Rustichella d’Abruzzo Chocolate & Orange Panettone

There is no better way to ring in the holidays than with Rustichella d'Abruzzo's famous dome-shaped panettone. This buttery, rich brioche bread is studded with chopped candied orange peel, raisins, and chunks of dark chocolate. Made with a special natural yeast, the dough rises three times before actually baking, resulting in an extra pillowy texture with a tender crumb.

Enjoy this true Italian artisan tradition after the Christmas meal with a glass of dessert wine or some bubbly. Add extra festive flavor to the finale of your feast and serve slices of panettone next to dishes of mixed nuts, dried fruit and torrone. Or, make it the main event—warm thick wedges up in the oven on high temperature for a few minutes and serve with crème anglaise or fresh cream whisked with mascarpone. 

In 1924, Gaetano Sergiacomo started making rustic pasta using the whole wheat flour produced at his family’s stone mill in the small town of Penne in Abruzzo. In 1981, his daughter, Nicolina Peduzzi, decided to revive the pastificio, (pasta factory) naming the new product line Rustichella d’Abruzzo. Soon after, Nicolina’s adult children Gianluigi and Stefania joined the family business, and within a few years, the small pastificio had grown into one of the most extensive artisanal pasta lines in Italy. Today, Rustichella d’Abruzzo offers a diverse selection of pasta, pasta sauce, holiday goods and more.