Panettone vs. Pandoro: A Sweet Italian Dilemma

Walk into any supermarket in Italy in the weeks before Christmas and you’ll be greeted by displays of beautifully wrapped boxes.

What's inside these magical packages? Two traditional Italian Christmas cakes:

Pandoro and Panettone.

But what’s the real difference between them?

Panettone is the fruitier of the two, filled with candied orange, citron, and raisins. Its tall, dome-shaped loaf is airy yet rich. Pandoro, on the other hand, skips the fruit altogether. It’s softer and fluffier, with a delicate vanilla flavor and a star shape. Traditionally, it’s served dusted generously with powdered sugar, and resembles a Hungarian cake called kuglòf.

Those are the classic versions, but today, both cakes come in endless variations. Think creamy fillings, toppings, and flavors from pistachio to chocolate. In addition, many families boost the cakes with additional creams like mascarpone at home.

And of course, the ultimate question: Which one do we prefer at Line Studio?

We’re Team Panettone. :) Although we must admit, Lilla is a bit tricky. Raisins are not her favourite, and she’s still on the hunt for the mythical Panettone filled with candied fruit but without raisins. Hopefully, one day...