Panforte: A Seasonal Tradition Worth Repeating

Although panforte’s roots reach back to medieval Italy, it has endured as a sweet seasonal indulgence.
Panforte: A Seasonal Tradition Worth Repeating
Each slice offers a balance of restrained sweetness, peppery spice, and earthy depth. Lynda Balslev for Tastefood
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Panforte is a classic Italian sweet from Siena, Tuscany. It’s part cake, part confection, and entirely irresistible. Its name translates to “strong bread,” which is a nod to both its dense texture and bold flavors.

Though panforte’s roots reach back to medieval Italy, it has endured as a sweet seasonal indulgence, evolving from a spiced honey bread once made for monks into a rich and fragrant confection enjoyed during the holiday festivities.

Lynda Balslev
Lynda Balslev
Author
Lynda Balslev is a cookbook author, food and travel writer, and recipe developer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives with her Danish husband, two children, a cat, and a dog. Balslev studied cooking at Le Cordon Bleu Ecole de Cuisine in Paris and worked as a personal chef, culinary instructor, and food writer in Switzerland and Denmark. Copyright 2025 Lynda Balslev. Distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication.