This summer’s hottest trend is bakeries, with sweet and savoury aromas and flavours filling the air and delighting the taste buds. Each offers something different, from vegan goods to Japanese croissants. The only way to crown a champion is to try them all.
AUNTY EM’S DELI AND BAKERY
Plant-based eater or not, you’ll find it tough to turn down this midtown vegan bakery’s sweets, like chocolate banana muffins, Portuguese tarts or the fan favourite: Nutella cream pie, which features a gluten-free almond cake base, topped with a generous cloud of cashew cream and torched marshmallows, drizzled with vegan Nutella. There are also sandwiches and packaged meals available. The deli started as a pop-up and was so popular that the owner, Emily De Beus, decided to open a permanent location. De Beus is known for her first vegan business, Sausage Party Toronto.
1672 St. Clair Ave. W.
HAZUKIDO
Your new favourite croissant isn’t French, although it does draw some inspiration from the Parisians who have perfected the fan-favourite pastry. Hazukido is the new bakery serving up a unique twist on the croissant, guided by the shokunin spirit of Japan. The technique uses only the finest ingredients to produce the perfect pastry complement to a morning coffee or an afternoon stroll. A Japanese croissant uses an exclusive folding technique that creates a uniquely Hazukido honeycomb texture, making for a perfectly golden crunch with every bite.
5315 Yonge St.
LETTERBOX DOUGHNUTS
The click-and-order, custom-lettered doughnut business, Letterbox Doughnuts opened its first storefront after two years of online ordering success. According to owners Jon and Priom Oliver, the dough is handmade fresh daily and contains no artificial preservatives. The unique flavours and designs come from the glaze, which you can customize by colour and style – with unique patterns like the space-themed galaxy or ombre-esque marble. The doughnut itself is plain, but the glaze flavour options include classic chocolate, raspberry lemon or white chocolate with a rotating menu of seasonal, limited-edition flavours.
235 Spadina Ave.
FOXIES BAKESHOP
Foxies, a locally owned, sister-run enterprise, opened as an online bakeshop in 2018, serving up four-ounce (or quarter-pound) stuffed cookies in flavours like cinnamon snickerdoodle, Nutella and Oreo, which captured hearts and taste buds across the country. But now, the bakery has expanded, officially opening the doors to its first brick-and-mortar location at the end of May. Complete with whimsical walls splashed in hot pink and other brightly coloured decorations, including a sprinkle bench feature wall, lined with photos of the bakery’s creations, Foxies held its official opening at Mount Pleasant on May 21.
669 Mount Pleasant Ave.
