Panettone, the Italian sweet bread with the plush texture, has become a true holiday tradition in California. Scores of Bay Area stores import versions from Italy, and more and more bakeries are making their own, whether the beloved traditional version studded with raisins and candied citrus or creations featuring hazelnuts, pistachios, chocolate, caramel, limoncello or other flavors.
This year we are highlighting versions that are either locally made, locally inspired or new to the marketplace. We’ve also provided a list of shops that stock plenty of panettone, so you’ll never have to show up empty-handed at a holiday party.
LA BISCOTTERIA: Baker and biscotti specialist Augustine Buonocore makes panettone year-round at his Peninsula shop, but he ramps up the offerings in December. Their bestseller is the 38-ounce Triple P (pineapple, papaya, pear). There’s also a 38-ounce festively wrapped Classic Panettone and a 24-ounce Classic. If you want to score one, you need to purchase online and then pick up in person, wife Angela Buonocore says. Details: $30, $35 and $40 from www.labiscotteria.com; 2747 El Camino Real, Redwood City.
STARTER BAKERY: East Bay baker Brian Wood is making two versions this season, using a mother yeast that originated in Italy and high-fat European butter. The Classic Panettone is filled with California almonds, Italian candied orange peel, candied lemon peel and golden raisins, and the Chocolate Orange Panettone features Italian candied orange peel and 64% extra-bitter Guayaquil chocolate. Details: $55 each at the cafe at 5804 College Ave., Oakland; advance orders recommended. Check website, https://starterbakery.com, for farmers market availability.
SIGONA’S: This Peninsula specialty grocer and farmers market is carrying two panettones handmade for the store by artisans in Verona, Italy. Sigona’s specialty foods and cheese curator, John Nava, visited the maker, Sogno Toscano, selected the ingredient combinations and tasted the batches for approval. There’s a Chocolate & Cherry Panettone, made with cherries, maraschino syrup and dark chocolate, and a Limoncello Cream Panettone. Both come in festive fruit-designed gift boxes. Details: Limoncello, $29.99, and Cherry, $39.99, at 2345 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, at Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto; https://sigonas.com/.
MARIPOSA BAKING COMPANY: This East Bay-based bakery has been serving the gluten-free community with breads and sweets year-round, for nearly two decades. Their classic panettone — a soft, sweet dough filled with raisins, candied citrus and almonds — is also dairy-free and soy-free. Limited quantities are available for pickup and online orders this month. Details: $24.95; order at https://pickup.mariposabaking.com/ for pickup at the Oakland shop, 5427 Telegraph Ave.
MANRESA BREAD: Baker-owner Avery Ruzicka introduced panettone about five years ago and the bread hasn’t left the Manresa holiday menu since. This year’s version, Triple Chocolate & Candied Orange Panettone, has a crackly dome and is made locally with organic wheat flour. Details: $85 at bakeries in Campbell, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz or online, www.manresabread.com
EATALY: For the first time, Eataly has commissioned panettone to be baked in Italy to its specifications. At the three-story Italian food marketplace at Westfield Valley Fair you’ll find the inaugural gift-boxed collection of the Classico version; Orange & Chocolate, topped with almonds and a sweet Piemontese hazelnut glaze; and Panettone with Pistachio Cream, as well as dozens of other imports. Eataly’s Pandoro is a traditional cake whose “peaks” are dusted with powdered sugar. Details: $59.90 for panettone, $44.90 for pandoro at the Santa Clara emporium, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., or online, www.eataly.com/us_en/stores/silicon-valley
Where to buy panettone
Besides the sources above, other retailers stocking panettone include Antipastos by DeRose (San Jose); Berkeley Bowl; Cru and Donato Enoteca (Redwood City); Donato & Co. (Berkeley); Draeger’s (Blackhawk, San Mateo, Menlo Park, Los Altos); La Villa Deli (San Jose), Lunardi’s (Walnut Creek, Danville, San Bruno, Belmont, Burlingame, Los Gatos, San Jose); Market Hall Foods (Oakland, Berkeley); Parma Deli (Concord); Piazza’s Fine Foods (San Mateo, Palo Alto); Williams Sonoma (Westfield Valley Fair, Stanford Shopping Center); Zanotto’s (San Jose, Sunnyvale).