Looking for the best panettone to buy? Read on to find the results of our panettone taste test.

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How the best panettone taste test worked

Six members of the olive team conducted a blind taste test to find the most flavoursome shop-bought panettone. We tasted all of the biggest brands widely available in the UK. The group chose joint winners and a runner-up.


The results for the best panettone

Joint winners

Best light panettone: Harvey Nichols

About the panettone: Harvey Nichols panettone is filled with sultanas and candied orange peel.

More like this

Comments: With a light, puffy texture, nice crust and packed with juicy fruit, this buttery panettone had a pleasant chew, but wasn't too rich.

Price: £14.95/1kg, ocado.com, harveynichols.com

Harvey Nichols Panettone 1kg - £14.95

Best indulgent panettone: Daylesford

About the panettone: This panettone is flavoured with raisins, candied orange peel, honey and vanilla pods.

Comments: This panettone had a really squidgy texture, with a rich, yellow colour and full of plump fruit. There's a boozy kick making it perfect if you want something a little more indulgent.

Price: £25/500g, daylesford.com

Daylesford Panettone

Runner-up

Selfridges

About the panettone: This panettone made in Italy is flavoured with sultanas, candied orange peel, honey and vanilla pods.

Comments: With a vibrant yellow colour and juicy pieces of fruit, this generously-sized panettone has a very neat appearance.

Price: £19.99/1kg, selfridges.com

Selfridges Selection traditional panettone

Other panettones we tried

Crosta and Mollica

About the panettone: This classic panettone is filled with sultanas, candied orange peel and candied lime peel.

Comments: We found this panettone to have a drier texture than others, and the distribution of fruit wasn't even.

Price: £8.49/500g, ocado.com

Crosta and Mollica classic panettone

Arden and Amici

About the panettone: This Italian panettone is flavoured with sultanas, candied peel and natural flavourings.

Comments: This panettone had a slightly anaemic appearance and the fruit was hard rather than juicy.

Price: £5/500g, Tesco

Arden and Amici Christmas panettone

Carluccio’s

About the panettone: A classic panettone filled with raisins, candied orange peel, natural citrus flavour and natural vanilla flavour.

Comments: We found this panettone to have strong notes of almond, and a slightly artificial flavour.

Price: £17.95/1kg, carluccios.com

Carluccio's traditional panettone

Abel and Cole

About the panettone: This panettone is made with extra virgin olive oil and butter. It is flavoured with dark chocolate, candied orange peel and honey.

Comments: This chocolate panettone was very dry and pale in appearance.

Price: £15.95/500g, abelandcole.co.uk

Abel and Cole orange chocolate panettone

TABLE@VALLEBONA

About the panettone: This panettone is flavoured with chocolate chips and filling cream.

Comments: The molten chocolate in this panettone tasted fake and overpowered the whole dough.

Price: £16/500g, vallebona.co.uk

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Check out more of our taste tests here:

Cranberry sauce taste test
Smoked salmon taste test
Luxury mince pie taste test
Christmas pudding taste test
Oat milk taste test
Strawberry jam taste test
White miso taste test
Marmalade taste test
Tinned tomatoes taste test

Authors

Ellie EdwardsEditorial assistant and digital writer

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