I don’t have a sweet tooth—I have a whole mouth full of ’em. I’m the person who always needs to “just take a look” at the dessert menu; the one who claims they have a second stomach specifically for the course, never too full for a little something sweet. So naturally, this time of year is pretty much heaven for me. From Thanksgiving pies to Christmas cookies and every treat in between, I love it all. But of all the holiday desserts, one tends to rise to the top year after year: panettone.
Panettone is a traditional Italian holiday dessert, and is a sweet, enriched bread (similar to brioche), often featuring mix-ins including dried or candied fruit, nuts, and chocolate. Sliced, ripped, toasted, or French-toasted, I love panettone every which way. And whether it’s the $6 version from Aldi or my personal pick, the (pricier but worth it) Olivieri 1882 panettone, they’re all perfect in my mind.
And now, Trader Joe’s is turning my all-time favorite Christmas treat into another celebration-worthy dessert.
Trader Joe’s Introduces New Panettone & Chocolate Gelato Style Frozen Dessert
Trader Joe’s is saving us all the cost of an Italian vacation this holiday season by bringing together two classic Italian desserts into one decadent treat. Its new Panettone & Chocolate Gelato Style Frozen Dessert is a festively flavored spin on the popular Italian Pistachio and Fior di Latte Gelato Style Frozen Dessert that debuted over the summer.
The dessert is brand-new to the freezer aisle but appears to feature panettone-flavored gelato-style frozen dessert with a swirl of chocolate, pieces of sweet bread, and candied citrus peel. It’s reminiscent of my absolute favorite panettone variety: dark chocolate and candied orange peel.
Though it’s only just arrived, early reception is overwhelmingly positive. “OMG! I am sold,” commented one Instagram user. “Tried it last night with the crew, if you like Chocolate Oranges, you’ll love it,” wrote a Reddit user who tried the gelato-style dessert. Another early taste-tester agreed, “It’s quite good! The citrus flavor is noticeable but is balanced with the other flavors.”
Each pint costs $4.49 and contains 2.5 servings—though I have a hard time believing the pint won’t be gone shortly after it’s opened in my house. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, or it sells out too quickly for you to nab a pint, don’t fret. TJ’s isn’t the only brand putting panettone in the spotlight it so rightfully deserves.
Jeni’s Ice Cream also has a limited-time Cranberry Panettone with Chocolate Sprinkles flavor for the holidays that caught my eye. Frankly, I think I’ll just grab both Jeni’s and Trader Joe’s for a side-by-side test—in the name of research, of course. And once I do, I promise I’ll share the results.
