Quick Answer: The best: Olivieri 1882 Classic (about $90). Under $30: Ferrara Bakery Panettone Alto or Madi Gran Panettone (about $21). For a board: Bauducco mini panettones.
Our top picks
Panettone is Italy's Christmas bread, and sliced into strips it's the easiest sweet for a holiday cheese board.
All 8 picks
Prices are from retailer listings and 2024–2025 taste tests; panettone sells out by mid-December.
Best overall
Olivieri 1882 Classic Panettone
- Weight
- 35 oz
- Leavening
- Natural sourdough
- Fruit
- Raisins, candied orange
Why it's here: The unanimous favorite of 15 in Wirecutter's test, Food & Wine's best overall of 14, and The Kitchn's first pick: rich, moist and fluffy.
Watch out: About $90 to $105 plus shipping; order by early December.
Why we picked it (sources)
Wirecutter's test via Scatti di Gusto (Scatti di Gusto); Food & Wine (Food & Wine); The Kitchn lists $105 (The Kitchn); Milk Street lists $90 and the ingredients (Milk Street).
Best under $30
Ferrara Bakery Panettone Alto
- From
- Ferrara Bakery, New York
- Style
- Tall classic
- Fruit
- Light on candied orange
Why it's here: Wirecutter's pick under $30: close to Olivieri, with less candied orange.
Watch out: Paler and plainer than the artisan loaves.
Why we picked it (sources)
Wirecutter's test via Scatti di Gusto (Scatti di Gusto).
Best value
Madi Gran Panettone
- Price
- About $21
- Style
- Classic
- Tested by
- Food & Wine
Why it's here: Food & Wine's best value of 14: fragrant and classic for about $21.
Watch out: Some tasters found it a little dry.
Why we picked it (sources)
Food & Wine lists $21 (Food & Wine).
Best for a board
Bauducco Classic Mini Panettone
- Size
- Minis
- Score
- 10/10 at Sporked
- Where
- Most grocery stores
Why it's here: Soft, fruity and not too sweet, and minis slice into neat wedges for a board.
Watch out: A mass-market panettone, not artisan; buy a big loaf from the list above for a showpiece.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked scored it 10/10 (Sporked).
Best flavored
Muzzi Tommaso Limoncello Panettone
- Flavor
- Limoncello cream
- Score
- 10/10 at Sporked
- Pairs with
- Mascarpone, prosecco
Why it's here: Light bread with real lemon flavor and bits of candied lemon; Sporked's best flavored panettone.
Watch out: Too sweet next to strong blue cheese; serve it with mascarpone or ricotta.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked scored it 10/10 (Sporked).
Best chocolate
Ofner Panettone Genovese Chocolate Drops
- Price
- About $34
- Mix-ins
- Milk chocolate drops
- Citrus
- None
Why it's here: Soft, moist and full of chocolate, with no candied fruit for guests who pick it out anyway.
Watch out: Milk chocolate makes it sweet; skip it for a savory cheese board.
Why we picked it (sources)
Food & Wine named it best for chocolate lovers at $34 (Food & Wine).
Best with cheese
Giusti Panettone
- From
- Modena, Italy
- Mix-ins
- Balsamic-soaked raisins, black cherry
- Where
- Amazon
Why it's here: Made by a balsamic vinegar house, with balsamic-soaked raisins: a natural match for Parmesan and aged cheese.
Watch out: A slightly drier finish than the top picks.
Why we picked it (sources)
The Kitchn lists $55 at Amazon (The Kitchn).
Artisan alternative
Filippi Classic Panettone
- Starter
- 40+ years old
- Butter
- French Normandy
- Where
- Market Hall Foods
Why it's here: A family bakery loaf made with an old sourdough starter, Normandy butter and bourbon vanilla.
Watch out: Specialty shops only, and it sells out.
Why we picked it (sources)
The Kitchn lists $58 at Market Hall Foods (The Kitchn).
How to serve panettone on a board
- Cut it: slice the loaf into wedges, then into finger-size strips. Toast them lightly if the loaf is a few days old.
- Pair it with mascarpone, Gorgonzola dolce, Parmigiano-Reggiano and thin prosciutto.
- Add honey, orange marmalade, dark chocolate and toasted hazelnuts.
- Drink: Moscato d'Asti, prosecco or espresso.
- How much: a 2 lb loaf gives about 12 slices; cut into strips, it covers a board for 12 to 16 guests.
Building a sweet board? See the dessert board and the Christmas charcuterie board.
Panettone questions
What's the best panettone brand?
Olivieri 1882 won Wirecutter's, Food & Wine's and The Kitchn's tests. Under $30, try Ferrara Bakery or Madi.
What's the difference between panettone and pandoro?
Panettone has raisins and candied citrus; pandoro is a plain, star-shaped golden bread dusted with powdered sugar.
What cheese goes with panettone?
Mascarpone, Gorgonzola dolce and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Creamy or salty cheese balances the sweet bread.
How long does panettone last?
Artisan loaves taste best within a few weeks; supermarket loaves carry best-by dates months out. Once opened, keep it wrapped airtight.
Why is good panettone so expensive?
It takes days of natural sourdough rising, plus lots of butter and egg yolk. Cheaper loaves use faster methods.
How we picked these, and sources
We combined three 2024–2025 taste tests (Wirecutter's 15 panettoni, Food & Wine's 14 and The Kitchn's picks) with Sporked's supermarket tasting. A Costco loaf review shows supermarket best-by dates (Costcuisine). Checked October 26, 2026.
- Scatti di Gusto on the New York Times / Wirecutter panettone test
- Food & Wine: we tried 14 panettoni (via AOL)
- The Kitchn: 4 best panettones
- Sporked: best fruitcake and panettone
- Milk Street Store: Olivieri 1882 Classic Panettone
- Costcuisine: Costco panettone review
More holiday sweets: the best store-bought Christmas cookies and the best shortbread. Every guide is on our charcuterie buying guides page.
