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The Best Panettone in Toronto

Christine Peddie

Written By

Christine Peddie

The Best Panettone in Toronto

The best panettone in Toronto are tender, rich and a holiday must-have for people across the city. Individually packaged in eye-catching, multi-coloured boxes, panettone is an ideal holiday gift. Made from recipes that require the skills to deftly complete a multitude of exacting steps -- from carefully coddling the starter, to proofing and mixing, scaling add-ins, shaping, even dramatically hanging the baked loaves upside down to ensure they're perfectly domed, light and airy -- panettone is the type of artisanal, once-a-year product that makes epicures weak in the knees.

Thanks to a profusion of fabulously talented, finicky bakers, the GTA has panettone galore to explore. We're also spoiled with shops selling some of the best exports Italy has to offer. Go traditional with candied orange peel, or sink your teeth into a panettone flavoured with everything from limoncello to pistachio, pear, cream and more. As fitting a companion for your morning coffee as it is for a glass of dessert wine, this subtly sweet, yeasty bread is a comforting winter companion. Try Toronto's best panettone now, before they disappear for another year.

Dundas West

1247 Dundas St W

Grape Glass

The only Toronto retailer of Elena Montreal's supernal sourdough panettone, you'll want to add Grape Witches (if you haven't already) to your holiday shopping route. Heavy with dark chocolate, apple Amaro-soaked cranberries and confit orange zest, each of these loaves is then topped with chestnut-almond crumble for the ultimate indulgence.

Grape Glass

Dundas West

1247 Dundas St W

The only Toronto retailer of Elena Montreal's supernal sourdough panettone, you'll want to add Grape Witches (if you haven't already) to your holiday shopping route. Heavy with dark chocolate, apple Amaro-soaked cranberries and confit orange zest, each of these loaves is then topped with chestnut-almond crumble for the ultimate indulgence.

Spaccio

This year, Spaccio's hand-crafted panettone is available in a classic flavour, with candied orange and raisins and cioccolato. Word is that a surprise flavour is also in the works for later in the season. Order online or test your luck in person.

Spaccio

This year, Spaccio's hand-crafted panettone is available in a classic flavour, with candied orange and raisins and cioccolato. Word is that a surprise flavour is also in the works for later in the season. Order online or test your luck in person.

Stefano Faita

A perfect gift to send to loved ones, Stefano Faita's traditional panettone are available in a range of flavours, including new apple and cinnamon, tiramisu and limoncello. Order from Hudson's Bay and gift the type of holiday cake people actually want to receive.

Stefano Faita

A perfect gift to send to loved ones, Stefano Faita's traditional panettone are available in a range of flavours, including new apple and cinnamon, tiramisu and limoncello. Order from Hudson's Bay and gift the type of holiday cake people actually want to receive.

SanRemo Bakery

Popular every year, San Remo Bakery's panettone comes in two sizes and two flavours. Available for walk-in only, these seasonal sweets disappear fast, so plan accordingly.

SanRemo Bakery

Popular every year, San Remo Bakery's panettone comes in two sizes and two flavours. Available for walk-in only, these seasonal sweets disappear fast, so plan accordingly.

Yonge and Eglinton

5 Manor Rd E

Padaria

Each dark chocolate chip and candied orange panettone you find at Padaria takes 72 hours to complete. The amount of time it lasts in your kitchen is entirely up to you.

Padaria

Yonge and Eglinton

5 Manor Rd E

Each dark chocolate chip and candied orange panettone you find at Padaria takes 72 hours to complete. The amount of time it lasts in your kitchen is entirely up to you.

Noctua Bread

A collab that's been years in the making, Noctua owner Daniel Saez has partnered with pastry chef Carlo Lazzarino for limited-edition panettone you'll be lucky to get your hands on. Made with in-house-candied, organic Valencia oranges, rum-syrup soused raisins, and a Mandarinetto glaze, these beauties will pop up at random throughout the season, so watch Instagram and keep your car keys handy.

Noctua Bread

A collab that's been years in the making, Noctua owner Daniel Saez has partnered with pastry chef Carlo Lazzarino for limited-edition panettone you'll be lucky to get your hands on. Made with in-house-candied, organic Valencia oranges, rum-syrup soused raisins, and a Mandarinetto glaze, these beauties will pop up at random throughout the season, so watch Instagram and keep your car keys handy.

Junction Triangle

1617 Dupont St

Mattachioni

Launched in late November, Mattachioni's meticulously-made holiday panettone are a thing of beauty. Light and airy inside with a golden crust, each one is yeasty, eggy, buttery and conceals an astounding amount of dark chocolate and candied orange peel.

Mattachioni

Junction Triangle

1617 Dupont St

Launched in late November, Mattachioni's meticulously-made holiday panettone are a thing of beauty. Light and airy inside with a golden crust, each one is yeasty, eggy, buttery and conceals an astounding amount of dark chocolate and candied orange peel.

East Danforth

1912 Danforth Ave

Mary's Brigadeiro

Dubbed the holiday "chocottone" the panettone at Mary's Brigadeiro is laced with chocolate chips and stuffed with a brigadeiro filling made from rich Belgian chocolate. Available in two sizes, there's one for every gift you need, big and small.

Mary's Brigadeiro

East Danforth

1912 Danforth Ave

Dubbed the holiday "chocottone" the panettone at Mary's Brigadeiro is laced with chocolate chips and stuffed with a brigadeiro filling made from rich Belgian chocolate. Available in two sizes, there's one for every gift you need, big and small.

La Strada Bakery

This family-owned spot has been doling out traditional panettone since the 1960s. Find classic flavours, along with surprise specials, in-store.

La Strada Bakery

This family-owned spot has been doling out traditional panettone since the 1960s. Find classic flavours, along with surprise specials, in-store.

Goûter

Choose between three flavours of panettone at both locations of this beloved Toronto bakery. Whether you crave classic, love the decadence of three chocolate or fall for the allures of noisette, there are no wrong choices.

Goûter

Choose between three flavours of panettone at both locations of this beloved Toronto bakery. Whether you crave classic, love the decadence of three chocolate or fall for the allures of noisette, there are no wrong choices.

Geste Croissanterie

Available in limited quantities every weekend until Christmas, Geste's individual panettone are tender, packed with chocolate and make the perfect companion to every holiday event from breakfast to happy hour.

Geste Croissanterie

Available in limited quantities every weekend until Christmas, Geste's individual panettone are tender, packed with chocolate and make the perfect companion to every holiday event from breakfast to happy hour.

Francesca Bakery

Made in the traditional style -- with ingredients imported from Italy and a 50-year old lievito madre -- Francesca Bakery has four festive flavours on its panettone menu this year. Opt for classic with candied fruit, Black Forest, triple chocolate or nocciolato, with hazelnuts, candied apricot and orange peels.

Francesca Bakery

Made in the traditional style -- with ingredients imported from Italy and a 50-year old lievito madre -- Francesca Bakery has four festive flavours on its panettone menu this year. Opt for classic with candied fruit, Black Forest, triple chocolate or nocciolato, with hazelnuts, candied apricot and orange peels.

King West

609 King St W

Forno Cultura

Forno Cultura's naturally-leavened Panettone Classico is made with 100% semola rimacinata, has a bitter almond meringue crust, is available in three sizes and, like a true Christmas miracle, is available at all open Forno locations.

Forno Cultura

King West

609 King St W

Forno Cultura's naturally-leavened Panettone Classico is made with 100% semola rimacinata, has a bitter almond meringue crust, is available in three sizes and, like a true Christmas miracle, is available at all open Forno locations.

Eataly Toronto

What better place to turn for direct-from-Italy panettone in a multitude of gorgeous flavours than Eataly? With everything from traditional to pear, pistachio, Amarena cherry, and more, Eataly's Holiday Market has enough panettone options to sweeten weeks of festivities.

Eataly Toronto

What better place to turn for direct-from-Italy panettone in a multitude of gorgeous flavours than Eataly? With everything from traditional to pear, pistachio, Amarena cherry, and more, Eataly's Holiday Market has enough panettone options to sweeten weeks of festivities.

Bloor West Village

45 Ripley Ave

Cheese Boutique

Cheese

For an eye-popping assortment of imported panettone, Cheese Boutique is a must-stop spot during the holidays. With a dizzying selection of some of Italy's most prized sweet breads on offer, you'll need plenty of time to decide on your faves.

Cheese Boutique

Bloor West Village

45 Ripley Ave

For an eye-popping assortment of imported panettone, Cheese Boutique is a must-stop spot during the holidays. With a dizzying selection of some of Italy's most prized sweet breads on offer, you'll need plenty of time to decide on your faves.

Cheese

Kensington Market

172 Baldwin St

Blackbird Baking Co.

Bakery

Stop by Blackbird Baking to grab one of the shop's naturally-leavened, beautifully-domed loaves. There's only one flavour this year, but since it's packed with cherries, candied orange peel and raisins, then flavoured with dark rum, brandy and vanilla, we doubt anyone will be complaining.

Blackbird Baking Co.

Kensington Market

172 Baldwin St

Stop by Blackbird Baking to grab one of the shop's naturally-leavened, beautifully-domed loaves. There's only one flavour this year, but since it's packed with cherries, candied orange peel and raisins, then flavoured with dark rum, brandy and vanilla, we doubt anyone will be complaining.

Bakery

Amico Bakery

Available in-store and for pre-orders, Amico's panettone comes in a range of flavours. Opt for chocolate chip and classic, or go with a panettone sweetened with one of eight fillings, ranging from gianduja to ricotta and pear.

Amico Bakery

Available in-store and for pre-orders, Amico's panettone comes in a range of flavours. Opt for chocolate chip and classic, or go with a panettone sweetened with one of eight fillings, ranging from gianduja to ricotta and pear.