Fun facts: Christmas cookies taste better when they’re in the shape of a snowman. Doughnuts taste better when they look like snowballs. And calories don’t count if you’re wearing a Santa hat while you’re eating. Here are some Vancouver bakeries and chocolatiers that aren’t letting COVID-19 interfere with their festive spirit. Most require online ordering and provide curbside pickup.
The best (and cutest) holiday treats in Vancouver!
Soirette
Yes, those are holiday macarons! Trust Soirette to come up with a gorgeous array of holiday-inspired treats including delicate sugar cookies, whimsical macarons, and even
blueberry, lime, guava and cream cheese mousse with Oreo crumb Bûche de Noël! Is there nothing they can’t do?
1433 W Pender Street, Vancouver, 604-558-3308
Grounds for Coffee
The weather folks may not be able to predict the holiday weather, but Grounds for Coffee is guaranteeing snow — on their buns that is. This year’s Chocolate Snow Buns taste ‘snow’ good and will be available Dec. 11- Dec. 14. Get your order in stat.
2565 Alma St, Vancouver, 2088 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
The Pie Shoppe
If you aren’t up for baking, pick this tangy Pear + Cranberry beauty at The Pie Shoppe while you ogle all the other to-die-for perfect-for-the-holiday pies including Saskatoon Berry + Victorian Rhubarb and Salted Honey made with local honey.
1875 Powell St, Vancouver, 604.338.6646
Cartems Donuts
Throughout December, Cartems features specialty flavours/ Take a bite out of the hols with a Butterscitch pecan donut or a snow
Locations in Kitsilano (3040 W. Broadway), Mount Pleasant (2190 Main St.) and Downtown (534 W. Pender)
Thomas Haas
One of Vancouver’s best-known chocolatiers, Thomas Haas pulls out all the stops over the hols. Whether it’s a glorious Bûche de Noël, intricate chocolate Christmas trees, chocolate ornaments’ filled with dark chocolate enrobed salted caramels and smooth hazelnut praline crunch, or the above penguin-inspired bites, you can’t go wrong at this chocolate mecca. PS: Be sure to have an authentic hot chocolate while you’re there!
2539 W Broadway, Vancouver
Butter Baked Goods
The shop is closed but the bakery is a go. Order online for delivery in Vancouver and North Vancouver. They’ve got snowflake sugar cookies, marshmallows, gingerbread men, and tons of classics from fruitcake, panettone, and shortbread to classic Yule Logs and holiday gift packs (must be ordered by December 18)
4907 Mackenzie Street, Vancouver
Beta5 Chocolates
BETA5 takes chocolate to the next level. One look at their chocolate creations and you’ll know why. Their shining seasonal collection is to die for and that’s not all, they’ve got signature cream puffs, chocolate bars and even a bust of Rudolph’s head, sprayed with a velvet chocolate spray, finished with a shiny red nose, fitted on a chocolate base.
Beta 2.0 409 Industrial Avenue
