If you are here you have probably already done yourself the favor of buying a pandoro… but now what?
It’s kind of a funny looking cake so you might be wondering how are you going to cut it in a presentable way.
The pandoro is one of Italy’s most beloved Christmas cakes, enjoyed throughout the entire peninsula and even abroad. If you’re lucky enough to have gotten your hands on one, read on to learn the best way to cut it.
Pandoro can be cut many ways and I will share all of them, but I will only go into detail about the most popular and beautiful way to present it at your holiday table this year. It’s the way I’ve been cutting our pandoro here in Italy since 2012!
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What Is Pandoro?
Pandoro is a light but egg-rich Christmas cake from the city of Verona (Veneto), dating back to the 1800s.
The sweet dough of pandoro (similar to a French brioche dough) is made from egg yolks flavored with vanilla and plenty of butter, creating a rich yet light as a feather cake. A good pandoro should melt in your mouth and not feel greasy.
Pandoro Christmas cake is cooked in an eight-pointed, tall star mold which is said to reference the tall mountains surrounding the city of Verona. The powdered sugar dusted on top just before serving represents all the snowfall.
Fact: Pandoro comes from the Italian words pan, meaning bread and d’oro, meaning gold.
Christmas Cake Rivalry: To learn more about Pandoro, its history and how it compares to its sister cake the panettone, read Pandoro Vs Panettone – An Italian Christmas Cake Showdown & My Italian Family’s Favorite Variety.
Ways To Cut Pandoro
There are several ways to cut pandoro, each best for a different occasion or presentation:
- tall slices
- small squares
- large star rounds (how I do it!)
- small hearts
In Tall Slices
Tall slices are usually how Italians, my family included, cut this cake for breakfast. Simply place the pandoro on its base and cut down lengthwise into large, thin slices (usually half a star point, which amounts to about 16 slices).
In Small Squares
Cutting pandoro into small squares is the most popular way to serve this Christmas cake at parties and celebrations because it’s easy to handle and serve. Cut the pandoro lengthwise into 8 large wedges (the eight points of the star) and then cut each tall piece into two or three wedges or squares. Arrange on a platter and serve.
In Large Star Rounds
Cutting pandoro into large star rounds is my family’s favorite way to cut Pandoro. It’s beautiful and fun for kids. It also makes the best presentation if you are serving Pandoro at a Holiday celebration or on Christmas Day.
In Small Hearts
Cutting pandoro into small hearts is another version of star rounds. Upon cutting your star rounds, cut each round into small hearts. To do so, cut from the center out four times, creating two points of each star to create the hearts.
My Family’s Favorite Way To Cut Pandoro
My family’s preferred method of cutting pandoro is by cutting it crosswise into large 8 pointed star circles. We then cut it into small heart shapes (see photo above) but the initial “wow” factor of the large star is what we enjoy most about pandoro.
To cut a pandoro as such, follow these simple instructions:
- Gently warm your pandoro by putting it near a warm oven, a top a radiator or close to a fire for 10 minutes or so.
- Fill the bag with powdered sugar (provided in a separate bag with the pandoro) and shake well to cover the Christmas cake.
- Place the pandoro on its side and slice into 1 inch wide rounds (see video below), best accomplished with a serrated knife.
Curious to learn how to cut panettone? Read How to Cut Panettone.
How To Serve Pandoro
Pandoro is served at anytime of the day in Italy but if you are eating it as is, without any additional sauces, it’s most typically enjoyed around the Christmas season at:
To serve pandoro as a more elegant dessert, say on Christmas Day as my Italian family does, we serve it with a mascarpone cream, a warm custard, pastry cream or even chocolate sauce.
Other Ways To Use Pandoro
Italians don’t like seeing foods go to waste and thus, even with pandoro they have come up with recipes to use whatever is leftover. My kids love this Italian Christmas cake so much that I have never had an opportunity to use leftover pandoro.
If this is not the case for you, consider making these pandoro recipes:
