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Home » ALL RECIPES » Easy No-Bake Panforte (Italian Christmas Cake)

Easy No-Bake Panforte (Italian Christmas Cake)

Author: Karon Grieve Published : December 2022

Recipe
no bake panforte
no bake panforte

This is a super quick and easy recipe for a no-bake panforte (like a no-bake Christmas cake) that makes the perfect festive treat you can whip up in a matter of minutes.

no-bake panforte with cups of coffee

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • This easy panforte recipe involves no actual baking so is easy and cheap to make.
  • Panforte brings you a bit of Italian tradition to brighten up the holidays
  • Like any panforte this keeps for up to 2 months, so it makes a great addition to your Christmas hampers and as a hostess gift too
  • This is basically a no-bake Christmas cake so super quick and easy for anyone wanting to make their own Christmas cake but without any fuss or even having to open the oven.

What is panforte?

Panforte is a classic Italian dessert that dates way back to the 13th century and hails from Siena in Tuscany.

The name panforte translates from Italian to ‘strong bread’ and originally it was a hard peppery bread like cake that was used as a tax payment to the monks at the monasteries in Siena.

The original dessert was composed of wheat flour, honey, spices, dried figs, jam, pine nuts and was flavoured with pepper.

Christmas panforte

Panforte is like an Italian Christmas cake and is sold all over Italy at Christmas time. It makes a great foodie gift and I’ve featured this recipe in my new Foodie Gifts For Christmas Book 2.

ingredients for panforte

Ingredients for panforte

Like the traditional panforte of old, my no-bake panforte recipe contains the classic ingredients of mixed dried fruit, honey and nuts as well as flour of course.

I’ve added in candied peel and instead of the pine nuts used in the original panforte recipes I have used a mixture of nuts – almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts and walnuts.

Spices – these are all-important in any panforte recipe. Instead of using a whole host of different spices in small measurements I have opted for keeping things simple in my no-bake panforte recipe and used ground mixed spice (often called apple pie spice blend in USA) plus some ground cardamom.

Other ingredients – sugar, sherry and edible wafer paper. Though the latter is purely optional but how panforte is sold in shops in Italy.

Vegan panforte

Make this a vegan no-bake Christmas cake by swapping out the honey for maple syrup.

The complete list of ingredients and full instructions for making this recipe can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

toasting the nuts in a dry pan

How to make no-bake panforte

Making this no-bake Christmas cake couldn’t be easier.

First things first – toast those nuts. The reason for doing this is to really release their wonderful nutty flavours.

When you are toasting nuts do it on a dry pan and it will literally only take about a minute. This is not the time to answer your phone or nip to the loo.

Watch those nuts like a hawk and the minute they release that gorgeous nutty aroma and start to turn golden tip them out of the pan.

blitzing fruit in food processor
cooking the fruit in a pan
stirring in the peel, flour and nuts

Step 2

Blitz the mixed dried fruit in a food processor along with the sherry, honey, sugar and spices.

Now boil this up in a pan for about 6 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the flour, mixed peel and those nuts you toasted earlier.

panforte in baking tin
paper on top of the baking tin
two jars of jam weighing down the panforte in tin overnight

Step 3

Spoon the panforte mixture into a baking tin (I’ve used a loaf tin) lined with baking parchment and with a sheet of edible wafer paper on the bottom if you are using it.

Add another sheet of the edible wafer paper on top (optional) then fold over the baking parchment to enclose your panforte completely.

Now put a couple of heavy jars on top of the panforte to weigh it down and leave it overnight or for 24 hours to set.

panforte in slices with Christmas ornament behind

Step 4

Finally, remove the panforte from the tin and discard the baking parchment. Now slice your panforte and it is ready to serve.

How many does this serve?

I got 10 good sized slices from this panforte recipe.

panforte slices wrapped in paper with pine cone beside

How long does panforte keep?

Now, this is one of the great things about Italian panforte, just like any other Christmas cake it has a long shelf life. This no-bake Christmas cake recipe (no-bake panforte) will keep for up to 2 months!

This makes panforte a great wee foodie gift for Christmas and for adding to your Christmas hampers. Check out my post on how to build the perfect Christmas hamper.

slices of panforte with cups of coffee

What does panforte taste like?

This Italian dessert/cake tastes rather like a really rich and super moist fruit cake. Think of the best possible Christmas cake and you’ll get the right idea here.

How to serve panforte

Traditionally in Italy panforte is served in very small portions either with a strong coffee after a meal or with a liqueur/brandy. Panforte can even be served at breakfast time, though maybe without the booze!

I like to serve my panforte in slices with coffee after dinner. It also goes really well with a nice mug of tea in the afternoon.

Serve your no-bake Christmas cake/panforte with a slice of crumbly Wensleydale cheese (or a good blue cheese) and a glass of rich red wine and sit by the fire.

larder links

Looking for more easy bakes for Christmas? Then check out these fun recipes before you go;

Spiced chocolate Christmas cake

Super easy Christmas Baklava

Kourabiethes – Greek Christmas cookies

Gluten-free Christmas cookies

looking for more festive foodie ideas? Then I have a whole section on Christmas recipes for you to check out.

Finally, if you do try this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment/star rating below as I just love to hear from readers. Want more Larder Love? Then follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter and sign up for my newsletter too of course.

Photos And Tips AboveMost of my recipes have step by step photos and useful tips plus videos too, see above.
no-bake panforte with cups of coffee

No-bake Panforte

Karon Grieve
This is a super easy recipe for Italian panforte, a delicious fruity festive bake, it's like a no-bake Christmas cake!
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Comment Bookmark Saved! Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 6 minutes mins
Total Time 16 minutes mins
Course baking
Cuisine Italian
Servings 10 people
Calories 197 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 150 g nuts walnuts, almonds, pistachios and hazelnuts
  • 100 g dried fruit figs and apricots chopped
  • 100 g candied peel
  • 1 1/2 tsp mixed spice
  • 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
  • 75 g caster sugar
  • 75 g honey
  • 2 tbsp sherry
  • 50 g plain flour
Metric – US Customary

Instructions
 

  • Toast the nuts in a dry pan for 1 minute till aromatic and golden
  • Whizz the fruit in food processor along with the honey, sherry, sugar and spices then boil for 6 minutes
  • Remove pan from heat and stir in the flour, nuts and candied peel
  • Press into baking tin lined with baking parchment and put edible paper top and bottom if using. Cover and press down with weights and leave to set overnight or for 2 hours
  • Unwrap the panforte, dust with icing sugar and cut into slices to serve

Video

Notes

Edible wafer papers are optional to place on top and bottom of the panforte in the Italian style.
Panforte will keep for up to 2 months in a tin or box.

Nutrition

Calories: 197kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 4gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 13mgPotassium: 174mgFiber: 3gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 6IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg
My Top Tips*Always read the full recipe first. *Assemble all your ingredients and everything you need before you start. *For baking check the size of tins I’m using as this makes a big difference to your cakes. * I use medium sized eggs unless otherwise stated. * I use extra virgin olive oil unless otherwise stated. * I use unsalted butter unless otherwise stated. * Check out My Preserving Kit!
Tried this recipe?Mention @LarderLove or tag #LarderLove

Filed Under: ALL RECIPES, Christmas, Home Baking, Winter

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Comments

  1. Sheila Farrell says

    December 5, 2022 at 4:13 pm

    Hello Karon,

    First of all thank you so much for all the wonderful recipes you post I use a lot of them, I always think I must let you know how I get on, however time passes and I forget until I need to ask a question…..
    What do you think of using cranberries in the Christmas recipes instead of the standard dried fruit? Some people in my family don’t like raisin and figs, I’ll check for dried apricots. I understand the dried fruits would be a better texture for Bucklava, and the Panforte but thought I’d ask anyway.
    Thanks and continue to make us all try something different

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      December 14, 2022 at 9:29 am

      Hi Sheila
      Thanks for the lovely comments on my recipes, I really appreciate that,
      Yes, you can use dried cranberries (not fresh) or any other dried fruit instead of the usual raisins, sultanas etc.
      Have a great Christmas.
      K

      Reply
  2. Cathy says

    December 19, 2022 at 6:58 am

    5 stars
    This is the best panforte I have made! It is not too heavy and it is delicious. And it’s really easy to make. Thank you for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      December 22, 2022 at 8:05 am

      Hi Cathy
      So glad you liked this panforte so much.
      K

      Reply
  3. Beiha-Malen Yanez says

    September 10, 2024 at 12:47 am

    Hello, this recipe looks great, would it work with a straight swap with almond flour? Thanks

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      September 25, 2024 at 12:47 pm

      Hi there,
      Yes you could use almond flour instead, should work just fine.
      K

      Reply
  4. Evelyn Breen says

    November 12, 2024 at 8:24 am

    Thank you Karen for this really interesting recipe. I am excited about it as I have never had it before. I am about to make it.
    How does the flour cook???

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      November 18, 2024 at 10:48 am

      Hi Evelyn
      You don’t cook the flour at all, it is mixed in with the fruit etc after that is heated. Hope you will try it.
      K

      Reply
  5. Laura says

    December 22, 2024 at 12:12 pm

    5 stars
    This is a wonderful recipe and such a treat. Terrific way to use up all the Christmas cake nuts and fruits. Thank you very much.

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      December 29, 2024 at 9:59 am

      Hi Laura
      So glad you liked the reciupe so much and thanks for letting me know.
      K

      Reply
  6. JB says

    December 27, 2024 at 9:22 pm

    5 stars
    Beautiful nutty and fruity no bake cake. What’s not to like?❤️

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      December 29, 2024 at 9:57 am

      Hi JB
      Glad you enjoyed this one so much.
      K

      Reply
5 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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