Tired of the prepackaged Pepperidge Farm® gift baskets and the go-to box of chocolates you bought last-minute from the pharmacy? Be the dinner guest with the most and pick up something different from a few of our favourite Ottawa treat-makers, below. From gluten free to vegan to good ol’ flour and sugar, you will find something to tantalize every sweet tooth. Get your orders in soon to ensure time for prep and delivery/pick-up.
Moo Shu Ice Cream (photo above)
Liz Mok continues to create ice cream that plays with our imagination. Her two newest ventures, just in time for Christmas, are cleverly categorized: four truffles falling under pop icon Kanye West’s patronage and four others encouraging our inner childhood dream — ice cream for breakfast. You can feel pretty Kanye-confident that you’ll be showing up with a winning treat. Imma let you finish… that dessert. Two truffles per flavour – eight total in a box, $20.
mooshuicecream.com
Dolci Bake Shop
Joanna Zappia has a passion for sweets and detail. In addition to the intricate sugar cookies – which she made for the first time this year – she also has a flare for gluten free. Her Baci, an Italian hazelnut chocolate, and chocolate crackle cookies are oh-so-satisfying and flavourful. Customize a gift basket to bring to your next gathering. Order from Joanna directly or visit one of the locations that carry her sweet treats.
dolcibakeshop.com
Sweet B’s
With cute cake designs (replica Tiffany boxes, chocolate inside rather than jewels – almost as good), creative cupcake flavours (the “Canadian” featuring bacon, of course), and specialty products such as chocolate banana bread granola, our girl Britney Amarica is a baker of all trades. Using only fresh, high quality ingredients, the cakes are free from any artificial flavouring, and the granola, nuts, and dressings are made with olive or coconut oil, and only honey, maple syrup, and fruit as sweeteners. Feel good about your gifting.
sweetbsbakery.ca
Get Your Sweet Fix
How would you like to be remembered as the dinner guest who brought a restaurant quality dessert to the table? Sarah Farmer and Kim Nguyen have made it real easy for you with their “Get Your Sweet Fix” feature desserts. The kit includes all the components and plating instructions to build your own masterpiece like what you see in the photo on the bottom right. $60 will feed six. And you can chat with the girls to create your own custom piece. Their pre-prepared desserts won’t disappoint either – peanut butter bars, “pop tarts” and “Joe Louis.” This holiday season, look for their gingerbread loaf (bottom left) with eggnog drizzle, roasted chestnut brittle and homemade white chocolate Toblerone ($25). Get in touch online, pick up in Centretown.
getyoursweetfix.com
SweetCheeks Kitchen
Mother/daughter team, Sharon and Kristen Lloyd, are bringing gluten free and vegan baking to you and yours this holiday season. Don’t for a second think that this limits their offerings; the girls proffer cookies, cakes, cupcakes, bars, squares, balls, and more. Most items are sold wholesale to such places as the Equator Café in Westboro and Almonte (find out where you can get ahold of some closer to you). Worth a trek, though, are the Turtle Oat Squares that have had eastenders driving to Almonte. Private orders also welcome. See their Facebook for the Christmas packaging lists and pricing.
sweetcheekskitchen.ca
