Panforte is an Italian Christmas cake made with chocolate, nuts, fruits and a bit of spice. This vegan recipe is easy to make for a last-minute festive dessert.

I have a new favourite Christmas dessert. This vegan Panforte.
What is Panforte?
Panforte is a traditional Italian dessert made with fruits, nuts and spices.
It dates back to the 13th century in Siena, Tuscany, hence why it's also sometimes called a Siena cake or Panforte Di Siena.
The texture is somewhere between a fruitcake and a candy and the flavour is sweet, festive and completely delicious!

Panforte keeps really well (it will stay fresh in an air-tight container for a few weeks) so it's perfect for gift-giving.
You can either serve it in slices or cut it into squares or strips.
A dusting of icing sugar on top not only makes it look pretty but turns it into a real festive show-stopper.
I love to add fresh holly leaves on top for a simple added decoration.

Compared to most other Christmas treats, Panforte can be a fairly healthy option.
With fruits, nuts, natural sugars, minimal flour and just a small amount of oil. It's easy to make gluten-free too! (Just use gluten-free flour).

More treats to make
Candied Peanuts with Sesame Seeds
Vegan Chocolate Orange Christmas Pudding
📖 Recipe

Vegan Panforte
Panforte is a traditional Italian dessert made with fruits, nuts and spices - somewhere between a fruitcake and a candy!
Ingredients
- 310 g / 2 ½ cups mixed roasted nuts, chopped and skins removed (I used hazelnuts, almonds and macadamias)
- 280 g / 1 ½ cups mixed dried fruit
- 90 g / ½ cup mixed candied citrus peel
- 4 tbsp cacao powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground mixed spice
- 100 g / 1 cup plain flour, (or gluten-free plain flour)
- 120 ml / ½ cup maple syrup, (or agave nectar)
- 100 g / ½ cup brown sugar, (or coconut sugar)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 120 ml / ½ cup boiled water
To serve
- Icing sugar, (confectioners sugar)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 170 degrees C. Oil the sides and line the base of a 30cm spring-form tin with non-stick paper.
- Mix the nuts, fruit, peel, cacao powder, spices and flour in a large bowl.
- In a small saucepan, add the maple syrup, brown sugar and olive oil. Mix on a medium heat until the sugar has been dissolved. Stir in the hot water.
- Stir the wet into the dry and mix until everything is well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking tin and press down evenly with a spoon or wet hands.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until you can see the sides of the cake start to bubble slightly.
- Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing and allowing to cool completely.
- Dust with icing sugar and serve.
Notes
You can either serve it in slices or cut it into squares or strips. A dusting of icing sugar on top not only makes it look pretty but turns it into a real festive show-stopper. I love to add fresh holly leaves on top for a simple added decoration. This delicious vegan Christmas cake recipe can be kept in an air-tight container for a few weeks.
Kathy says
Oh, light bulb moment! I suppose Allspice (here in the U.S.) would be close?!
Kathy says
I’m a fairly experienced cook/baker (stressing fairly), but I’m not familiar with one listed ingredient!
Please ... what “mixed spice” do you use? Or is there something called by this name in grocery stores?
This looks and sounds awesome! Thanks very much for posting all these G/F recipes!
Aimee says
In the US, you can use pumpkin pie spice mix (basically Mixed Spice is usually a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves) Hope you enjoy!
Hana | Nirvana Cakery says
This looks so moreish Aimee! Perfect Christmas recipe:) xx
nadia says
I don't think I've ever had Panforte but it looks and sounds absolutely delicious :D The shots are beautiful x
Dianne says
I've never heard of panforte, but it looks like something I'd love! I'm going to have to check out the recipe.