During the Holiday Season in Italy, the number of desserts brought to the table is directly proportional to the number of gifts. In fact, Santa Claus is like a prolific pastry chef! Jokes aside, in Italy, it is essential to associate the holidays with good Italian sparkling wine and traditional desserts. From Christmas Eve until Santo Stefano (Dec 26), and then again on New Year's Eve, a toast accompanied by panettone is inevitable.
King of Italian Christmas, the panettone has a long tradition that goes from north to south which you cannot (and wouldn't want to) escape. Like me, some prefer pandoro, the star-shaped buttery cake to sample with mascarpone cream or melted chocolate. As for you, which side are you on?
Giving a panettone or a pandoro is an Italian custom that does not seem to have problems with being exported abroad, but it's not the only one. There are also other Christmas sweets that can make you happy, linked to the Italian regions and their customs. Panforte is a classic of Christmas tables; this traditional Tuscan dessert is a feather in the Italian gastronomic heritage cap. The Cantucci are perfect cookies to dip in vin santo. Ricciarelli are made with almonds, sugar, and egg white. Complicated to prepare at home, the Sicilian Cassata is a heavenly sweet. Let's not forget the Torrone, that incredible mix of sugar, hazelnuts and pistachios that melts in your mouth.
In short, the list could go on almost indefinitely: Here are 10 choices to sweeten Christmas 2020!
1. Torrone
2. Panforte
Panforte Fig & Nuts, Sapori $ 8.99
3. Amaretti
4. Classic Panettone
Panettone in Box 31.7 oz, Muzzi $ 21.90
5. Fancy Panettone
6. Classic Pandoro
Classic Pandoro, Perbellini $ 36.95
7. Fancy Pandoro
8. Fresh butter cookies
9. The sweetest subscription
10. All-Italian sweet box
Taste of Dolci Natalizi, Eataly $ 169.90