Panettone

This famous Italian sweet bread studded with raisins and candied orange and lemon peels is traditionally enjoyed for Christmas. Often exchanged as a gift among friends and family, panettone represents an act of kindness and a wish for a happy holiday.

This delicious treat is typically consumed with hot chocolate, ice cream, or eggnog. Legend has it that panettone was invented by a Milanese noble named Ugheto Atellani as a means of conquering the heart of Adalgisa, the local baker's daughter with whom he fell in love, and the bread was supposedly served at their wedding.

At the time - being made with lots of butter, honey, and raisins - it was known as pan de ton, meaning the bread of luxury, hence the name panettone. There are many more stories about the origin of this sweet bread, but regardless of its true origin, panettone remains one of the most popular Italian delicacies as well as one of Italy's most exported products.