We tried 25 panettones so you don’t have to – the best Christmas picks from M&S and Aldi to GAIL’s and Carluccio’s

Panettone is making a comeback – it is everywhere this Christmas. From supermarkets to bakeries, there has never been so much variety in the world of this traditional Italian festive treat.

Panettone is a traditional Italian cake with a sourdough base (referred to as the mother yeast), and an open, light, yielding texture. Traditionally risen slowly over a few days, panettone is baked in a tubular mould that results in a dome-shaped top and good height. Classic panettone contains candied citrus and raisins (in Italy this is taken as seriously as any classic recipe), but nowadays bakers are risking the wrath of traditionalists to get creative with flavours. From adding chocolate to booze, there's a growing world of unusual panettone flavours to try, while still trying to stay true to the bread base.

We taste tested over 25 panettones to find the best ones to buy this year – here is our verdict of the ones to get this Christmas.

For more Christmas inspiration, check out the results of our Good Food Christmas Supermarket Awards (for everything from turkey to Christmas pud) and the best Christmas sandwiches to buy. Find inspiration for using up any leftover panettone with our panettone recipes including panettone pudding and French toast.

Lina Stores traditional panettone

• Available from Lina Stores (£27.95)

Rating: 5/5

Of course, you can rely on the Italians to make a good panettone. This is a perfect example of a traditional panettone – studded with raisins and large juicy chunks of orange peel. It has a soft, buttery texture and attractive domed appearance. It's also an excellent option for a Christmas gift, coming in the signature Lina Stores pretty green and white striped box.

GAIL's mandarin & white chocolate panettone

• Available from GAIL's (£35, on sale from 5 November)

Rating: 5/5

This panettone seriously impressed us – we couldn't stop going back for more! It was one of the most moist that we tried – almost more on the cake side than bread. The dough has a butteriness which is perfectly balanced by the mild citrussy flavour from mandarin throughout that isn't sickly or fake. The white chocolate also gives a sense of extra creamy indulgence, although we couldn't really find any big chunks. All round delicious. It comes in a smart gift box too, if you want to give as a present.

Aldi Specially Selected panettone

• Available from Aldi (£5.99)

Rating: 4.5/5

This was our top scoring traditional panettone from the supermarkets. It is a very good example of a classic panettone with a good fluffy texture. It has a plain appearance on the outside but lots of juicy, chunky fruit inside with large sultanas and chunks of orange peel. It has a pleasant vanilla taste coming through too – we'd happily go back for more of this.

M&S Collection chocolate & cherry panettone

• Available from M&S (£22)

Rating: 4.5/5

This is one attractive panettone – tall and rounded with a great dome (plus, it comes in a colourful keepsake tin). The panettone has a light texture, the chocolate is rich and very dark (definitely not too sweet) and it's studded throughout with generous pieces of cherry.

Waitrose No.1 Sicilian orange nocciolato panettone

• Available from Waitrose (£16)

Rating: 4.5/5

This was an extremely popular panettone during our taste test, with judges repeatedly going back for more. It has a softer texture than traditionalists may expect, but this means it is pleasingly light. This softness is balanced by the unique crunchy meringue-style topping and whole almonds that give it an attractive appearance. The panettone has really big juicy pieces of candied orange peel inside for a citrus-forward option.

GAIL's chocolate sourdough panettone

• Available from GAIL's (£35, on sale from 5 November)

Rating: 4/5

The generous amount of chocolate chips inside give this sourdough panettone a really indulgent quality – any leftovers would be perfect made into a bread and butter pudding. It has a crunchy, sugary crust with hazelnuts adding extra crunch. It is less squidgy than the mandarin GAIL's option, but the slightly drier texture works well with the rich chocolate. Again, it comes in a smart box for gifting.

Carluccio's Panettone Tradizionale

• Available from Carluccio's (£28.95)

Rating: 4/5

Another example of an Italian brand nailing a traditional panettone. It has a classic aroma as soon as you open the smart box (great for gifting). It has a good texture and flavour, with a generous amount of candied citron but not so much that it weighs down the dough, ensuring a light result. The crisp coating on top adds a touch of extra sweetness.

Tesco Finest limoncello panettone

• Available from Tesco (£12)

Rating: 4/5

This is super soft and fluffy, almost on the doughier side. It's really zingy, with lots of pieces of candied lemon alongside the familiar orange peel, for a double hit of citrus. In blind testing, we enjoyed the overall citrussy flavour but did not specifically taste limoncello.

Lidl Deluxe tiramisu-style panettone

• Available from Lidl (£8.99)

Rating: 4/5

Traditionalists, look away now! However, if you want to try something new, this may be the one. Beneath a generous coating of chocolate icing and chocolate sprinkles, the plain bread has a firmer texture. At the bottom there's a slightly confusing golden layer – despite it's deceiving golden colour, it actually has a strong coffee flavour, almost like a coffee caramel. This, together with the chocolate icing, completes the 'tiramisu' idea. It would be a good one for dunking in an espresso too.

Co-op Irresistible classic panettone

• Available from Co-op (£6)

Rating: 4/5

This classic panettone is on the firmer side, which will please traditionalists who prefer their panettone closer to bread than cake. It is well filled with fruits including generous chunks of citrus and unusual green glacé fruit, with some sweetness from the dough, too.

Exceptional By Asda classic panettone

• Available from Asda (£5.98)

Rating: 4/5

If you don't like the overwhelming sweetness of dried fruit, this classic panettone could be for you. It is on the drier side overall, with small and subtle raisins and pieces of candied peel.