12 Victoria bakeries to pick up holiday treats

It is universally understood that one of the best parts of the holiday season is all of the festive baking that you get to enjoy. Whether you are looking to complete your holiday spread—or simply do not have the time to do your own baking—Victoria’s bakeries have you covered. 

From classic holiday staples to inventive festive treats, we have compiled a list of local bakeries that are whipping up delicious goodies in time for Christmas.  

Peckish Cafe

Peckish Cafe has a holiday 10-piece cookie gift basket that includes three almond snowballs, three chocolate snowballs, two dark chocolate and hazelnut truffles, and two raisin butter tarts. The bakery also has brandy-soaked Christmas fruit cake that is topped with house-made marzipan. This cake is available in limited quantities so customers are encouraged to pick one up soon before they are gone.   

Location: 1267 Fairfield Rd., Victoria
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 8am-4pm; Saturday, 8am-3pm

Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen Cafe

The Oak Bay bakery and deli has an unbeatable selection of imported panettone available. Panettone flavours include classic, pistachio, limoncello, chocolate, salted caramel, candied chestnut, and vegan chocolate. The bakery also has yule logs that come in small, medium, and large. These are pre-order only and just a limited quantity are available.    

Location: 2272 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-6pm

Martha’s Delectables

Martha's Delectables is known for its shortbread. Made in the traditional Scottish style, these shortbread are available in their classic form or with flavours like lemon, maple, or orange brandy. This festive season the bakery also has three-packs of mini gingerbread people.    

Location: 1267 Fairfield Rd., Victoria 
Hours: Monday, Wednesday-Friday, 10am-3:30pm; Saturday, 9:30am-3:30pm

Pure Vanilla Bakery & Cafe

Pure Vanilla Bakery & Cafe has a big selection of holiday treats. Its peppermint twist cake features layers of vanilla cake and peppermint ganache filling topped with vanilla peppermint buttercream. The bakery is making traditional holiday goodies like mincemeat tarts, rum balls, and truffles as well as twists on classics like its chocolate peppermint crinkle cookies and its fruit and nut butter tarts. The cut off for all orders is Dec. 19. 

Location: 2590 Cadboro Bay Rd., Victoria
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4pm; Saturday and Sunday, 8:30am-3pm

WildFire Organic Bakery

WildFire Organic Bakery has some traditional Christmas baking on offer like its German stollen and its Scottish Dundee cake. The bakery’s other holiday treats include mincemeat tarts, cranberry chocolate shortbread trees, butter tarts, ginger folk, and almond bark. It also has a yule log that is made to order and is complete with meringue mushrooms.   

Location: 1517 Quadra St., Victoria
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8am-5pm

Fol Epi

The Vic West bakery has small and large panettone available this festive season as well as other holiday treats like stollen, cranberry shortbread, and maple walnut butter tarts. Orders with panettone and stollen could require between 48 hours and a week to fulfill.

Location: 398 Harbour Rd. #101, Victoria
Hours: Sunday and Monday, 8am-4pm; Tuesday-Saturday, 8am-6pm 

La Roux Patisserie

The French pastry shop in Chinatown has a stunning yule log available that is made with vanilla genoise and hazelnut filling and is topped with chocolate ganache and little mushrooms. It is available for pre-order in small or large sizes until Dec. 20. The patisserie also has gingerbread people made out of macaron.  

Location: 519 Fisgard St., Victoria
Hours: Thursday-Monday, 9am-5pm 

Dutch Bakery & Diner

Dutch Bakery & Diner is stocked up with festive treats including Nanaimo bars, cocktail mince tarts, and speculaas people. The bakery also has stollen and dark fruit cake, which is available with or without marzipan. Party trays are available with an assortment of cookies and pastries, perfect for large gatherings. Order pickups are available until Dec. 23, although the order cut off may occur before then.   

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

Working Culture Bread

Working Culture Bread has festive bread available like its raisinbrød and its chocolate, orange, and hazelnut sourdough. Its pastry and cookie specials include eggnog custard danishes, graham cracker shortbread, and gingerbread cremla. The bakery anticipates that the lead up to Christmas will be busy and encourages customers to pre-order in advance.  

Location: 2506 Douglas St., Victoria
Hours: Thursday and Friday, 8am-4pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9am-3pm

Goodside Bakery House

Goodside Pastry House has a selection of holiday inspired treats available this month like its pistachio and mulled wine dessert tree, its strawberry yuzu mousse ornament, and its panettone brioche. Its turkey, cranberry, and brie croissant makes a delicious savoury alternative to holiday baking.

Location: 1805 Fort St., Victoria
Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 10am-4pm

Crust Bakery

Crust Bakery has some pastries with festive flavours that are ideal for a holiday spread. Try out its almond frangipane tarts with cinnamon poached pears, its bourbon pecan chocolate tarts, or its toffee apple and salted almond crumble pastries.   

Location: 730 Fort St., Victoria; 3535 Uptown Blvd., Victoria
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 8am-4:30pm; Monday-Sunday, 8:30am-5pm

Origin Bakery

Origin Bakery makes gluten-free holiday treats including shortbread, gingerbread, biscotti, and meringue trees. Its dessert items include a yule log and an eggnog cake. The bakery also has a gingerbread house kit available for those who want to partake in cookie decorating but cannot eat gluten.  

Location: 1525 Pandora Ave., Victoria
Hours: Monday-Thursday, Saturday, 8am-5:30pm; Friday, 8am-6:30pm