Panettone and Pandoro: Italian Christmas Cakes

In Italy, Christmas isn't complete without panettone and pandoro. The two sweet cakes are as iconic as a tree, wreath or mistletoe in other cultures. Italians traditionally give them as festively wrapped gifts, because they symbolize luck and prosperity through the New Year.

What is panettone?

Panettone means "big bread." It is a sweet, eggy cake traditionally dotted with candied and dried fruit. Hazelnut and chocolate versions are festive favorites too. The dough rises into a domed shape as it bakes.

Panettone was first created in Milano, though nobody knows exactly how. Plenty of romantic creation stories circulate. At Eataly, we work with many artisanal bakers who still make the holiday cakes in their original bakeries, often more than a century old.

Here is the odd part: Italians love to cook and bake, yet panettone is hardly ever made at home. Almost everyone buys it, maybe because the process is so time-intensive. The finicky dough alone takes 30 hours to rise.

The packaging is part of the fun. The large, colorful box is wrapped in ribbon like a gift, and in the days before Christmas it's traditional to bring a panettone to the host of a gathering.

What is pandoro?

Pandoro is made from a rich, eggy dough, not unlike French brioche. That explains the name: "golden bread." It bakes in an eight-pointed star-shaped pan that gives the cake its signature form, modeled after the mountains near Verona, where pandoro was first made.

The earliest versions date to the era of the Venetian Republic, when trade had made the region extremely wealthy. Some are said to have been served covered in gold leaf. Today, pandoro gets a light dusting of vanilla-flavored powdered sugar instead: the "snow" on the mountaintops.

How to enjoy the holiday cakes

Italians eat panettone and pandoro at any time of day, breakfast included. Both are delicious on their own and pair well with coffee and wine.

For an extra festive twist, add whipped cream, sweet spreads, fresh fruit or dark chocolate. Our holiday cakes and pairings are in the markets and online.