Made in Italy panettone: its distinctive features and where to find it
A symbol of the Italian Christmas tradition, panettone is a leavened sweet bread with a rich history. Generation after generation, to this day panettone is the embodiment of holiday conviviality, sharing, and cherished moments with loved ones.
Reflecting innovations in the culinary arts and the needs of individuals with food intolerances and allergies, panettone returns every year to the market with an ever-wider array of recipes, glazes, and fillings, ready to satisfy all tastes and needs, and maybe even astound our guests!
Before diving into the mouth-watering varieties of panettone, let’s take a peek at some fun facts and the evolution of this quintessential Christmas dessert.
Panettone: origins and fun facts
The first bit of trivia we’d like to share concerns the origins of panettone. According to legend, panettone was created by mistake at the court of Ludovico il Moro (1452–1508), when the cook forgot about the dessert in the oven during Christmas lunch, causing it to burn. The situation was solved by Toni, the scullery boy, who managed to salvage part of the dough and added butter, raisins, and candied fruit, thus creating the "Pan di Toni", later known as "panettone."
Legends aside, let’s move on to the first dictionary appearance of this dessert: the term "paneton" (meaning "large bread") made its written debut in the 1606 Milanese-Italian glossary. In 1839, it appeared as the term "Panaton de Natal", which Francesco Cherubini defined as "a type of wheat bread garnished with butter, eggs, sugar, and raisins or sultanas."
Also very intriguing is the "yule log ceremony" a fascinating tradition in Milanese families dating back to the first recipe for “very rich bread”. The head of the family would break the panettone and serve it to his guests, following a kind of ritual that emphasized family hierarchies in everyday life.
Last but not least, of particular note is the evolution of panettone’s ever-increasing popularity. Originally a niche product, around the late 1950s it became a symbol of Italy’s economic boom, when falling prices allowed it to become ever more accessible to a wider range of families, making panettone not only a star at the family dinner table but also a particularly popular gift, especially for children.
Authentic Made in Italy panettone: buy your favorite flavor online!
Once again this year Healthy Italia is pleased to offer its customers Christmas panettone with a variety of fillings. For Christmas 2024, we’ve selected three types of panettone to import to our deli, made by our trusted bakeries in Italy:
Panettone can be purchased at our headquarters on 53 Main Street in Madison, New Jersey, or in the "sweets" section of our online shop.
Panettone is subject to limited availability, so reservations are recommended.