I’m certain it’s impossible to think of the holiday season without dreaming of delicious Christmas treats. In our family, we have tried and true recipes that are made almost every year: cut-out cookies (with lots of sprinkles!), homemade fudge, chocolate covered pretzels, peanut butter blossoms, peppermint bark…is your mouth watering yet? And while I love homemade baked goods, taking the family out for a delicious, professionally-made holiday treat, is a great family date night. Plus, with all of the light displays throughout the city, you can make a whole night of it!
To help spread Christmas cheer, I’ve compiled a list of mouth-watering, must-have desserts from bakeries around Edmonton. These insta-worthy treats are almost too pretty to eat. But eat, we must. After all, we deserve a special Christmas treat (or two or three) after the train wreck of a year we’ve all been through (Can I get an “Amen”?!).
Lately, our family has started having “picnics” in the back of our van to enjoy dinner out while still staying safe. We pick-up take-out, find a place to park, fold down the back row of seats, lay out a blanket, crank up the Christmas tunes, and enjoy our meal. The kids think it’s hilarious that they get to eat in the van — they’re usually dancing in between bites of dinner — and I love that we get to escape our daily routine. We’re planning on hitting up one (or more…or all…) of these Edmonton bakeries for a special Christmas treat to enjoy in our van “picnic” during the coming weeks.
Let your stomach be your guide and pick out one of these delicious desserts. Supporting local businesses has never tasted so good!
*Note: Bakeries change their food offerings often, so please check with them for availability of specific desserts before visiting. Please check with individual bakeries to see if they are offering dine-in, take-out, delivery, or curbside pick-up. Some may require pre-ordering online. Check websites for holiday hours.
Candy Cane Cheesecake
Why it’s on my list: Cheesecake is always hard to pass up. Now add in the peppermint goodness of candy canes, how can I resist? Plus, I love the peppermint bark on top.
Where: Bon Ton Bakery & Patisserie
Address: 8720 149 Street, Edmonton
Open: Tuesday – Saturday 9 am to 5 pm
Other Info: Pre-orders and Curbside Delivery available
Phone: 780-489-7717
Website: www.bonton.ca
Bûche de Noël
Why it’s on my list: This classic French dessert has so many of my favourite flavours: chocolate, espresso rum syrup, mocha cream. And I love the chocolate mushroom decorations. Plus, with 5-6 servings, it’s a great dessert to share with the whole family.
Where: Duchess Bake Shop & Little Duchess at Ritchie Market
Address: 10718 124th Street, Edmonton | 9570 76 Avenue, Edmonton
Open: Duchess Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm; Sunday 10 am – 4 pm | Little Duchess Wednesday – Saturday 10:30 am – 5 pm; Sunday 10:30 am – 4 pm
Other Info: Pre-order and Delivery available
Phone: 780-488-4999
Website: www.duchessbakeshop.com
Christmas Cookie Box
Why it’s on my list: I like the idea of getting a variety of cookies in one box. As a family, we’d get to try lots of different decadent flavours. This box includes: Bourbon Whiskey Pecan Bar; Hazelnut, Coffee & Baileys Dacquoise Sandwich Cookie; Cranberry Gingerbread Joy Bar; Orange & Spice Spritz Cookie; Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownie; Gingerbread Snowflakes
Where: La Boule Bakery & Patisserie
Address: 8020 101 Street NW, Edmonton
Open: Wednesday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm; Saturday 8 am – 4 pm; Sunday 9 am – 4 pm
Other Info: Christmas Cookie Box is available by pre-order only. Be sure to check the website for cut-off times.
Phone: 780-760-2253
Website: www.laboulebakery.ca
Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies
Why it’s on my list: Sugar cookies are just a Christmas classic. And these are way more beautiful than I could ever make my amateur cookies look! The designs change regularly at Milk & Cookies, but the delicious Vanilla Bean flavour stays the same. It’d be fun to see which Christmas designs they have when you go!
Where: Milk & Cookies Bake Shop
Address: 5532 Calgary Trail NW, Edmonton
Open: Tuesday – Friday 11 am – 6 pm; Saturday 11 am – 4 pm
Phone: 780-758-1774
Other Info: On Fridays they make the sugar cookies gluten-free and regular! They’ve also been known to sell out of their cookies within a few hours, so you may want to call before you go in!
Website: www.milkandcookiesbakeshop.ca
Mint Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut, and Salted Butter Popcorn Macarons
Why it’s on my list: Macarons are the way to my heart. The delicate cookies that melt in your mouth, with the delicious fillings, it makes my mouth water. I’ve tried to make macarons at home and they are difficult so I have extra appreciation for these delectable goodies. I have my eye on the mint dark chocolate ones.
Where: Macarons and Goodies – 2 Locations
Address: 10548 101 St NW, Edmonton | 50 St Thomas St, St. Albert
Open: Edmonton Monday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm | St. Albert Monday – Saturday 9 am – 5 pm; Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
Other Info: Offering curbside pick-up and contactless delivery through their food delivery app.
Phone: Edmonton 587-473-6400 | St. Albert 587-290-0505
Website: www.facebook.com
Winter Wonderland Cupcakes
Why it’s on my list: Have you ever seen such beautifully decorated cupcakes? And I’ve had Flirt Cupcakes before — every single flavour I’ve tried is delicious.Â
Where:Â Flirt Cupcakes
Address: 10158 82 Avenue NW, Edmonton
Open: Monday – Saturday 11 am – 6 pm
Other Info: They offer curbside pick up for preorders and $10 deliveries in the city.
Phone: 780-757-4899
Website: www.flirtcupcakes.com
Gingerbread Man Sandwich Cookies
Why it’s on my list: Okay, I get that it’s a cupcake shop and I should probably be recommending cupcakes, but I just can’t get over how adorable these gingerbread men are! And I love a good sandwich cookie! These ones are filled with vanilla buttercream – yum!
Where:Â Crave Cupcakes
Address: 7929 104th Street, Edmonton
Open: Tuesday – Friday 10 am – 6 pm; Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
Other Info: Pre-order and delivery available in Edmonton.
Phone: 780-409-8486
Website: www.cravecupcakes.ca
Photo by NC Photography YEG
Seasonal Popcorn Flavours
Why it’s on my list: Popcorn is just such a fun snack! And The Art of Cake is mixing up batches of popcorn in flavours such as cinnamon bun, caramel, poppycock, salted chocolate, and the one I have my eye on: peppermint white chocolate! Grab a bag to share with your family. Or keep it all to yourself (that may or may not be what I’m planning to do!).
Where: The Art of Cake
Address: 11811 105 Ave, Edmonton
Open: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm; Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
Other Info: Pre-order and delivery available.
Phone: 780-441-1339
Website: www.facebook.com
Assorted Christmas Cookies
Why it’s on my list: These cookies remind me of the classics that my grandmother would bake at Christmastime. Plus, I love that they’re bite-size so I can gobble up a few of them guilt-free — or at least that’s what I tell myself!
Where: B & A Bakery
Address: 12908 82 Street NW, Edmonton
Open: Monday – Friday 8 am – 6 pm; Saturday 8 am – 5:30 pm
Phone: 780-476-8585
Website: www.edmontonbakery.com
Eggnog Cupcakes
Why it’s on my list: The Sweet Side does not have a storefront — just delivery. I like that with the craziness of Christmas, I can get these delicious treats delivered right to my doorstep. And a classic flavour like eggnog in cupcake form is such a fun take on Christmas!
Where:Â The Sweet Side
Phone: 780-964-5995
Other Info: Delivery available 7 days a week.
Website: www.sweetside.ca
Le Bonhomme de Neige
Why it’s on my list: My girls are obsessed with Frosty the Snowman right now so of course, this caught my eye! Plus, it includes vanilla creme, raspberry compote, and chocolate ganache. This might be the tastiest Frosty ever!
Where: Eleanor and Laurent
Address: 10926 88 Avenue, Edmonton
Open: Wednesday – Sunday 9 am – 5 pm
Other Info: Pre-order by Saturday for next week pickup (Wed-Sun).
Phone: 780-988-0897
Website: www.eleanorandlaurent.com
