Whether you think apple pie, a yule log, shortbread, gingerbread or go a little more modern with a layered trifle with cubed chocolate cake, cherries and classic whipped cream, we all have Christmas sweets that we look forward to this time of the year!
If you aren’t crafty in the kitchen, there are so many options that your guests and children will thank you for introducing them to and it’s all found across this beautiful city that we call home. So visually pleasing with that made-with-love taste that no one will care that you picked it up rather then rolled them out or baked them yourself.
Having spent much time eating across Vancouver, I assure you, these are going to become your Christmas go to’s, with no need to look further! Every location was hand picked with a level of service and care that will have you paying them visits throughout the year for their seasonal and year round goodies!
Let’s get into my 12 Sweet Eats of Vancouver!
With a solid menu year round of cupcakes (Caramelia being my year round fave) this time of year Heather and Lori of The Original Cupcakes have their seasonal game on point with the addition of classic Christmas flavours. Making my 12 Sweet Eats of Vancouver list is their Gingerbread Cupcake. A classic gingerbread cupcake, with a gingerbread buttercream frosting. Simple, to the point, and oh so seasonal.
When you need a selection of sweet options to serve, and want it to be over the top, Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe on Alberni Street has got your hosting back! Voted both Best Desserts and Best Pastries in Vancouver you will find their staff serving some of the finest handcrafted macarons and pastries in Vancouver that they will pack with care lifting the weight of holiday baking from your shoulders! My 3 seasonal faves this year making the list, and filling my heart with comfort food heaven, are their sugared individual cakes, hand crafted jellies and heavenly Cassis Macarons. I promise you, one bite will make them a year round go to when shopping for the foodie on your list or in the downtown core for coffee.
If you follow my work, the next addition to our Sweet Eats list will be no surprise! Add coffee and a side of bacon to any one of their offerings, and as far as I’m concerned, you have all of the food groups covered! Yes. We are in doughnut territory! A visit to Main Streets Forty Ninth Parallel Cafe and you will be positively overwhelmed with doughnut options. My year round go to is their Apple Bacon Fritter, but for the doughnut win this holiday season, they reinvented the Thumbprint Shortbread Cookie. As my favourite holiday cookie, I know a thing or two about every level of a jammed shortbread, and Luckys Doughnuts version does not disappoint! Like I always say, forget a dozen roses, a dozen doughnuts will do just fine!
Half way through our list is a one stop shop for gifts and sweets alike. And what will you find there? Chocolate. With my love of coffee, I instantly fell in love with the Chocolate Coffee Mug. The only thing to top it, literally, were the fresh and perfectly coated chocolate espresso beans. With something for everyone on your list, you can put together a tray of sweet offerings for your guests and do some gift shopping all at the same time at Charlies Chocolate Factory!
Carrying on with the coffee and chocolate theme, we add in an Italian classic, and personal favourite of mine from West 2nd’s The Sweetery Cafe. Layered perfectly in individual jars, it is a perfect serving size to refuel while you are out and about yet big enough to share with that special someone! With a full coffee bar, a selection of teas and beautiful sweets, you are sure to feel like a kid in a candy shop! While you are there, you can pick up their heavenly Coconut Macaroons which are just the perfect amount of sweet for even those who lack a sweet tooth!
The only place on our list that you will have to stay in to enjoy their sweet treats that made my list of Sweet Eats is worthy of a visit, even on a cold December day! Soft Peaks Ice-cream recently had me in for a foodie field trip and the husband and wife team were an amazing pair of gracious hosts! Their December Matcha Milkshake is a festive green to help you get into the holiday spirit and the recent addition of Dark Chocolate in house churned ice cream will have you dreaming of summer days in Gastown! I enjoyed the new flavour sprinkled high with Tim Tams! Regardless of what flavour and topping you decide on, you will not be disappointed with their organic ice creams and local ingredients! My year round go to is always the Salty Himalayan topped with caramel sauce with an added piece of Fraser Valley Honeycomb!
To round out our list of my 12 Sweet Eats of Vancouver, we are going to break the rules and make it a bakers dozen! Cioffis Meat Market & Deli was, for me, like stepping back into my abundantly comfort and sweet food based Italian childhood! With their new cucina sandwiched (brilliantly) between their meat market and store fronts, this is a place for a meal, an espresso and something sweet (most notably their donuts on Donut Friday which I have fallen in love with!) all before you get your deli and grocery shopping complete! With a deli counter that seems to be a mile long and staff that feels like family, like me, you will be paying them many visits for many reasons! When I paid them my Christmas visit, their clementine oranges had arrived from Spain and their pears straight from Italy.
As this is a list to help you with your holiday sweets, I am pulling their most classic Italian treats for our final three sweets, but watch for a blog dedicated to the foodie treasures I found there and on the sweets they offer and how I plate them in my casa!
For those on your last minute gift list, or that you love to break bread with, there were so many beautifully flavoured and wrapped Panettone at Cioffis. While I love figs, and you will see their Dried Fig Panettone plated to perfection on my blog, what stole my foodie heart at a glance was the Grappa Panettone. Once I got past the packaging, it smelled like heaven, and had me debating whether to enjoy it with grappa itself, or with a Caffe Corretto (a shot of espresso with an added dash of grappa to take it over the top). This is a must have on hand this Christmas season, and the Cioffi’s staff will be just as excited to help you shop as your guests will be to enjoy this classic Italian treat!
For those looking for something to serve Christmas Day, and throughout the season, a slice of this almond and orange nougat cake will be welcomed by your guests young and old alike! I served it surrounded by chocolate drizzled clementine oranges that I sea salted, but no matter how you plate it, make sure you snap your social media photo fast as it won’t last long!
Lucky13 on the Sweet Eats List, and I take my hat off to chocolate, once again. Chocolate Panettone to be exact. Once again pulling double duty as a gift item, already packaged upon purchase, and a dessert, easily plated and sprinkled with shaved chocolate it will be a welcome end to your holiday meal or alongside a hot cup of coffee for brunch.
With the holiday season well under way, I hope you can make time for a sweet visit in to these fave foodie locations! Thanks to everyone who welcomed me with a fork and smile this season of eating! Merry Christmas from me to you! Happy Eating!
Follow StudioNinety9Eats on her BLOG + INSTAGRAM!!
Also keep an eye out for a special Christmas greeting filmed by Jessica going live tomorrow night!!!!
Want to see all the guest posts for Bristmas?
1 Comment