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Roscón vs Panettone. Where to find this famous Italian dessert

By | 8 January, 2024 | 0 comments

Last Christmas, one of the most hotly debated topics in many Spanish homes was whether to opt for roscón or panettone, the reason being that traditional Spanish roscón has unexpectedly found a new competitor, all the way from Italy.

Although panettone, a typical Milanese pastry made with brioche bread, has been around since the 1500s, it has only recently spread like wildfire to Spain, taking over supermarket shelves and becoming the centrepiece in many bakeries in Spanish towns and cities, including, of course, Madrid.

Sultanas, candied fruits, pistachios and chocolate are the most common items to be found on the table in many Spanish homes around Christmas, alongside the traditional polvorones or turrones.

If you haven’t tried them yet, there’s still plenty of time, so here are some of the best places to find them:

  1. Pastelería Mallorca. Over the course of its long history this bakery has always been famous for its roscones, and now it is also known for its panettone.
  2. Casa Base. On Calle Nuñez de Balboa, this shop specialising in Italian produce offers the most traditional version of this Milanese dessert.
  3. Moulin Chocolat. Opposite the Retiro park, this artisan confectioner is known for its work with chocolate, and their panettone, which has a hint of orange flavour, is proof of its mastery.
  4. Big Mamma. Last Christmas the owners of Italian restaurants Bel Mondo and Villa Capri tested the waters by launching a 200-unit special edition of this dessert from their home country. If you missed out last year, keep your eyes peeled to see what they’ll do this year.
  5. Panod. Not to be left out, this bakery, which has outlets in several districts in Madrid, makes an in-house version of panettone that is designed to conquer even the most discerning palates.
  6. Umikobake. While this bakery is known for specialising in Japanese confectionery, including the famous mochis, they now offer their own version of panettone, which is well worth a try.

Categories: Madrid Restaurantes