Christmas Treats Galore at Toronto Bakeries

Still crazed from my FoodieMeet sugar high, I visited nine of Toronto's bakeshops for festive holiday treats that could keep me going straight through 'til New Year's.

Whether gingerbread, sugar cookies, mincemeat tarts, fruitcake, or a good 'ol fashioned B没che are your fancy, little elves have been busy baking up a storm for your holiday delight.

On Queen East, Lesia and the bakers at LPK's Culinary Groove are offering up beautiful gingerbread and butter cookie gift boxes, a baker's companion gift box with organic extracts, Spicy Ch猫vre Noir shortbread, sweet shortbread, plus locally sourced and made Evelyn's Crackers. They also do custom cakes should you be thinking about hosting a holiday 'do.

Cupcakes aren't necessarily the first things that come to mind when you think Christmas treats, but cake and frosting are so easily adapted to holiday flavours, and it seems like in cupcake-crazed Toronto there is no shortage of creative holiday variations.

Special holiday mix-ins like mint chocolate paired with a Peppermint Chocolate latte is a perfect snack for noshing while you pick up gifts like adorable decorated gingerbread cookies, gingerbread house DIY kits, and gourmet cookie gift boxes and baskets. Sweet Flour is also hosting cookie decorating days every day until Christmas! On December 22nd, profits will go towards Second Harvest.

So if baking at home isn't your thang you can check out one of these shops, or bring home some holiday cheer from your favourite neighbourhood bakeshop.

Photo of products from Miss Cora's Kitchen by Kay Pollock. All others by the author.