Best panettone for Christmas 2023, from Fortnum & Mason, Waitrose and more

When it comes to panettone, we do love a classic but we could also be tempted by a new wave of flavours. This Florentine-inspired panettone features Sicilian candied orange peel, sultanas and candied cherries, with a caramel filling, topped with chocolate, hazelnuts, almonds, candied orange peel and freeze-dried cherries.

The panettone was light and fluffy in texture, while having all the flavours we crave from a sweet treat. The caramel filling and chocolate topping also meant we weren’t reaching for any preserves to accompany the Italian cake either. The inclusion of only Piedmont hazelnut is really highlighted here, as it is known as being one of the best hazelnuts for confectionery. We have to say the panettone tasted absolutely delicious, with these nuts adding a little crunch.

Weighing 500g, this classic Italian cake is made with sultanas, butter and candied peel and is potentially a more appropriate size for smaller households.

While we enjoyed the texture of this panettone – it was as light and fluffy as some of the other supermarket brands we tested – there was a slightly bitter taste to some of the cake and the fruit (although there was lots of candied fruit).

If you’ve ever thought panettone needs an exciting upgrade, this limoncello version from Fortnum & Mason is the one for you. A twist on the Italian classic, the panettone features candied lemons baked into the sourdough, which has undergone 48 hours of proofing. We really liked that the limoncello featured is artisanal, from a small producer in Sorrento, while also including Amalfi lemons.

This went down a little too well in our house, with multiple servings being enjoyed. If you’re someone who soaks your Christmas pudding in rum or opts for brandy cream with your mince pies, this limoncello panettone will go down a treat.

We were a little concerned that the limoncello would take away from the classic Italian cake but it subtly enhanced it, giving it a great flavour. The texture of the cake itself was also perfect. Obviously, this panettone isn’t for everyone, so bear that in mind should you be entertaining over the festive period.

The classic panettone will always hold a special place for many, and this one from Carluccio’s makes a strong play for being one of our favourites. The light sponge is made with butter, dried fruit and citrus peel, before being coated in a crunchy hazelnut glaze. The size of this panettone was particularly impressive – at 1kg, it’s among the largest we’ve seen, so you can be sure this one will last you all festive season or be plentiful enough to feed any guests you might be hosting.

Carluccio’s notes that one of the key elements of its panettone is the natural yeast, which is what makes this cake so light, fluffy and delicate in both taste and texture. Even though this is a plain panettone, there was enough flavour in this Italian cake that we didn’t even want to put extra butter on it – there’s the perfect level of every ingredient, and we enjoyed devouring it with a cup of tea.

Another large panettone, this nutty version from Marks and Spencer follows a traditional Italian recipe, and features Turkish sultanas and Sicilian candied orange. The panettone has been crafted in the Di Gennaro family-run bakery in Fossano, where the unique sourdough mother dough dates back more than 50 years.

We really enjoyed the crispy hazelnut topping, as this added a contrasting texture to the fluffy cake and fruit content, while the sprinkling of whole roasted Apulian almonds added a great taste and texture, too.

Moist and not too sweet, this panettone worked well as a breakfast alternative, so we could see ourselves enjoying this with tea, coffee or hot chocolate come Christmas morning.

If you want a fresh take on a panettone this Christmas, this cherry and chocolate version from Asda is delicious and the perfect size for one person. Ideal for those not celebrating Christmas with a big group (or should you be the only pro-panettone person in the household), this is a great option for those wishing to consume just the right amount over Christmas.

There was a really great flavour to this, although we noted the chocolate flavour was stronger than the cherry (though this was not an issue for us) and the texture of the cake itself was light and fluffy. It wasn’t as moist as some of the others we’ve tasted but we didn’t notice this so much when washing it down with a steaming mug of tea.

Made with sultanas, butter and candied orange peel, this panettone is completely gluten-free, as it’s made with rice flour, allowing coeliacs and those with gluten intolerances to enjoy a slice of Italian cake this Christmas.

While we don’t need to stick to a gluten-free diet, we shared this panettone with a friend who does. Their verdict? Not only were they able to comfortably eat the panettone, they said it was softer and lighter than others they’d tried.

We also noted the buttery texture and, while we would say it wasn’t exactly the same as a regular panettone, it was a very good gluten-free alternative.

Vegans can now rejoice, as Abel and Cole’s plant-based panettone is here in time for Christmas. Remaining light and fluffy, the Italian cake is made with extra virgin olive oil and raisins.

We found it to be quite moist but ever so slightly drier than a standard panettone – while it wasn’t that noticeable, a quick stint in the oven or air fryer (to warm it up) can help.

The taste was top tier and the raisins were plump and sweet.