Warm drinks, decadent baked goods and decorated sweets are a delicious way to celebrate the holiday season in Canada’s capital. Whether you’re treating yourself, looking for DIY decorating activities or shopping for edible gifts, you’ll find all of the Christmas goodies you and your loved-ones are craving. Here are some of the best sweet treats and where to find them in Ottawa this holiday season. (Note: Many of the businesses mentioned below have online shopping options.)
Hot drinks
Soothe your soul with a warm beverage, indoors or out, alcoholic or not. Enjoy mulled wine at Working Title in Sandy Hill. Mantovani 1946 in the ByWard Market district uses quality cocoa in their hot chocolates, as does Stella Luna at its three locations. And Elgin Street pub Lieutenant’s Pump offers spiked hot chocolates and ciders, blueberry tea as well as hot toddies.
Cute cookies
Cookies shaped and decorated like holiday characters are available at most bakeries. Moulin de Provence might have the largest variety of decorated shortbread cookies. Life of Pie in Old Ottawa South usually makes a different cookie each day in December until Christmas.
Yule logs
These log-shaped cakes are a delicious chocolatey tradition. Take your pick of sizes and colours at shops like Moulin de Provence, Aux Délices Bakery, Mantovani 1946 and The Cupcake Lounge.
Chocolate bombs
Hot chocolate fans love this trendy item. Celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas with a package of 12 bomb flavours from Aux Délices, or check out the options at Stubbe Chocolates in Wellington West, including their spicy version.
Doughnuts
Decorated doughnuts are a delightful treat. Local doughnut shops like Suzy Q and Mavericks often offer them in special holiday flavours like egg nog and gingerbread. Or visit Art-Is-In Bakery which is known for its decadent O-Towners, which are cronuts—a cross between a croissant and a doughnut.
DIY decorating kits
Get creative with the kids and decorate treats together! Aux Délices Bakery has fun kits like paint-your-own (PYO) cookies and gingerbread houses, as well as do-it-yourself (DIY) cookie-filled snowglobes. The Cupcake Lounge’s activity kits provide everything you need to decorate cookies, cupcakes, a gingerbread house and more.
Dietary-specific
People with dietary restrictions don’t have to miss out on holiday goodies in Ottawa! Strawberry Blonde Bakery in the Westboro neighbourhood, Thimble Cakes on Bank Street and Wild Oat Bakery & Café in the Glebe provide amazing options for vegans, vegetarians, or those with food allergies and intolerances, including gluten, soy, nuts, eggs and dairy.
Specialty items
Stubbe Chocolates is full of treats for all budgets, including holiday-shaped chocolates, special advent calendars, towers made with truffles, as well as German stollen cake. Italian bakeries like Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana in Little Italy and Mantovani 1946 are known for their pastries, including traditional Panettone. You can also get holiday fruit cake at Aux Délices, cake pops at The Cupcake Lounge, or pick up seasonal pies of all kinds from Three Tarts Bakery and Life of Pie.
