13 Spots for Sweet Treats in Ottawa

From gelato stop to candy shop, Ottawa has everything the savvy mom with a sweet tooth needs. Here are some of our favourite places to go when that sugar craving needs to be stopped.

Hummingbird makes high-quality dark chocolate, the kind that delights the palette like fine wine. Although their new facility in Almonte is small, it's absolutely fascinating to watch the staff create top-notch confections by hand. Drop by at 11:30 on a Saturday morning, don a hairnet and shoe covers, and go on a walk through of the entire process, from bean sorting to roasting to grinding to tempering. Several stops on the tour involve machines of the company's own invention, a perfect opportunity for your little engineer to get inspired. Once the tour is over, be sure to taste some of the different flavours produced in the plant—we were amazed at how different bean bases can make such a difference in flavour, and impressed that it's all gluten, soy, and dairy free.

Located right inside the Sugar Mountain on Elgin Street, gather up some Sugar Mountain candy—any blend you like—and the LaViolette team will mix it up into your very own pressed chocolate bar, using white, milk or dark chocolate. How about a bar with cherry licorice, sour jujubes, and gummy bears? Hot lips, zingy zaps, and candy corn? If you can dream it—and dare to try it—you can make it in just 10 minutes. If you're not the creative type, let LaViolette do the inventing for you—we love their Doritos milk chocolate bar.

We know it's hip to get help from Totally Squared, Ottawa's established experts in the latest trend in retro party food: the classic square. We love that you can order your party treats online and have them delivered for a small fee inside the Ottawa area. The only stressful part about the entire process is trying to choose a flavour. If the choices overwhelm you, we say just throw up your hands in defeat and order the surefire hit: the variety box.

In the season of backyard BBQ's and pool parties, an ice cream cake from Icy Cool Creations is a chill alternative to the usual cake and ice cream combo. Icy Cool Creations' cakes have two full layers of ice cream of your choice—gluten, lactose and dairy allergies can be accomodated—with a crumbled cookie crust and a layer or two of creamy fudge, topped off with a sauce of your choosing. It all comes together for cloud-nine flavour. The best part is that leftovers can be tucked away in the freezer for later nibbling, or even your next BBQ...if you can hold out that long (we couldn't!).

The perfect place to stop in for an indulgent recharge, Second Avenue Sweets—on, you guessed it, Second Avenue—in the Glebe, is sure to have something for everyone. Enormous chocolate cupcakes for the kids should hit the spot (and if you have to help them with the last few bites, so be it), while you'll have a hard time choosing between individually sized portions of flourless chocolate cake, crème caramel, or their delicious lemon tarts. Grab a handful of their trademark fleur de sel caramels and a few fresh croissants to take home, too.

Nothing gives little feet the encouragement to continue on a long shopping trip than a big scoop of ice cream. At the Marble Slab Creamery, located on Bank Street in the Glebe, all treats—from dozens of ice cream flavours to sauces and toppings to dipped waffle cones—are made right on site. Choose a flavour like birthday cake, cotton candy, or strawberry banana; have it blended with any number of sprinkles, candies, and add-ins; and then serve it up in a cup or cone. Heaven.

For the real Gelato Italiano, we can't stay away from the Bacio flavour (hazelnut & chocolate) at Piccolo Grande. An Ottawa establishment since 1987, this gelateria has been producing the tasty frozen treat in house and always at the highest quality. It's no wonder we keep going back.

We're fans of Truffle Treasures on Richmond Road. We discovered their delectable gelato when we were sneaking in to get our peanut butter cup fix (made with a healthy gob of caramel—heaven!). There are a dozen flavours to choose from. Grapefruit Kiss, Sunset Mango, and the high-intensity Sexy Chocolate are all winners. Extra bonus points for homemade waffle cones.

For a dizzying variety of flavours, try Pure Gelato on Elgin which provides a cool escape in the evening hours. Try the cinnamon, green tea, or coconut that is worthy of a more tropical setting.

It's hard to choose a favourite dessert at Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana on Preston. Shall it be roasted almond, tiramisu or pistachio gelato? Tarts, mousses, flans or cheesecakes? We are planning on trying them all at some point this season while we people watch from the covered veranda overlooking the Corso Italia.

Located on Bank Street in Old Ottawa South, Stella Luna Gelato is local resident Tammy Giuliani's baby. Spurning pre-measured, powdered mixes, Tammy wanted to make gelato from simple, wholesome ingredients found locally. After spending time in Italy, she returned fully trained in ice cream creation and bursting to share her new-found talents and ideas with customers. With seating for 40 and large kitchen style tables, there is plenty of room for your mom group and the kids. The shop is setting up an area around the back where you can park and lock up your stroller for carefree snacking inside.

No need to feel excluded if a frozen dessert isn't for you. Next time you're in Westboro, drop in to The Candy Store. With a variety to suit every personality, these treats are great for gifts and yourself. Ranging from sophisticated salty French caramels, to retro sweets like Big League Chewers, Payday bars, Gobstobbers and Sugar Babies, it's like taking a walk back in time to your favourite childhood candystore. And funnily enough, the same 'please, please, please!' is being sung out loud (only this time it's not coming from you).

Picking our favourite flavour at koko chocolates is about as easy as choosing our favourite child—totally impossible. We really loved the Thai Chili, perfect for those who like their chocolate with a kick. Here's a tip: don't refrigerate your chocolate. Cold chocolate doesn't release its flavours and aromas very well and will alter your taste experience. It should be served at room temperature. Also, this kind of artisan chocolate has an expiry date of about two weeks so make sure it gets eaten before then. (Ha!)