Is Panettone the biggest waste of money

[Lily27]

Every Christmas, stores have the most gorgeously packaged panettone, it feels impossible not to buy at least one. And the big ones don't come cheap. My gripe is that you open it and it's nothing but eggy, vanilla flavoured fruit bread in the shape of a cake. I've used it to make French toast and it's fine, but nothing you couldn't do with a simple fruit loaf from Tesco or M&S. Panettone - a rip-off or worth it?

I've never bought one but I don't really get the concept...if its fancy bread why does it keep so long? Surely the best bread is eaten on the day its made?

I'd much rather buy (and consume in gluttony) a morrisons Christmas boule from the bakery aisle.

I love it! I had a limoncello one last week from a local Italian deli and OMG! Soft, lemony, lovely pieces of fruit and zest all through it...I want another one now! It wasn't cheap but it was gorgeous.

I adore panettone. Christmas breakfast wouldn’t be the same without it although, slightly controversially, I don’t like the chocolate ones, or salted caramel. It has to be traditional fruit for me.

Love the choc ones, it’s my favourite thing at xmas. Sainsbury’s TTD is delicious this year.

I only really like the chocolate ones.

I like it toasted and I love a chocolate one. The classic one is good for bread and butter pudding (and I don't get why pps are saying they'd 'just' use it for that,
like bread and butter pudding is just some slight inconvenience!
The chocolate ones are good for bread and butter pudding too, actually.
I do love the packaging and I think they make a good gift, or treat for yourself, for that reason.

Another one for the pandoro> panettone crowd!

Genuinely one of my favourite things at Christmas. I love Panettone and Pandora but you absolutely cannot beat a Bonci Panbriacone.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

I don't buy it, it's very nice toasted with half a pound of butter if you don't mind putting on a stone over xmas.

One of my hated ex bosses used to have it spread with pistachio spread (find it in delis) and was slightly annoyed when I pointed out he was putting on weight (he had it every day at work).

the mini ones are much better - I got some from a local cafe this weekend - lemon, choc ones and a normal ones.

Nope, panettone is amazing!

I haven't got one and there's no online shopping slots and I won't be going into a shop, so all who have one and don't want it can mail it to me to enjoy. I'm definitely not spending £40+ on a Dolce and Gabbana one from Sous Chef as much as I covet those tins. Or maybe I can attempt to make my own... or maybe not.

Good cappuccino or latte with a hunk of panettone to dunk in it, what's not to like. Even better slice of panforte with a coffee or sweet wine. However, quality is key. My Italian friend brings it back from her village bakery in Italy. Not for a while obviously. In the same way that some manufactured mince pies and Christmas cakes aren't a patch on home made.

I have had a beautiful one that was totally gorgeous. The rest, I agree. Nice enough but nothing special.

I can't eat them these days because I can't tolerate wheat but when I could my fave was Carluccios. Delish.

I love this with almond cream spread, so good. Otherwise I got rid of our leftover panettone last year by toasting slices and making chocolate spread sandwiches for the kids, that went down a treat!

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

As great as their food is the Italians just can't do cake.

Surely it's bread anyway-Pane?

I LOVE chocolate Panettone, I get one three from Chiostro di Saronno Panettone Chocolate Milano on Amazon. The original one is lovely too. I am now eyeing up the lemon flavour.

If you get them in November, they are cheaper, but I would pay more as they the best I have tasted.

I don't like the M&S one, I never thought I would say this, but there is too much chocolate on it. It's overkill.

Love them, smothered with mascarpone laced with a lot of brandy. How's it possible I'm in Italy and I don't have one in the house?!

I've only ever eaten the Lidl one. I really like it, and I say that as someone who does not usually like fruitcake or fruitbread much.

Heston's black forest one is pretty good and the Waitrose Apricot and peach bellini one is hog it all yourself good.

I've bought a fruit one from Aldi for the first time ever. I got into chocolate chip brioche with butter on this year, so thought a panettone would be a luxury version.

@Beseen22, panettone goes back to the days of the Romans, food had to be practical. It's an art to make something light but that lasts.

omg for all those that don't like it (the fruit ones - they other varieties no, just no) send them to me - I love them!

Surely it's bread anyway-Pane?

It's like they can't really decide what it is. They have cake intentions but don't know how to make cake properly so revert back to bread and then try and cake it up a bit with various sweet ingredients.

I bought my first ones last year and wish I had before. The M&S triple chocolate one is lovely and not sickly Bought another this year. Envious of talk of nice tins though. Only seen ones in cardboard boxes.