Paddy Cake

Little Jack Horner sat in a corner eating his Christmas pie. He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum and said “What a good boy am I.”

It’s pie season (and cookies, cake and candy, too) and we have a sweet recommendation for you. Sugar Pie Bakeries is an innovative local business specializing in pie pops. Yes, we said pops.

Shaped and packaged like lollipops, pie pops come in flavours like pumpkin, lemon and chocolate and are a hit with kids (and grownups, too). Each pie is perfectly proportioned, delicious, and costs $3.25.

The pie pops are available at Meez Fast Home Cuisine and the Kingsland Farmers Market as of November 25 and come packaged and ready to eat on the spot or frozen and ready to bake at home. Sugar Pie Bakeries also bakes full-sized pies and takes orders for large events.

Looking for something a bit fancier for your next seasonal fete? We found some lovely French-inspired desserts by Fraîche—the perfect dinner party companions guaranteed to never overstay their welcome. Fraîche is a twist on traditional catering, supplying the final touches to your meal. Since baking requires different ingredients, different equipment and different knowledge than cooking a to-die-for dinner, why not order in?

Fraîche rotates their offerings by season to take advantage of locally-produced groceries and produce that will compliment your seasonal meals. Sour Cream Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting is one of the highlights on the fall menu and we look forward to winter if only to taste the decadent Grand Marnier Chocolate Cupcakes.

Order by phone on weekdays, or mosey down to Bistro 2210 in Mission to taste a sampling of Fraîche’s sweet goodness.

Another baking sensation in town is Sidewalk Citizen. They don’t make cakes or pies, but they make a killer loaf of bread. Baked by Aviv Fried (who seems to have somewhat of a cult following) with organic flours, and hand-delivered by bike and trailer to downtown residents, Sidewalk Citizen takes Calgary’s urban food scene to a new level.

If you don’t live in the core, you can find his breads at a number of local specialty food stores and markets including Meez, Sunnyside Market and the Cookbook Co. (a full retailer list can be found on the Sidewalk Citizen site). Aside from levain bread (yeast-free) and sourdough, Aviv also bakes a variety of specialty breads including goodies like Normandy Apple or Roasted Potato Bread.

‘Tis the season to bake and be merry. Skip the work, skip the mess and impress your family and guests with locally-baked sweets and treats just in time for the holidays.

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