Artisanal high-quality panettone is the way to go if you are looking for the best experience (and why would you be looking for anything less than that anyway?). Now let’s figure out how to get one if you can’t do your panettone shopping in Italy in person.
We will be looking mainly at Milan, the capital of panettone action. The jury is still out on which baker creates the best cake in town (there are several annual competitions being held there to establish that!), but some famous pasticcerias are widely known for their dedication to perfection.
Getting a freshly baked panettone delivered to your loved ones (or yourself) straight from Milan is both an understated and an exuberant gesture, and a next-level way to impress anybody who might need impressing. Here is the list of the best Milanese artisanal pasticcerias offering (selective) international shipping.
Shipping costs might be quite steep (so check them out before pressing that “order” button), but if you are reading this magazine, this means you are no stranger to the concept of luxury, which is all about getting (and paying for) the best and most authentic experience.
Gatullo Panettone
Gatullo is a family of pastry makers that opened its first laboratory at Piazzale di Porta Lodovica in Milan in 1961. Since then, they have won many awards. Their panettone takes 30 hours to make and is recognized by the Milanese Chamber of Commerce as adhering to the strict local rules.
Being all about tradition, Gatullo focus on the classic recipe and do not experiment with exotic flavors. Their panettone starts at 32€ for a 750 g cake. The biggest size they sell is 3 kg. They also have different packaging color schemes and gift wrapping to choose from.
Peck Panettone
Peck is a gourmet store and a restaurant with a 140-year-old history that never stopped reinventing itself and offers the best of modern Italian and Milanese cuisine not only in its native city, but also in places as far away as Japan. Peck was the only restaurant that had the honor to represent Italy at the World Expo in 2015.
Needless to say, they offer superb panettone made in a 72-hour process. The flavors go from classic to the more unusual “Amarena, Limone and Almond” or “Pistachio, Coffee and White Chocolate”, prices start at 36€ for a 1 kg cake. You can also get a magnum 4 kg size.
Biffi Panettone
Want to try panettone fit for a Pope? Go to Biffi. This traditional pastry shop was established in 1847 and developed such a reputation for excellency that Pope Pius X requested to try their panettone. Of course, his wish was granted and Paolo, the head of the Biffi family, presented the pontiff with a cake of “Pharaonic dimensions” decorated with the colors of the Italian flag.
If it’s good enough for the Holy Father, it should be worth a try. Biffi’s panettoni need 40 hours of preparation time, offer the classic palette of flavors, and start at 40€.
Cucchi Panettone
Officially recognized as one of the historic places and pastry shops in Italy and Milan, pasticceria Cucchi was founded in 1936. The interior design carries the air of the 1950s, making it one of the popular places in Milan that went through decades almost unchanged.
Cucchi is now owned by the third generation of the founding family, who take pride in the quality of their ingredients and craftsmanship. Their classic panettone is considered one of the best and costs 39€.
Loison Panettone
The company was founded in Costabissara in 1938 and remains a family business (today in third generation), with Dario Loison overseeing the baking and the business development and his wife Sonia Pilla the design side. They have not only won many awards for their products and philosophy, but are also important ambassadors of panettone culture.
One of their projects is Insolito Panettone – a digital publication dedicated to showing panettone in a new light. Among profiles of chefs and artists, you can find some spectacular sweet and savory recipes featuring panettone in unexpected ways, like Stuffed onions with panettone and parmesan or Borage risotto with stracciatella and panettone.
Another passion project of Dario is the panettone museum where he displays historic documents, baking utensils and graphic art collected all over the world. And as if this were not enough, Loison also host a panettone library!
As you could expect from somebody as passionate about their product, all Loison panettoni take 72 hours to make and use only the best (and, in many cases, single origin) ingredients. You can check out the process on their website.
Flavor-wise, Loison are not limiting themselves to the classics. They have mouth-watering varieties like Rose, Pistacchio Matcha, Licorice & Saffron, Chocolate & Salted Caramel, Fig, or DiVino with a blend of Raisin Wines. The cakes are available in a wide range of sizes (from a single “to go” slice to 10 kg magnums), collections and packaging design (they even have a panettone teddy bear, which is both slightly creepy and very cute).
Their webshop has international shipping, but Loison is also one of the few artisanal panettone makers from Italy with a wide international distribution network spanning all continents. Check their store locator, and you might find their panettoni in an Italian deli next to you.
Olivieri 1882 Panettone
Founded in Arzignano in 1882, the company is now run by Nicola Olivieri who rediscovered his passion for leavened products and especially panettone while taking time to work as a pastry chef abroad.
Unlike most other panettone makers in the list whose online shops do not ship overseas, Olivieri 1882 have made a point of serving the US market directly. Customers from the USA get freshly baked panettoni delivered to their doorsteps from Italy right in time for Christmas, which is no small logistic feat.
The flavors range from traditional to innovative – Apricot and Salted Caramel, Rhum and Dark Chocolate, or Peach Amaretto and Chocolate. The two most unusual versions that I’d be excited to try are Panettone With Balsamic Vinegar Of Modena and White Chocolate Olives and Rosemary. The prices go from 75$ to 85$ for 750 g loaves.
Other Italian Panettoni worth trying
What to do if none of the above companies ship to your location? My advice – find an Italian deli or a traditional restaurant near you and see if they import panettone from Italy to sell around Christmas.
There are hundreds of Italian panettone brands out there. If you want to make sure you are getting a reputable artisanal quality product, check out the panettone section of Eataly – they feature many great bakeries each year. Any brand you see on their list will be an excellent option.
