10 spots for Easter treats in Victoria

Easter weekend is fast approaching and that means that bakeries and sweet shops across the city have begun preparing treats specially suited for the occasion. 

We have the inside scoop for the upcoming epic chocolate hunts and family dinners.  

From hot cross buns and traditional Easter breads to carrot cake and chocolate bunnies, these are the seasonal treats that we are most excited about.

Fol Epi

Fol Epi, the mouth-watering organic bakery in Vic West, is making hot cross buns just in time for Easter—available in singles or as sets of six. These traditional holiday spiced buns feature dried fruit and the signature cross of icing. Instead of putting out carrots for the Easter bunny this year, consider treating the scavenger hunt-designing hard worker with a slice of the bakery’s carrot cake. This moist cake is made with walnuts and parsnips and is topped off with a cream cheese mascarpone.

Address: 398 Harbour Rd. #101, Victoria
Hours: Sunday and Monday, 8am-4pm; Tuesday-Saturday, 8am-5pm

Dutch Bakery & Diner

Dutch Bakery & Diner has been a fixture of the Victoria food scene since it first opened its doors on Fort in 1956. The bakeshop always has a killer selection of goodies for the Easter holiday, with a wide range of both baked goods and chocolates. Its chocolate counter has everything from half milk-half dark chocolate eggs and solid chocolate bunnies to large hollow chocolate eggs filled with assorted tiny eggs. The bakery also has its classic hot cross buns available for the season as well as limited time batches of carrot-shaped marzipan.

Address: 718 Fort St., Victoria
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 8am-4pm

The Italian Bakery

Another Victoria staple is The Italian Bakery, which has been operating on Quadra since 1978. This Easter, the northern Italian bakery has made a batch of colomba. The dove-shaped traditional Italian Easter bread has many similarities to Christmas panettone, minus the raisins, and is the perfect addition to your Easter feast. 

Address: 3197 Quadra St., Victoria
Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 9am-5:30pm; Saturday, 9am-4pm

Julie’s Delights Chocolates

Langford-based chocolatier Julie's Delights Chocolates has a wide range of Easter-themed chocolates available that are perfect for gift giving. A particular standout is the hazelnut bunnies, filled with gianduja—a mix of 30% hazelnut paste and milk chocolate. The chocolate shop also has chick-shaped hot chocolate bombs that are a delicious way to enjoy a hot beverage on cooler nights. These handmade chocolates can be found at select stores across the city.  

Address: 106-720 Station Ave., Langford
Hours: 11am-4pm

Parachute Ice Cream

Parachute Ice Cream has some delicious Easter flavours just in time for the weather warming up. Its mini egg ice cream honours the delicious colourful treat, with a sweet cream base and chunks of the chocolate eggs. The ice cream shop also recently introduced its carrot cake flavour, featuring house-made carrot cake chunks in a cream cheese base. Both ice creams are available in either scoops or pints.

Address: 105-2626 Bridge St.; 735 Goldstream Ave. #129
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, noon-7pm; Friday and Saturday, noon-8pm; Monday-Sunday, noon-8pm

Cakes Etc.

Cakes Etc. has a whole selection of goodies ready just in time for Easter. Its seasonal cakes make a beautiful end to your Easter meal. Its Easter egg nests are mini chocolate cakes topped with chocolate shavings and mini eggs. Its classic carrot cake features golden raisins and is topped with cream cheese icing and white chocolate curls. The cake shop also has gorgeously decorated sugar cookies available, shaped as bunnies or eggs. Available until March 30.

Address: 2821 Quesnel St., Victoria
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-4pm

The Hidden Gem

Tucked away in the heart of Cook Street Village, The Hidden Gem has a selection of Easter treats definitely worth making a trip for. Try out its vegan stuffed carrot cake cookies or go a step further by turning them into a carrot cake ice cream sandwich with the bakery’s vegan Madagascar vanilla bean ice cream scooped between the two cookies. Alternatively, try The Hidden Gem’s mini egg jumbo cookies, with a perfect crispy outside and a gooey soft inside.

Address: 337 Cook St. B, Victoria
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8am-3pm; Friday-Sunday, 8am-4pm

Cold Comfort Ice Cream

Cold Comfort Ice Cream is raising the bar for Easter desserts with its mini egg ice cream pie. This show-stopping ice cream creation is made with a gluten-free chocolate cookie crumb base and is filled with coconut milk ice cream and then topped off with chocolate fudge sauce and the colourful chocolate eggs.

Address: 1115 N Park St. #2, Victoria
Hours: Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday, noon-7pm; Friday and Saturday, noon-9pm

Pure Lovin’ Chocolate

Opt for locally made chocolate this year in your family egg hunt! Pure Lovin' Chocolate in Fan Tan Alley has you sorted when it comes to seasonal chocolate creations, with its hazelnut bunnies being a particular star of the show. These bunnies are made with 71% organic fair trade dark chocolate as well as crispy rice, cashews, and hazelnuts. Other honourable mentions include the chocolate shop’s peanut butter filled chocolate eggs and its lemon creme chocolate chicks.

Address: 3 Fan Tan Alley #102, Victoria
Hours: Monday-Sunday,11am-5:30pm

Ruth & Dean

Ruth & Dean in Estevan Village makes both beautiful and tasty sweet treats. The bakery has traditional hot cross buns available every Thursday and Sunday until Easter Monday. It also has a gorgeous carrot cake complete with lemon cream cheese frosting and decorated with little pink roses. This cake can be ordered for pickup for March 30.

Address: 2509 Estevan Ave., Victoria
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm; Saturday and Sunday, 8am-3pm