November 24, 2023

Food

The best panettoni in Tuscany

The historic pastry shops where you can find the inimitable and delicious handmade panettone

The undisputed symbol of convivial moments with friends or on the table during the Christmas festivities, the Panettone, of Milanese origin, has become a top artisan product in Tuscany, cared for and pampered by chefs and pastry chefs who interpret and reinvent it in a thousand flavours by focusing on excellent raw materials and long natural leavening so as to make it a unique product.

But where to buy the best? We'll tell you, starting in Florence!

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
Borgo Pinti, 99
ph. +39 055 2626450

The recipe for the Panettone della Gherardesca is the result of a collaboration between Executive Chef Paolo Lavezzini, Executive Pastry Chef Mariano Dileo and the artisan bakery and biscuit maker Leonardo Firenze. The three wanted to create a homage to the spontaneous flavours of the earth such as laurel, rosemary and chestnut honey. But it is also a reminder to go beyond Florence, to taste Apulian almonds and Brazilian walnuts. This year's box accentuates the elegance of taste, the same that echoes in the corridors of the Palazzo della Gherardesca and wraps around the garden to embrace La Villa.

Galleria Iginio Massari Firenze
Via de' Vecchietti, 3
ph. +39 055 8025253

One of Massari's most famous haute patisserie creations. The King of Leavened Pastries is characterised by a complex process that involves four leavening processes with controlled time and temperature, which considerably increase its softness, and two kneading processes, for a total of 62 hours. Inside, the perfect alveolatura encloses precious cubes of Calabrian candied orange and Sei Corone sultanas, which accompany and enrich the aromatic scents of butter and vanilla. An exquisite amaretto glaze, made with powdered almonds and hazelnuts and made even more delicious with a touch of cocoa, covers the top, trapping raw almonds and grains of sugar. A rich aromatic bouquet and a perfect balance of tastes and textures, for an extraordinary panettone in harmony between tradition and innovation.

Caffè Gilli
Via Roma 1/r
ph. +39 055 213896

Gilli's handmade panettone is created by master pastry chefs in harmony between tradition and contemporaneity, packaged fresh and without preservatives. High quality panettone cakes, made with prestigious ingredients and prepared only with mother yeast. The slow and gradual leavening, which is naturally completed within thirty-six hours, guarantees unmistakable quality. This year's panettone is available not only in the traditional and almond version, but also in chocolate and pistachio versions. Its quality is preserved in an elegant pastel-coloured tin with a design inspired by the decorative motifs of Caffè Gilli's Art Nouveau stuccoes and stained glass windows, making this container a precious collector's item.

We continue our tour of the best panettoni in the rest of Tuscany!

Pasticceria Caffè Nuovo Mondo
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 23 - Prato
ph. +39 0574 27765

From the great Paolo Sacchetti in Prato, who has won practically everything with his Pasticceria Nuovo Mondo. The main ingredients? Figs and dried fruit that are never cloying.

Peck - Forte dei Marmi
Piazza Guglielmo Marconi, 6 - Forte dei Marmi (LU)
ph. +39 0584 1661420

Like Santa's helpers, this year the artisans at Peck have created tasty panettone and pandoro, perfect for gifting to friends and family. In addition to the classic Panettone flavour, there are four variants: Amarena, Lemon and Almond, for lovers of elegant and refined flavours; Pears and Chocolate, for those looking for the perfect combination; Orange, Pineapple and Ginger, to give an exotic touch to Christmas; Pistachio, Coffee and White Chocolate, for the sweet tooth. The Panettoni and chocolate creations are available at the 3 Peck shops in Milan and the shop in Forte dei Marmi. They can also be purchased online.

Rigacci '48
via Pablo Picasso, 14 - Cerbaia Val di Pesa (FI)
ph. +39 055 826126

The goodness that comes from the genuineness of the ingredients, the passion and craftsmanship of the confectioners. A magical alchemy that leaves a pleasant, delicate flavour in the mouth with a warm, extremely aromatic and non-sticky finish.

Pasticceria F.lli Bonci
Via A.Vespucci, 101 - Montevarchi (AR)
ph. +39 055 981225

A soft dough naturally leavened 36 hours, with selected high quality raw materials, without preservatives and with an unmistakable taste given by the liqueur soul. Pasticceria Bonci's iconic Panbriacone is available in different formats and always ready to make your moments of sweetness unique.

Caffè Gilli
Via Roma, 1/r
ph. +39 055 213896

Once a meeting place for artists and men of letters, Caffè Gilli is an important city landmark. During the festive season, its windows are coloured with beautiful chocolate creations and top-quality panettone cakes, made with prestigious ingredients and prepared only with mother yeast according to the traditional recipe. An elegant but decisive taste. In both classic and almond versions.

Pasticceria Nannini Conca D'Oro
Via Banchi di Sopra, 24 - Siena SI
ph. +39 0577 236009

We disembark in Siena at Nannini's, the historic pastry shop that holds the record for the best ricciarelli in the city, but not only. Their panettone is not to be missed: fragrance, measured sweetness and excellent structure are the right keys here, all seasoned with the pleasant aromas of citrus and dried fruit

Pasticceria Peccati di Gola
Via Enea Silvio Piccolomini, 41 - Siena SI
ph. +39 0577 283155

Another Sienese pearl, the Peccati di Gola pastry shop, with its panettone cake that really has to be tried. The main actors are a knockout chocolate and the refreshing candied ginger in the pastry.

Pasticceria Mearini
Via Montalbano, 65 - Quarrata PT
ph. +39 0573 739623

Pasticceria Mearini in Quarrata offers a true Christmas masterpiece: strawberries, raspberries, and fresh blueberries gently embedded in the pastry.

Il Cantuccio di Federigo
Via Paolo Maioli, 67 - San Miniato PI
ph. +39 0571 418344

We come to Il Cantuccio di Federigo in San Miniato, softness and butteriness melted with tenderness. A panettone for young and old.

Pasticceria Fratelli Lucchesi
Piazzale Matteotti - Barga LU
ph. +39 0583 723193

From Fratelli Lucchesi in Barga, an extremely refined panettone, splendid in its combination: candied chestnuts that give aromaticity without affecting a barely perceptible sweetness and matched by concordance.

Corsini Bakery Dolci e Biscotti
Via Cellane, 9 - Castel Del Piano-Monte Amiata (GR)
ph. +39 0564 956787

We end in Grosseto, at Corsini's, with a soft and delicate panettone, where the softness and aromas of EVO oil leave the palate with memories of an incredible Christmas.