Holiday Food Gifts: Fruitcake, Panettone & Gift Baskets

Food gifts that travel and keep: American fruitcake, Italian panettone and pandoro, German stollen, British mince pies, Caribbean rum cakes, and gift baskets of nuts, dried fruit, cheese and chocolate. Here's what each tradition is and how long it keeps.

The holiday cakes, explained

• Fruitcake is a dense loaf packed with candied fruit and nuts. Claxton (Georgia) and Collin Street Bakery (Texas) are the two best-known American bakeries. Dark recipes use more molasses and spice, and regular recipes are lighter.
• Panettone is Milan's tall, airy Christmas bread with raisins and candied orange. Pandoro, from Verona, is star-shaped, plain and dusted with powdered sugar.
• Stollen (Christstollen) is a German fruit bread with butter and rum-soaked raisins, covered in sugar.
• Mince pies are small British pastries filled with spiced dried fruit, served warm through December.
• Rum cakes are buttery Bundt cakes soaked in a rum glaze, a Caribbean holiday classic that keeps for months sealed.
• Opłatki are thin wafers shared at the Polish Christmas Eve supper.

How to choose

• For shipping to family: fruitcake, rum cake and sealed panettone are the sturdiest choices.
• For a host or office: nut, dried-fruit and chocolate gift baskets suit a shared table.
• For a savory gift: cheese, sausage and cracker boxes. Check each label for storage once opened.
• For a traditional European Christmas: panettone, pandoro or stollen with coffee in the morning.

Brands and prices

Brands here include Tortuga, Claxton, Walker's, Foxy Fane, A Gift Inside, Sugar Plum, Snackberry and Collin Street Bakery. Most gifts here are priced between $33 and $56.

Popular picks

• Claxton Fruit Cake
• Collin Street Bakery DeLuxe Fruitcake
• Bell'Amore Traditional Italian Panettone Cake 2lbs
• Dr. Quendt Christstollen
• Walkers Mini Mince Pies 9.3 oz
• TORTUGA Caribbean Original Rum Cake with Walnuts
• Godiva Holiday Stars Collection Gift Box
• Snackberry Holiday Mixed Nuts Gift Basket

How long do they keep?

Sealed fruitcake and rum cake keep for months in a cool cupboard. Wrapped fruitcake can be brushed with a little brandy or juice to stay moist. Panettone and stollen are best within a few weeks of the date on the pack, and once opened they keep a few days wrapped tightly. Stale panettone makes excellent French toast or bread pudding.

More for the holidays

Fill stockings from our Christmas candy and stocking stuffers, add a box of holiday coffee or tea, or browse all gourmet gift sets.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between panettone and pandoro?

Panettone has raisins and candied citrus and a tall, domed shape. Pandoro has no fruit, is star-shaped and is dusted with powdered sugar before serving.

Does fruitcake need to be refrigerated?

No. Sealed fruitcake keeps in a cool, dry cupboard. Once opened, wrap it tightly. It also freezes well.

How do you serve panettone?

Slice it in wedges from the top down, at room temperature or lightly warmed, with coffee, hot chocolate or sparkling wine.

What is a good food gift for someone who has everything?

Something they wouldn't buy themselves, like an imported stollen, a monastery-baked fruitcake, or a gift basket of nuts and dried fruit to share.