🍯 Holiday Sweets: Pangiallo and Tozzetti, Viterbo’s Festive Traditions from the Heart

Hazelnuts, honey, and dessert wine — the flavors of Tuscia that make every celebration feel like home

Some desserts are more than just a sweet ending to a meal — they tell stories, celebrate the passing of time, and preserve family rituals.In Tuscia, two local specialties capture the soul of festive gatherings: the Pangiallo, a rich holiday cake, and Tozzetti, crisp hazelnut cookies perfect all year round.

🎄 Pangiallo: the golden winter cake of fruit, honey, and memory

Pangiallo (literally “yellow bread”) is a traditional Viterbese holiday cake made with dried fruits, honey, dark chocolate, candied peel, and warm spices.Moist inside, with a golden crust, this ancient sweet was once prepared to welcome the returning light during the darkest days of the year.

In the past, families would bake large batches and gift them to neighbors — a sign of prosperity and goodwill. Today, Pangiallo is still the centerpiece of Christmas tables across Tuscia, best enjoyed with a small glass of dessert wine or a rich espresso.

🌰 Tozzetti: hazelnut cookies for dipping and sharing

Viterbo’s Tozzetti are rustic cousins of Tuscany’s cantucci, but with a distinct identity: less sweet, crunchier, and filled with whole hazelnuts from the Cimini Hills.Their flavor shifts slightly from village to village, but the essence remains: flour, eggs, sugar, olive oil, and perfectly toasted nuts.

Locals enjoy them with Aleatico di Gradoli, a ruby red dessert wine — aromatic, smooth, and the perfect companion to these sturdy little bites.

🛒 Where to find them

📍 Pangiallo

• Sold during the Christmas season in nearly all bakeries and pastry shops in Viterbo and surrounding towns

• Also made by local cultural associations and pro loco groups during holiday events

📍 Tozzetti

• Available all year long

• For a truly handmade version:→ Visit La Bottega di Nicolai in Chia (Soriano nel Cimino), known for traditional sweets crafted with care

📦 Festive markets and gift boxes

• Both treats often appear in holiday hampers or decorative bags at seasonal markets and food fairs

🧡 More than desserts — edible memories

Pangiallo and Tozzetti aren’t just typical sweets.They are edible memories, centuries-old gestures, and comforting flavors that speak of belonging, celebration, and simplicity.If you’re visiting Tuscia during the holidays, don’t miss them.And if you live here — you already know: these are flavors you never really say goodbye to.