The holidays in the European Union are all about family, tradition—and delicious breads. Two stars of the season? Italy’s fluffy, sweet panettone and Germany’s rich, dense stollen. While both are sweet, fruit-studded treats, their textures are quite different.

Luckily, you don’t have to hop on a plane to enjoy these festive breads. Panettone and Stollen are available worldwide at bakeries and other local shops or online.

Panettone From Italy: light and pillowy

Panettone (which means “big bread”) is a tall, dome-shaped bread with a soft, almost cake-like texture. Traditional Milanese panettone is made with a sourdough starter instead of yeast. This gives it a complex flavor, extra moistness, and a longer shelf life.

Studded with raisins and candied citrus (and sometimes chocolate or nuts), it’s a holiday favorite in Italy and, increasingly, around the world. Italians enjoy it for breakfast with espresso coffee or as a dessert with sweet wine, like Moscato d’Asti. It’s frequently given as a gift, too, presented in elegant boxes that symbolize goodwill and abundance.

I discovered it at a party about ten years ago, and it has become my annual breakfast treat (a slice with butter!) for the few weeks leading up to Christmas.

Panettone Pro Tip: You get what you pay for. Unlike the dreadful dried-out versions in many grocery stores, the best ones have a bright, citrusy flavor and soft, pillowy texture. Two of my favorite brands are Olivieri 1882 (The New York Times’s “unanimous favorite” which retails for around $90) and Fiasconaro ($35-40), which hails from Sicily.

Dresden Stollen PGI From Germany: Dense and Hearty

Dresden Stollen PGI, also called Christstollen, is a staple of Dresden's Christmas market and a beloved German holiday treat. This sturdy, buttery bread is packed with dried and candied fruits, nuts, and marzipan and covered in powdered sugar.

Dresden holds a “Stollenfest” every December to celebrate this iconic bread. Bakers and locals come together for a ceremonial cutting of a giant stollen, which is then paraded through the streets before being shared with the crowd.

Note: The PGI label acknowledges that a product's quality, reputation, or other characteristics are largely attributable to the geographical location in which it was produced. Dresden Stollen can only be made in Dresden and other areas of Saxony, and that bakers must follow specific guidelines.

Stollen is typically served in the afternoon alongside a steaming cup of coffee or spiced mulled wine (Glühwein), a perfect companion for a cozy winter break.

This year is my first time trying Dresden Stollen, and I must say, I really like it! The taste reminds me of panettone with its buttery and dried fruit flavors, but the texture is much denser. Overall, due to its generous coating of powdered sugar, I find it sweeter than panettone, which explains why it’s typically not consumed for breakfast. A slice of stollen on an empty stomach could lead to a sugar shock! Nevertheless, it's a delicious treat.

You can find the one I tried, Emil Reimann Dresdner Stollen on Amazon.com or The Vermont Country Store.

Whether you love light and fluffy or rich and robust, these sweet European breads are perfect bites of holiday cheer!