It’s not uncommon for Italian households to have stockpiles of panettone. Never mind hoarding toilet paper; if panettone is on sale, trust Italians to buy

Six. Eight. Twelve. I counted the number of beautifully packaged, tall dome-shaped boxes stacked in the corner at my grandmother’s house. Inside, each box contained a towering, sweet cake-like bread. Same thing at my parents’ place. Stored in their second kitchen is a leaning tower of panettone akin to a display at the end of a supermarket aisle. It’s November, and they’re ready to gift this culinary delicacy come Christmas time.

Italians have loved this dessert from Milan for centuries. It’s typically made from butter, milk, eggs and dried fruit and is often eaten over Christmas and New Year. However, it’s more than a symbol of Christmas – it’s part of Italy’s culinary culture.

See more: Panettone is Italy’s much-loved Christmas cake that keeps on giving