaten until fully combined, which takes an additional 5-10 minutes.
The dough is left to prove for an extended period, typically 10-12 hours, allowing the flavors to develop and the dough to rise beautifully.
Baking and Shaping
Once the dough has risen, it is shaped into a boule on a heavily oiled surface, using oil instead of melted butter to prevent sticking.
The shaped dough is then placed into a panettone case, with two wooden skewers inserted along the base to facilitate hanging the bread upside down after baking. This unique method ensures the final dough maintains its airy structure.
The dough is allowed to prove in the panettone case for another 10-14 hours, doubling in size the entire day and climbing at least halfway up the case. If the dough overproofs, it can be refrigerated to slow down the process, ensuring perfect results every time.
To know more on how to make panettone, read our guide here!
Luxury Panettone Cake Delivered to Your Door
Panettone is a seasonal Italian treat. Although panettone can be produced all year round, they are usually kept just for Christmas.
Year-round you can choose filone, which are baked to the same recipe as a panettone, however, are baked in a long loaf. And colomba - or Colomba di Pasqua - are the panettone-alternative for Easter, baked in the shape of a cross, or dove.
Traditional Italian Panettone
Choose from some Italy's finest luxury panettone and pandoro. They will all keep very well through to February or March each year, so are great to keep in the cupboard as fabulous gifts.
And you can enjoy the pillowy soft panettone sourdough throughout the chilly months. We have tasted all of these and every single one is delicious!
For extra indulgence – if you want to go a step further than a drizzle or spoon full of double cream – spread rich Italian creams on your sliced panettone. Luxury Fiasconaro hampers include these to make a beautiful gift, or you can buy them individually.
Learn more about how to choose the best panettone in our article "Panettone: A Buyer's Guide".
READ MORE: How to eat panettone
What Makes the Best Sweet Bread Panettone Cake?
Traditional panettone is golden, buttery and rich with dried fruit. The baking method takes time, and is a little like sourdough bread in that it uses a ‘mother’ yeast to bake it.
Each Italian panettone maker treasures their mother yeast, which creates the distinctive character of each cake.
The shaped dough is then placed into a panettone case, with two wooden skewers inserted along the base of first dough, to facilitate hanging the bread upside down after baking.
When buying panettone, there are a couple of things to lookout for:
-
Good weight, which shows a good moisture content
-
When you tear into the bread you should be greeted with the smell of fruit, vanilla and sweet butter dough
-
The crumb structure should be moist and naturally tear into long strips. Cheaper panettone will look more like sponges inside. Once baked, allow the panettone to cool completely to ensure the best texture and flavor before serving or wrapping for storage.
Our Favourite Panettone Brands
There are many great panettone brands out there, but here are a few of our favorites:
-
Bauli: This Italian bakery has been producing high-quality panettone for over 90 years. Their panettone is made with natural yeast and features a delicate balance of flavors.
-
Perugina: Known for their exquisite chocolates, Perugina also crafts a delicious panettone. Their version boasts a rich, chocolatey flavor and a moist, tender crumb.
-
Fiasconaro: This Sicilian bakery has been producing panettone for over 50 years, using traditional methods and high-quality ingredients. Their panettone is renowned for its delicate flavor and light, airy texture.
By following this plan, the new sections will seamlessly integrate into the existing article, providing readers with a comprehensive and engaging guide to panettone.
Our Favourite Panettone Brands
Find many of Italy's finest panettone at Sous Chef, including treats from Loison, Fiasconaro and Muzzi.
Popular Panettone Flavours with Candied Peel
Although the traditional panettone is a simple combination of dried fruit, vanilla extract wheat flour, salt is often used to enhance the overall taste of the dough. There are many exciting and delicious flavours to discover:
-
Chocolate - either with chocolate chips included in the dough, or dipped in chocolate for a thick coating across the domed top.
-
Pistachio cream - pistachio is a favourite Italian choice, either using the nuts or threading the dough with ribbons of pistachio cream.
-
Strawberry - any berries work brilliantly with the enriched dough
If you’re looking for vegan options, check out our recipe guide to best vegan panettone.
Or if you’re thinking about a baking cup - challenge this year, have a go at making your own - with our expert panettone recipe. Or take a look at our ultimate panettone bread and butter pudding recipe.
