Canadian Sweets Better Than Fruitcake

Posted by Dan Clapson on December 12, 2014

It’s that time of year when we all stop caring about what we eat, add Baileys to our coffee before work in the morning (at least I do), and are all subjected to a fruitcake or two. Now, there are a few people out there in this country that love this particular rum-soaked holiday treat, but the majority of us like to sink our teeth into sweets of a different variety.

Here are some sweet treats that will appease the masses at your family get together or holiday party much better than a block of fruitcake.

Crave Cupcakes

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Red Velvet Cookie

Most people are suckers for a good red velvet cake. But a red velvet cookie? Now that’s not something you see every day. The soft, chewy cookies are made with buttermilk and cocoa, and are dusted lightly (ok, liberally) with sugar, resulting in a sweet treat that friends and family alike will happily steal from your kitchen counter.$2.25 each, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cravecupcakes.ca/">Crave Cupcakes </a>
Crave Cupcakes

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Holiday Cupcakes, Assorted

$3.50 each, <a target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.6em" href="http://www.cravecupcakes.ca/">Crave Cupcakes</a>
Duchess Bake Shop

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Grand-mère's Florentines

You can never go wrong with the classic combination of butter, flour and sugar (i.e. shortbread), but these utterly sweet caramel and almond topped beauties can arguably outshine any grandmother’s variation on this cookie theme. Oh yes, I went there.$1.25 each, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.duchessbakeshop.com/">Duchess Bake Shop</a>
Jacek Chocolate

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The Claus Chocolate Bar

Edmonton’s premier chocolatier makes a lot of beautiful chocolates throughout the year, following a fashion-like schedule with seasonal themes. For December, Jacek embraces the holiday spirit by selling their hand-made Claus bars; a mix of white chocolate, peppermint oil and crushed candy canes. Sounds good to me!$4.75 each, <a target="_blank" href="http://jacekchocolate.com/">Jacek Chocolate</a>
Jacek Chocolate

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Traditions Collection 2014

$43, <a target="_blank" href="http://jacekchocolate.com/">Jacek Chocolate</a>
Le French Fix Pâtisserie

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Gingerbread Spice Macarons

A good macaron is like eating a soft little cloud with ganache-y goodness sandwiched in the middle (there’s no nature analogy for that part). Add some holiday-appropriate spice to that equation and you’re left with a pack of macarons that even a Gingerbread Man’s mother would approve of. And that’s saying a lot.Contact Le French Fix Pâtisserie for pricing <a target="_blank" href="http://lefrenchfix.ca/order/">here</a>.
Jelly Modern Doughnuts

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Celebration Box

If this week’s snake-throwing Tim Hortons’ fiasco in Saskatoon has left a bad taste in your mouth with Timbits, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Canada’s original gourmet doughnut shop is many beautiful steps up from the predictable chain variety. They have a good-looking and delicious holiday pack consisting of vanilla, buttercream, and cherry and marshmallow. Your co-workers will thank you.$40, <a target="_blank" href="http://jellymodern-toronto.myshopify.com/">Jelly Modern Doughnuts</a>
Jelly Modern Doughnuts

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4 Three Bite Holiday Doughnuts

$15, <a target="_blank" href="http://jellymodern-toronto.myshopify.com/">Jelly Modern Doughnuts</a>
Thierry Chocolates

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Pistachio Candied Orange Chocolate Bark

At his beautiful cafe in downtown Vancouver, this renowned pastry chef and his team make perfectly buttery, flaky croissants and pain au chocolat seem as easy to execute as a simple dinner roll, so you can’t really go wrong. But for the holiday season, try Thierry’s chocolate bark made with pistachios and candied orange. It will definitely be better than those generic chocolate oranges. Just trust me.$12, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thierrychocolates.com/">Thierry Chocolates</a>
Crémy Pâtisserie

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Bûche Foie Gras

Yule logs can taste and look a little, well, 1965, but this patisserie in Montreal makes sure that is not the case. Definitely for the foie gras lover in your life, order one of these dessert logs (available in 3 different sizes), that’s layered with a foie gras cream, sea buckthorn berry gelee (think gooseberry, but more tart) and more.Prices vary between $40-$100, <a target="_blank" href="http://cremypatisserie.com/">Crémy Pâtisserie</a>
Chocolatier Constance Popp

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Honey Chocolates

What do you get when you put the best honey from Manitoba into the hands of one of the province’s best chocolate makers? A beautiful, honey-based chocolate, of course! If life is truly like a box of chocolates, then it should always taste like this.Contact Chocolatier Constance Popp directly for pricing <a target="_blank" href="http://www.artisanchocolates.ca/">here</a>.
Chocolatier Constance Popp

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Christmas Mold

Contact Chocolatier Constance Popp directly for pricing <a target="_blank" href="http://www.artisanchocolates.ca/">here</a>.<a target="_blank" href="http://dansgoodside.com/">Dan Clapson</a> is a food writer and culinary instructor based out of Calgary. He is constantly creating new recipes and striving to expand his culinary horizons. He thinks yam fries are overrated.
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