The Best Panettone Makes the Perfect Edible Gift

The best gifts are edible gifts, and if you want to give a timeless one, go for some of the best panettone money can buy. This classic Italian Christmas cake originated in Milan in the late 1500s, and while we are normally all about baking things from scratch, making panettone is a long, painstaking process that starts with having a special style of sourdough starter known as Pasta Madre as well as the right paper molds, candied fruits, and a whole bunch of time and patience. Thus, we suggest buying panettone from the experts.

Panettone is the perfect thing to bring to just about any holiday gathering, because who doesn’t love fluffy, soft Italian bread chock full of candied orange peel and chocolate? It also makes a great last-minute gift or a show stopping holiday dessert with zero effort (just pull out a carton of your favorite ice cream). Me? I’m a panettone for breakfast person. It’s perfect with an espresso after a long night of holiday merrymaking, and if for some reason you have leftover panettone lying around your house, it makes outstanding French toast.

Olivieri

If I had to pick one brand of panettone to eat for the rest of my life, it would be Olivieri. They’ve been making this Italian classic since 1882, and have passed down their panettone recipe through generations of bakers. If you want something that’s super traditional, their classic panettone is a perfect example of the form, while the apricot salted caramel variety is a little more modern.

Fabbri

The brand that makes some of the best Italian-style fruits in syrup also makes great panettone featuring—you guessed it—those very same fruits. I am in a committed relationship with Fabbri’s Amarena cherries, so the fact that I can have them in a panettone is a true Christmas miracle. They also make a strawberry panettone, as well as a gift set that comes with two jars of their classic fruit preserves to make the ultimate panettone ice cream sundae.

Settepani

Settepani is a beloved Italian restaurant in NYC, and they really cover the entire panettone spectrum. For purists, there’s the classic Milanesse, and for anyone who can’t resist a rainbow cookie (me) there’s the truly avant-garde Rainbow Panettone: a raspberry, chocolate, and almond panettone that is literally covered in rainbow cookies. They also have a mini variety pack, which makes for great small gifts and stocking stuffers.

Chiostro di Saronno

This family-owned Milanese bakery makes simple, affordable classic panettones, and since they’re sold on Amazon, they’re pretty much guaranteed to arrive before Christmas. It’s also worth noting that they make one of the only gluten-free panettones we’ve come across, so no one needs to be left out of the holiday bread-stravaganza.

Ferrara’s

I’ve been getting cookies and pastries from Ferrara’s bakery in NYC’s Little Italy since I was a toddler, and while most things in Little Italy are tourist traps, this is the exception. If you want to be the favorite child at your family’s gathering, bring their panettone and cookie tray combo and watch your siblings fight over the last pignoli cookie.

Bona Furtuna

This glazed panettone is baked in Sicily, and is extra fluffy thanks to a days-long fermentation process. If you’re the kind of person who asks “What would Gwyneth do?” before buying something extravagant, know that this Sicilian lemon and cherry panettone is Goop-approved.

Pasticceria Scarpato

Williams-Sonoma partners with this storied Verona-based pasticceria for all of their panettones. Pasticceria Scarpato ferments their panettone for a full 72 hours, and while their focus is on classic flavors, they also throw in a few wild cards. I’m particularly intrigued by the Peppermint Bark Panettone, which combines their classic recipe with Williams-Sonoma’s cult-favorite holiday confection.

Sant Ambroeus

NYC celebrity hotspot Sant Ambroeus actually makes really good pastries, and their limited-edition panettone is no exception. Their classic panettone is studded with raisins, candied orange, citron, and lemon zest, and it comes in the prettiest pink packaging with a giant red bow. It has a six-month shelf life, so if you’re overwhelmed by desserts during the month of December, know that you can gift this to your future self when you need a little pick-me-up in March.

From Roy

Several of BA’s editors are obsessed with the panettone made by chef Roy Shvartzapel, who spent much of his career working for famous chefs like Thomas Keller and Ferran Adria. His panettone has the most stunning crumb structure we’ve ever seen. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s very worth it. “It’s so rich and airy, and feels absolutely special,” raved BA editor Zoe Dennenberg.