Indulging in seasonal treats is a highlight of the holiday season for everyone. The stakes get higher when shopping for a fellow gourmand, which is why we’ve curated the best sweets, from nostalgic classics (the perfect hot chocolate!) to contemporary treats (a DIY bubble tea kit!) to the best Canadian candy.
Evergreen Box,
Rousseau Chocolatier
This opulent box of Canadian-made artisanal chocolates has unique flavours like Spruce Tip Caramel, made with Nova Scotia spruce-infused dark chocolate ganache, and comes in a beautiful Christmas tree-shaped box.
$85
Holiday Signature Sampler,
Gattée
This new Toronto-based chocolatier has included three indulgent types of chocolate bark – including peppermint white chocolate and dark chocolate bark – and two caramel popcorn varieties in their holiday box of chocolates.
$60
Cocktail-Inspired Candies,
Sugar Chic Candy
Toronto’s Sugar Chic Candy has a trio of irresistible cocktail- and champagne -inspired sweets: Champagne Gummy Bears, Champagne ‘Bubbles’ and Sour Prosecco Gummy Bears. Buy candy boxes individually or get the ‘Bottoms Up’ gift box with an assortment of each.
From $11
Holiday Macaron Gift Box,
Ladurée Canada
Ladurée’s OTT holiday gift boxes of macarons are an annual favourite. This year’s limited-edition macaron box design is illustrated with Christmas ornaments, and contain 8, 16 or 28 cookies, in your choice of their famous flavours (think Salted Caramel, Pistachio and Orange Blossom).
From $47
Single Snowflake Hot Cocoa Spoon,
Crate & Barrel
The perfect stocking stuffers, these hot chocolate spoons make the best hot chocolate. Once the chocolate has melted, the mini snowflake marshmallow remains. A Gnome Hot Chocolate Bomb is a worthy addition to the gift.
$10 per spoon
Candy Christmas Ornaments,
C’est BonBon
Sweeten up your Christmas tree this year with C’est BonBon’s limited-edition holiday ornaments, which come in packs of three and each contain five little bags of assorted gummy candies.
$30
Holiday ‘Cookie Tin’ Bonbon Collection,
Chocolat de Kat
Toronto-based Chocolat de Kat, owned by chocolatier and entrepreneur Kata Ambrus, has released their annual collection of holiday chocolate gift boxes, which includes this 16-piece box filled with an assortment of flavours inspired by classic Christmas cookies. You’ll find varieties like Chai Snickerdoodle and Ma’amoul Cookie.
$65
BomBombs Hot Chocolate Mix Gift Set,
Thoughtfully
Perfect as one gift or six small ones, this adorable gift set features tiny takeaway cups with hot chocolate mix in flavours like Double Chocolate, French Vanilla, Peppermint and Salted Caramel.
$25
Holiday Baking Mixes,
Epicure
Epicure’s baking mixes are tailored to different dietary needs, from gluten-free to plant-based, kosher and low sodium. Snag one of their limited-edition holiday mixes for classic favourites like sugar cookies, gingerbread and pumpkin pie.
From $13
Dolce & Gabbana Panettone By Fiasconaro Agrumi,
Dolce & Gabbana
A designer panettone? Yes please. This collab between D&G and the Sicilian pastry chefs at Fiasconaro features a classic holiday panettone made with candied lemons, orange and mandarin peels and saffron, packaged inside a beautiful tin with a design inspired by the Sicilian countryside.
$66
Jingle Bell Pops Peppermint-Infused White Chocolate Gourmet Popcorn,
Eatable
Eatable’s original holiday popcorn is covered in Belgian white chocolate, then tossed in candy cane pieces and peppermint-infused sugar crystals. A total treat.
$12
Sugar Cubes,
Good Citizen Coffee Co.
These small-batch coffee sugar cubes were created in collaboration with Nashville’s BANG candy company, and come in five flavours: Caramel Vanilla, Chai Molasses, Chocolate Chili, Orange Ginger and Rose Cardamom.
$20 U.S.
Holiday Jams,
Provisions Food Company
Ontario-based Provisions Food Company has released a special holiday lineup of their popular preserves and shortbread, featuring varieties like Mulled Wine Jelly and a Sugar Plum Jam – a percentage of proceeds from which are donated to a local food bank.
From $8
Blonde Chocolate Bauble,
Chococo
Handcrafted in Dorset, England, this decadent “blonde” chocolate bauble (made with Cocoa Horizon’s sustainable GOLD chocolate) is filled with four miniature blonde chocolate gems. Bonus: the gorgeous box is completely compostable.
£15
Neige Ice,
Ciderie Milton
This Quebec-made sparking rosé cider is sweet and fruity, with tasting notes of apple sauce, flowers and strawberry.
$13
Buttercream Shortbread Cookies (Pack of 2),
Yo-Yo Cookies
Made in Prince Edward Island, these indulgent cookie sandwiches are a combination of European-style shortbread (it’s a family recipe!) and buttercream. Available in Original Vanilla, Zesty Lemon, Red Velvet, ‘Oh My Chocolate’ and Salted Caramel.
$15
Drinking Chocolate,
SoMA
Nothing says ‘holidays’ like SoMa’s drinking chocolate. Toronto-based SoMA Chocolatemaker has a wide array of flavoured options for their rich drinking chocolate, from Yuzu to Bergamot to Malted Milk. Pick up a couple of their chocolate-swirled marshmallows to top off this gift.
From $8
Strawberry Milk Tea Boba Kit,
Retea
This kit comes with everything needed to make five servings of strawberry bubble tea, including tapioca pearls, flavoured powders and even straws. Better still, the brand has partnered with #TeamSeas so that with every purchase made, 1 lb. of trash is removed from our oceans.
$25
Snowflake Gluten-Free Sugar Cookie Baking Kit,
Lillybean
This 100% vegan- and gluten-free sugar cooking baking kit includes all the essentials for whipping up a batch of frosted snowflake-shaped sugar cookies: a package of sugar cookie mix, glaze, a cookie cutter, candy cane and even parchment paper.
$35
California Holiday Gift Canister Set,
California Gummy Bears
This beautifully-packaged gift set comes with four canisters of gummy bears: Bel Air Sparkling Rose, Cinnamon Apple, Sour Four (a fruity mix) and Gift Wrapped (strawberry and green apple).
$76 U.S.
Anne’s Divine Delights,
Anne of Green Gables Chocolate
Anne of Green Gables is the inspiration behind the handmade chocolates at the Charlottetown-based chocolate shop. This box of 21 chocolates has a selection of flavours, including Peanut Clusters, Coconut Cups, Pecan Toffee and, not to be forgotten, Raspberry (Anne’s favourite flavour) Cream.
$30
