Melbourne’s Best Panettone?
Holiday Range, Product HighlightIs this Melbourne’s best Panettone? It’s a big call to make, given the sweet bread’s popularity in this city, but even still, we think we can throw our hat in the ring.
All about Panettone
If you’re new to the Italian dessert scene, you may be wondering what Panettone actually is. So here’s the 4-1-1 on this Christmas treat.
Panettone is a traditional Italian sweet bread, commonly enjoyed during the Christmas season. This festive treat is characterized by its tall cylindrical shape, airy texture, and a distinctive flavour. Typically made with flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and candied fruits like orange peel and raisins. The sweet bread boasts a rich, sweet taste with a hint of citrus.
The History
Panettone’s roots date all the way back to 15th century Milan. There are a number of tales about the origins of the dessert, but one is quoted more than the rest.
As the story goes, the Duke of Milan threw an elaborate Christmas banquet, when disaster struck – the dessert was burnt. In swooped a creative young chef, Toni, to save the day. Toni created a dessert with the left over ingredients they had on hand – flour, butter, eggs, citrus zest and raisins. When the Panettone was presented to the guest they were thrilled, and the dessert was christened Toni’s Bread, or in Italian, Pane di Toni – Panettone.
In Italian Culture
Since the 1400’s, Panettone’s popularity has grown exponentially and today you’d be hard pressed to find an Italian household without one at Christmas time. In fact, Italy produces 7,100 tonnes of Panettone each year.
Panettone is a popular Christmas gift among Italians, but making Panettone is no small task, with a lot of time needed from start to finish, because of this many Italian families opt for store bought Panettone as their gift of choice.
Eating Panettone
Panettone offers a versatile and delightful eating experience with various ways to savour this traditional Italian sweet bread. Sitting somewhere between a dessert and a bread, Panettone is a popular for breakfast through to dessert. Typically sliced into wedges like a cake, a serrated knife is the best utensil to use to reveal the soft and airy texture inside. Enjoy with a cup of coffee, Cioccolato Calda or a glass of prosecco.
For those seeking an extra crunch, toasting panettone slices lightly is an option, and adding butter can enhance the flavour. This festive treat also pairs well with extras such as whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Panettone also makes a fantastic base for a range of desserts, such as bread pudding or trifle, allowing for creative variations that cater to individual taste preferences.
Why this Panettone is so special?
For many years, Panettone has been the name of the Christmas game here at Brunetti Oro and this year our Traditional Panettone is back better than ever. We’ve revamped our whole Panettone process – with new procedures and higher quality ingredients, making an all round softer, fluffier and tastier product.
One exciting step in our Panettone process is the 12+ hours our panettone spends upside down – you heard that right, upside down! They’re baked in a special trolley, with skewers through the Panettone, so that when they’re removed from the oven, the whole trolley is flipped. The panettone then spend the next twelve hours cooling in this position, making for a taller, airier finish.
Variations
While the Traditional Panettone is by far the most popular, we’ve seen a lot of new twists arise in recent years. Popular variations to the iconic treat include swapping the fruits for chocolate, or filling the dessert with creamy gelato. This year Brunetti Oro has several variations to the Traditional Panettone ready for you to try.
Let it Snow Gelattone
Filled with vanilla gelato and mixed berry sorbet with a wild strawberry sauce.

You Might Also Like…
Brunetti Oro Celebrates International Women’s Day
Introduction: International Women’s Day is a celebration of the incredible achievements, resilience, and strength of women all around the world. At Brunetti Oro, we honour the women who inspire us every day—whether through their leadership, creativity, or commitment to excellence. As a brand that prides itself on Italian tradition, premium quality, and authenticity we understand… Read More…
Brunetti Oro Celebrates the Melbourne Grand Prix with the New “Grand Prix” Gelato
Brunetti Oro is embracing the energy and excitement of the Formula 1 Melbourne Grand Prix, the first race of the championship, with a special edition gelato: “Grand Prix.” Available throughout March at the Flinders Lane location, this unique flavour combines innovation and tradition, paying tribute to the city and its deep connection with the world’s… Read More…
Party Planning 101 — Pro Tips and Why You Should Always Buy a Cake
Planning a party involves many moving parts, from picking out the perfect venue to creating a guest list and ensuring every little detail comes together flawlessly and on time. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or just a casual gathering, party planning is the key to creating an event where people will have fun and make… Read More…