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?

God yeah..... who is buying all those panettone

I looked at them in Libertys yesterday - absolutely gorgeous but ££££. I shall look out for some nice tinned ones in TK Maxx but wouldn’t turn down Lidl’s or Sainsbury’s.

@AmyDudley

The ones I've had have always been a bit dry. I do like the pretty tins though (I actually bought one for my DDIL a couple of years ago because I knew she'd love the tin it came in). My DD keeps on about a double chocolate one in M and S - it is £10-12 I think. But I had a look and it looked a bit sickly. So I'm not getting that. I prefer stollen. I imagine panettone would make nice bread and butter pudding.

It makes the BEST bread and butter pudding.

And actually the Pandoro have been really hard to get this year.... supply issues it would appear.
I highly recommend the Balocco panettone over any other brand; moist, light, and no need to toast or butter or turn into something else

They’re lovely! I don’t think anyone’s expecting the food of the gods are they? It’s just a traditional Italian cake in pretty packaging...

We’ve had a slice with our coffee every morning this week.

Next I will bake tebirkes (a Danish bun/pastry) and we will have those for a week or so. After that, hmmm, don’t know yet! Maybe ginger cake. I just like having a bit of variety over the festive period.

I made my own last year and was disappointed. This year I have a Fiasconaro candied chestnut and gianduia lined up, Dolce e Gabbana tin and all and I cannot wait. I have had to hide it in a wardrobe to distract myself from it.

We buy our pannetone from the Prada bakery in Milan... best one ive ever tasted.

I usually buy two, one to have normally and one to make the following recipe with.

Slice pannetonne into slices, grill and have with whipped cream and tinned peaches with a grating of chocolate over the top... oh its delightful

@Thunderpunt oh I’m glad I’ve picked up a Pandoro as well, then! We have that on Christmas morning.

As posters above have said, panettone bread and butter pudding is definitely worth it. (Even with Aldi/Lidl panettone!)

I had a mini Chiostro di Saronno pistachio this morning as a stress-reliever (Dad having major surgery today) and it was lovely. Loison brand also insanely delicious.

If you don’t like it, it is a waste of money, why buy it??! I don’t buy things I don’t like!

never had a nice one either, can't see the point of them

YABU! I love them! Light, fluffy, chewy, orangey, vanilla-y, fruity - all the best things in one! The Aldi one is only £3 or so and is fabulous. don’t like the chocolate ones though, just the fruit.

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule

They’re lovely! I don’t think anyone’s expecting the food of the gods are they? It’s just a traditional Italian cake in pretty packaging...

We’ve had a slice with our coffee every morning this week.

Next I will bake tebirkes (a Danish bun/pastry) and we will have those for a week or so. After that, hmmm, don’t know yet! Maybe ginger cake. I just like having a bit of variety over the festive period.

But that is why people say why bother? It is not cheap and so not worth it for a traditional cake. If it was sold at the same price as a victoria sponge in Britain it would be fine.

Dammit I've just looked at the Dolce & Gabanna panettone tins on Sous Chef. I'm a sucker for a nice tin.

You need to try pandoro. Much nicer in my opinion.

I love them, but they have to be good ones. Carluccios used to do amazing panettones, with a luscious almondy crust. I might have to try and track one down this year, now you've reminded me.

No! They are lovely! What you really want is the Pandoro though - without the fruit.

Aldi have good, big, inexpensive ones

In Lidl they're huge & cheap. But I've never tried one, maybe I will.

It does also make great bread and butter pudding if for some reason you have any left

I agree, I much prefer Pandoro.

I prefer pandoro – if you get the star-shaped one you can cut it in horizontal layers then stack them up offset with layers of spiced and sweetened ricotta or mascarpone in between. Sparklers on the top: instant pizzazz and much nicer/more glam than a boring old Christmas pudding.

Italian household here so we love them. I really love Panettone too, the Bauli one with Limoncello is amazing but difficult to find in the UK.

@TellySavalashairbrush

www.amazon.co.uk/Bauli-Limonce-Pandoro-Christmas-delicate/dp/B00XUH7N28?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I'd never had one until Carluccios brought out a gluten free version and was very excited to try it. Dry and meh as far as I'm concerned (although maybe the non-GF panettone's are the food of the Gods).