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10 best panettone for Christmas 2026, including toffee apple and Aperol Spritz versions
The fluffiest Italian festive treats, according to our experts
Tested by Georgia TurnellGHI Food & Drink Tester
Panettone is typically made with dried fruit, candied citrus peel, almonds and brandy – although, as the Good Housekeeping Institute found out in this year’s Christmas taste test, there are now plenty of more experimental flavour combinations worth trying, too.
Our experts tried a wide range of traditional and flavoured options to find the best panettone for your festive brunch or enjoying with a cup of tea over the festive season. Here are our winners at a glance but keep reading for the full reviews.
Best panettone for 2026
How do you pick a good panettone?
With so many varieties on offer, we asked Deborah Parietti, Director & Founder of Feast Italy what to look out for in the perfect panettone.
“While the first appearance of a panettone is important, it’s inside that makes the real difference,” Parietti explains. “You should look for bubbly dough with an intense yellow colour and a soft, bouncy consistency. This indicates that the rising process was long and slow (up to 72 hours in some cases).
“Fruit should be evenly distributed throughout the bake, and the aromas of butter, vanilla, raisins and orange should fill the air with its festive scent. Taste-wise, we’d be looking for a crust that’s as soft as the middle, without any bitterness, or worse, burnt aftertaste. A good panettone should be moist but not greasy, with well-balanced ingredients that don’t overpower one another.”
How we test panettone
Our Good Housekeeping Institute experts sampled 17 classic and flavoured panettone to find the tastiest picks for Christmas 2026.
They were looking for a good rise and a rich, buttery taste, though the flavours ranged from traditional dried fruit and candied peel to more daring combinations of chocolate, toffee apple and even Aperol Spritz.
Morrisons The Best Classic Panettone 750g
Morrisons The Best Classic Panettone 750g
Score: 88/100
Keeping things classic, Morrisons' traditional fruit-filled panettone impressed across the board to take the top spot this year. Soft, silky and pillowy, the rich, buttery bake is packed with exceptionally juicy vine fruit and large pieces of zesty candied citrus peel, with a gentle boozy warmth for added depth.
Tesco Finest Winter Spiced Toffee Apple Panettone 750g
Tesco Finest Winter Spiced Toffee Apple Panettone 750g
Score: 88/100
Combining the best of Halloween and Christmas, this festive treat blends toffee apple and panettone in one delicious bite. Our winning flavoured bake may not be traditional, but it wowed the panel with its soft, buttery layers, juicy candied apple and ribbons of cinnamon-spiked caramel.
Testers also loved the DIY finishing touch, with cinnamon sugar provided to sprinkle over the top. Warming and wintery, we'd happily eat this for breakfast and dessert.
Exceptional by ASDA Chocolate & Caramel Panettone 750g
Exceptional by ASDA Chocolate & Caramel Panettone 750g
Score: 85/100
ASDA's tall, well-baked panettone is filled with gooey caramel and chocolate chips, then finished with a dark chocolate glaze for good measure. The panel loved the rich, freshly baked brioche aroma, describing it as 'generously filled' and 'well-balanced'.
Rich and chocolatey without being overly sweet, this is a grown-up take on the Italian classic – delicious toasted or straight from the pack.
Lidl Deluxe Classico Panettone
Lidl Deluxe Classico Panettone
Score: 84/100
Lidl's well-priced, classic panettone is a good pick for those who prefer a more authentic recipe. Testers enjoyed the notes of orange oil, candied orange peel and well-distributed plump, juicy vine fruit. A solid buy for those on a budget.
Co-op Irresistible Classic Panettone 500g
Co-op Irresistible Classic Panettone 500g
Score: 84/100
At 500g, Co-op's panettone is ideal for smaller families (just don't bank on leftovers for bread and butter pudding!). The golden bake is packed with zingy lemon peel and juicy vine fruit, with just a hint of alcohol. Soft and light, testers appreciated the restrained sweetness – and happily went back for another slice.
Available 1 November 2026
Waitrose Spritz Panettone 750g
Waitrose Spritz Panettone 750g
Score: 83/100
Waitrose's Aperol-inspired panettone was the talk of the office. The buttery brioche is laced with vibrant orange sauce and citrus peel, while a sachet of sherbet adds a playful fizz when sprinkled on top. Unashamedly sweet and more pudding-like than the traditional bake, we love this fun, festive take on the Italian classic.
Exceptional by ASDA Classic Panettone 750g
Score: 80/100
Prefer your panettone a little less sweet? ASDA's classic bake has a distinctly savoury, buttery brioche base, with generous bursts of juicy vine fruit and bright citrus peel throughout. A refreshing choice for those who find traditional panettone a touch too sweet.
Lidl Deluxe Nocciolato Panettone in a Tin 800g
Lidl Deluxe Nocciolato Panettone in a Tin 800g
Score: 78/100
Don't let the hazelnut topping fool you – inside, Lidl's panettone is surprisingly classic. Vibrant orange peel and plump vine fruit run through the creamy, buttery bake, while the crisp nocciolato topping adds a welcome nutty crunch. A good choice if you want something a little different without straying too far from tradition.
Morrisons The Best Triple Chocolate Panettone 750g
Morrisons The Best Triple Chocolate Panettone 750g
Score: 76/100
Chocolate orange fans, this one's for you. Morrisons has combined white, milk and dark chocolate chips with zesty orange, while the slightly savoury brioche keeps the sweetness in check.
Rich and satisfying, with both chocolate and citrus lingering on the palate, it's a crowd-pleasing twist on traditional panettone that still feels suitably Christmassy.
Co-op Irresistible Chocolate Chip Panettone 100g
Co-op Irresistible Chocolate Chip Panettone 100g
Score: 72/100
If you’re the only one in your household that’s got a taste for panettone, this individual bake is ideal. The buttery brioche is soft and moist, with simple milk chocolate chips, and a touch of vanilla. Perfect with a cup of tea.
Available 1 November 2026
Should panettone be refrigerated?
'In a word, no,' says Parietti. 'It’s best to keep your panettone in its original packaging, while trying to remove excess air, which will keep your bake moist.'
'If it starts to get a little dry, it can help to warm it up a little, which allows the butter (or other oils if dairy free) to soften the dough again.'
What do you drink with panettone?
'Panettone is usually opened at the end of the Christmas feast, and is delicious served alongside coffee, dessert wine, hot chocolate or tea, as well as bubbles,' Parietti recommends.
Whether you choose to eat yours after Christmas Day lunch or for breakfast in the days to follow, tradition says you must keep one slice until 3 February, have it blessed and eat it first thing in the morning to keep sickness away for the rest of the year!
But after tucking into one of our top picks, you may struggle to keep hold of it beyond Boxing Day…
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Georgia has been part of the hospitality industry for the last nine years. Her starting point was the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school where she gained a Diplôme de Pâtisserie. She has worked at a number of well-known restaurants and bakeries including The Club at the Ivy and Ottolenghi, Notting Hill where she was the head pastry chef. Most recently, Georgia worked at The Clink Bakery inside HMP Brixton, which aims to reduce reoffending through teaching. She is an expert in all things baked goods and holds a WSET level 2 in wine.
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