Bring a taste of Canada to your dinner table tonight by serving one of these fantastic treats. Oh, Canada. The land of milk and honey. Canada is known for its beautiful landscapes, cold winters, and bountiful maple syrup. With such cold seasons and rich sweetness, it’s no wonder they have delicious dessert recipes to cozy up with. This holiday season, get some sweet inspiration from our neighbors up north with this list of Canadian desserts. From rich and indulgent, to light and fragrant, this list of recipes has something to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth. There are classic favorites, and maybe something new you haven’t tried yet! Browse through these Canadian Desserts and whip up an after-dinner treat to share by the fire. With recipes like these, you can’t go wrong!
1. Nanaimo Bars
If you love dolly bars, you NEED to try their cousins, Nanaimo bars. Coconut, graham cracker, and custard come together to make these sweet treats. A crispy layer of a graham cracker crust is topped with a creamy layer of custard, all held together with coconut topping. Add these to your holiday baking list and they may just become everyone’s new favorite!
2. Pouding Chômeur
Hailing from the French province of Quebec, this pudding is the first of many maple-flavored delights to hit this list. Similar to rice pudding, this creamy, warm custard with streusel topping is the ultimate comfort food. Quickly made with ingredients you are sure to have on hand, there is no reason a pan of pouding can’t be on your table tonight. With its soft inner layer and crispy buttery crust, pouding chomeur is sure to be a hit!
3. Jo Louis Cake
Have you ever had a ding dong? Did you wonder where Little Debbie got her inspiration? It’s right here, with a Jo Louis Cake! This moist chocolate cake is filled with a delectable marshmallow creme, then topped with an impeccable chocolate ganache. It is exactly what a ding dong would be if it were fresh and hot from the oven! Look like a pro baker by bringing this recipe to your next potluck.
4. Cinnamon Sugar Bannock
Bannock is a sweet bread, similar to a scone. This recipe takes its traditional sweetness up a notch by adding a generous dusting of cinnamon sugar. The airy sponge-bread is the perfect breakfast food, but also sweet enough to pass as a dessert without any complaints! If you are new to bannock, think cinnamon roll who studied abroad. You will find lots of familiar, comforting flavor, with a texture that is similar to a biscuit.
5. Maple Syrup Pie
The quintessential merging of French and Canadian culture, this pie is true to the authentic Canadian food experience. Similar to a chess pie, this maple syrup flavored sugar pie is immaculately flavored with the Canadian specialty of maple! The simplicity of the recipe truly allows the maple syrup flavor to shine in a rich and warm texture.
6. Nanaimo Balls
This sweet twist on classic Nanaimo bars is a no-bake alternative. These Nanaimo balls are just as delicious as the bars, but without all the fuss and frills. They’re great for lunch boxes or on nights when your sweet tooth is calling. Whip up these balls in half the time, without any flavor compromise.
7. Figgy Duff
This pudding is steamed to a bread-like consistency, and sweetened throughout with plump, juicy raisins! The variations of leftovers are almost as impressive as the dish itself! Top with maple syrup or your favorite fruit preserves for a breakfast treat. Or fry it in a pan for a crisp piece of sweet toast. With all the possible variations, you could have this recipe any time of day!
8. Sucre à la Crème
In other words, FUDGE! Sweet, creamy, gooey fudge. Traditionally enjoyed around Christmas, no one is going to blame you for eating this all year long. This fudge only has vanilla extract for flavoring, so the butter and sugar get to shine! It’s rich, sweet, and it will be gone before you know it! Bring a tray of sucre a la creme to your next gathering for an elegant dessert that won’t last long.
9. Butter Tarts
This butter tart recipe is deliciously dressed up with raisins and nuts or left plain. Similar to chess pie, true fans adore its rich flavor. With a creamy filling and flaky crust, what’s not to love? Bake yours until it’s firm, or leave the filling runny. You can’t go wrong! These whip up with ease and are sure to please! These butter tarts are so good, you should probably make two!
10. Maple Cupcakes
Maple syrup goes well with everything, and these cupcakes are no exception! With maple flavors in both the cake and the frosting, you are in for a treat! If you are a maple purist at heart, you MUST try these delectable cupcakes. Get your family involved with helping you decorate! Little hands will love frosting these sweet treats. Even if they may not be as pretty, they will still taste delicious!
11. Tarte au Sucre
This is French for sugar pie! What could be sweeter than that? The essence of dessert is cradled in a buttery crust for a sugary sweet treat that could follow any meal. Serve a la mode or with an ice cream scoop on top. Do what you like, but I always recommend ice cream.
12. Puffed Wheat Squares
These are just like Rice Krispies treats, but with a heartier swap. Use Puffed Wheat cereal instead of Rice Krispies for a crunchy twist. This recipe still uses butter and marshmallows to hold the cereal together, though. And hey, wheat means healthy, right? While these may not be the pinnacle of a well-balanced diet, they may be worth the few extra carbs.
13. Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies
Maple shortbread with maple icing? Yes, please! The only way to get more maple flavor would be to drink the syrup straight from the bottle. You would miss out on the crisp shortbread texture and creamy royal frosting if you did that, though! Add a maple leaf cookie cutter and these are the epitome of Canada themed fare. However, use a different shape and celebrate any occasion with maple cookies.
14. Pubnico Molasses Cookies
These molasses cookies are sure to please! Their soft and chewy texture pairs well with a warm cup of tea and a crackling fire. Don’t let their rustic looks throw you off. These cookies are packed with a molasses flavor. You may as well double the recipe. One batch of these won’t last long!
15. Date Squares
Dates are nature’s candy, as my grandmother would say. They are naturally sweet and smooth inside, making them the perfect addition to any recipe. These squares layer a beautiful date filling in between a cinnamon-spiced crust and crumbly topping. There are even oats in this recipe. Does that mean it counts as breakfast? Honestly, these squares are so good, you will be tempted to eat them at all times of the day.
16. Maple Glazed Donuts
Moist, spiced cake donuts are smothered in a thick maple glaze. Just in time for fall, these two flavors blend perfectly to create a truly decadent dessert. Baking the donuts cuts out a lot of the hassle on the baker’s end! These sweet treats will be ready in no time, with an even quicker clean up.
17. Confetti Squares
I’m always on the lookout for another no-bake recipe, and this looks like a good one. You really can’t go wrong with favorites like peanut butter and marshmallows. Blend and then top with a Rice Krispies treat. What could be more delicious than that? These festive squares are three childhood favorites in one. What better dessert to share with the little ones in your life?
18. Maple Walnut Fudge
Rich maple and earthy walnuts are wrapped up in one delicious sweet treat. Fudge is a favorite for several reasons. It’s creamy, decadent, and delicious! This recipe holds to all of those things and more by adding a generous amount of maple flavor and delightful nutty crunch.
19. Flapper Pie
This silky pie recipe is bound to be your next favorite. Layers of custard and meringue top a graham cracker crust in a perfect marriage of eggy sweetness. You’ll love the buttery crust combined with the luscious filling. There’s nothing like it. One bite and you will be sold on this soft-set pie.
20. Blueberry Grunt
What is a grunt? A grunt is very similar to a cobbler, but with way more fruit filling than crust topping. And that’s what you always want, right? This divine dish is generous with a blueberry sauce that is equal parts sweet and fruity. Top this with a fluffy, dumpling-like dough, and you’ll have a heavenly combination. The only thing that could make this better is a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. And hey, what’s stopping you? It really can’t get better than this.
21. Canadian Fruitcake
Fruitcake gets a bad rap and is the unfortunate end to bad jokes. This Christmas, see for yourself if it is deserving of so much talk. This recipe walks you through how to make a traditional Canadian fruitcake. I had no idea it could be so time-consuming! Surely, something made with this much love and patience could never taste bad!
22. Maple Candy (Toffee)
This toffee recipe is ooey, gooey, and so stretchy. It’s flavored with Canada’s signature maple syrup and topped with bitter dark chocolate for a flavor contrast that is truly spectacular. My favorite part is how simple it is to make! Pour the caramelized toffee base out onto some parchment paper, then let it cool. You’ll be left with a delectable and sophisticated treat you are sure to enjoy.
23. Newfoundland Snowballs
Like many, there is seldom a chocolate recipe that disappoints me. However, this one jumps out above the rest. Chocolate fudge is mixed with oatmeal and coconut flakes before being rolled into perfect, bite-sized balls. The combination of flavors and textures is irresistible. They are so small, so there is no shame in eating three or four, or ten. These little guys look adorable on a festive dessert platter, but they won’t stay there for long!
24. Passion Flakes
Which goes first, cream or jam? I’m not sure it matters with this recipe. Whenever apple raspberry jam neighbors delicious vanilla cream inside a flaky puff pastry, how could any combination be wrong? Whichever order you choose, you are sure to love this passion flakes recipe. Try your hand at reducing your homemade preserves, or buy your jam from the store, along with freezer pastry dough. Either way, you will end up with delicious, melt in your mouth, passion flakes.
25. Maple Butter Tart Liqueur
If you’re looking for a drink to wash down these Canadian desserts with, look no further than this maple butter tart liqueur. This liqueur combines all of the favorite flavors from the above recipes into one delightful drink. Classic, rich maple, blends with elegant vanilla and savory butter, to create a liqueur that is equal parts drink and dessert. Brew with patience, as this liqueur sets for a minimum of two weeks. I guarantee it will be worth the wait! Click on a star to rate it!
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