MOVE OVER PAVLOVA: PANETTONE IS QUIETLY TAKING OVER THE AUSSIE CHRISTMAS TABLE
Pavlova may still be the queen of the Australian Christmas table, but panettone is quietly coming for her crown.
New analysis of Google search data shows our interest in the tall Italian Christmas bread has roughly doubled over the past decade.
It has already overtaken the traditional Christmas pudding, and it is steadily closing the gap on the pav.
The figures were crunched by Italian-Australian newspaper Il Globo, using Google Trends data for Australia collected on November 6.
How panettone overtook the pudding
According to the analysis, December searches for panettone have roughly doubled since 2016.
Over the same period, interest in Christmas pudding has fallen by around a quarter.
Panettone first out-searched the pudding in December 2024, and it has not looked back.
Its cousin pandoro, the star-shaped golden cake from Verona, has more than doubled too, although from a much smaller base.
Fruit mince pies, meanwhile, have barely moved at all.
Pavlova is still ahead, for now
Before pav fans panic, the meringue favourite remains well in front.
Il Globo found pavlova still outscores panettone by more than three to one in December searches.
But the gap is shrinking, with panettone climbing from about one sixth of pavlova's December interest to close to a third.
Another interesting shift is that pavlova is becoming more of a once-a-year treat.
Year-round searches for pavlova have dropped by about a fifth since 2016, while December's share of those searches has grown.
As the analysis neatly put it, pav is turning into a dessert Australians think about once a year.
Victoria loves panettone most
The data also shows some fun differences around the country.
Victoria, which is home to the country's largest Italian community, has the highest share of panettone searches compared with pavlova, at 18 per cent.
South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia sit at 14 per cent each, while Tasmania comes in lowest at 7 per cent.
Panettone season also starts early, with searches starting to climb from late October and peaking in the week before Christmas.
By the last week of November, interest is already above 40 per cent of its eventual peak, so if you have spotted the colourful boxes in shops already, you are not imagining it.
From supermarket to designer panettone
One reason panettone has caught on is that it is easy to find, from supermarkets and delis to specialty Italian bakeries.
At the other end of the scale, Il Globo noted a 100-gram mini Dolce and Gabbana panettone selling through Melbourne retailer Henry Bucks for $49.95.
That is a lot of money for a little cake, but it shows just how fashionable this festive bread has become.
For most of us, a good-quality loaf from the local deli or Italian grocer will do the job beautifully.
Easy ways to serve panettone this Christmas
The beauty of panettone is that it needs almost no effort, which is a gift in itself during a busy December.
Slice it into thick wedges and serve it with coffee for a relaxed Christmas morning breakfast.
Lightly toast a slice and top it with ricotta, honey and fresh summer berries.
Use it instead of regular bread in a bread and butter pudding, and you may never go back.
Turn leftovers into French toast on Boxing Day, served with mango cheeks for an Aussie twist.
Layer cubes of panettone with custard, cream and fruit for a quick trifle that feels wonderfully festive.
And if you cannot choose a side, serve both, as there is no rule against pavlova and panettone sharing the same table.
A sweet sign of changing traditions
The rise of panettone says a lot about how Australian Christmas traditions keep evolving.
Many families now mix and match, blending British-style favourites with dishes from Italy, Greece, Lebanon, Vietnam and beyond.
Whether you are team pav, team pudding or newly converted to panettone, the best Christmas table is one that reflects the people sitting around it.
So this year, perhaps pick up a panettone for the pantry, just in case visitors drop by.
