The Best New Bakeries in Toronto, 2012

The best new bakeries in Toronto in 2012 brought terrible new temptations to those still clinging to the forlorn Atkins diet. Sorry. 2011's reign of the cupcake was replaced by a newfound appreciation for the heavily decorated doughnut, along with persistent dedication to the classic croissant and cookie. The year 2012 saw traditional French, country homestyle, and the odd vegan take on baking, with a couple of unusual options (or names) that seduce a second glance.

Here is the list of the best new bakeries in Toronto in 2012.

See also:

The Best New Bakeries in Toronto, 2011
The Best New Bakeries in Toronto, 2010
The Best New Bakeries in Toronto, 2009

Glory Hole Doughnuts

Glory Hole simultaneously charmed and horrified Torontonians when it erected (snort) its storefront in Parkdale over the summer. Ashley Jacot De Boinod, the woman behind the Hole, finally gave her Butter and Toast and Lemon Meringue doughnuts a proper home, smartly offering the option to add bacon to any selection. Now it’s just a matter of time until “Circle Jerk Chicken” moves in next door. More »

Paulette’s Original Donuts and Chicken

Chicken and waffles? How 2009. Paulette’s toed the donut line in 2012, pairing its crispy fried chicken with Candy Apple, Mojito, D’Oreo, and Root Beer Float donuts. Baked goodness here comes in the form of full-sized “fancy” donuts, as well as mini donut “dots,” and can also be ordered as part of a custom donut wedding cake as a means to fulfill all of your truck stop wedding dreams. More »

Tori’s Bakeshop

Tori’s Bakeshop arrived in the Beaches early in the year, and went on to prove that vegan baking can survive (and thrive!) on taste alone. Leaving the dogma and obtrusive signage aside, Tori let its cupcakes, cinnamon buns, and scones speak for themselves. And speak they did. Rumor has it the area is still enveloped in a (refined-sugar-free) doughnut coma, though luckily there are soymilk lattes to snap you out of it. More »

The Artisan Baker

Sneaking in just before the end of the year, The Artisan Baker has since been wowing Yonge and St. Clair with its croissant twists and classic baguettes. And daily soups, and stews, and quiches, and salads, and a whole lot more that can’t fit in a 100-word description. Backed by the expert culinary skills of Bruno Beaudoin, this bake shop and café is filling its seats during the lunch and dinner rush, while at the same time filling the area’s collective daily carb quota. More »

Moo Milk Bar

Danielle Oron brought things back to basics in 2012 with her Beaches bake shop focused on milk and cookies. Because if it ain’t broke, right? With a lineup of flavoured milks and huge chewy homemade cookies, Moo Milk Bar inflicted its own little pang of nostalgia with oatmeal raisin and white chocolate macadamia nut to soften the blow. Best is the “Bottom of the Bowl” Cinnamon Toast Crunch-flavoured milk. More »

Le Dolci

Forget maple bacon chocolate cupcakes and raspberry cheesecake supreme. Le Dolci made the decision to keep things simple with its classic chocolate and vanilla cupcake options. That said, take a class and you’ll learn to transform the average cake into a custom, colourful, three-dimensional delight, albeit, a temporary one that will soon meet its ultimate demise. That being, your mouth. More »

Andrea’s Gerrard Street Bakery

Did it really take this long for a bakery in Toronto to think up a “Streetcar” sandwich? In any case, Andrea’s Gerrard Street Bakery brought a whole lot more than clever nomenclature to East Chinatown with its summertime opening, offering a homestyle spread of classic butter tarts, cookies, cakes, and other sweets. “Wee cakes” reign supreme on the indulgent end, while freshly baked scones have come to dominate weekends. More »

Leslieville Bakery

Gone is Altitude Bakery, but it shouldn’t be too badly missed. That’s because Leslieville Bakery has picked up where Altitude left off, making the same apple and sour cream pies, butter tarts, rum balls, and other sweet treats as years past. Based on the exact same recipes, no less! Leslieville locals have been treated to a few new additions, however, including the bakery’s new line of homemade cookies and an ever-growing roster of gluten-free options. More »