Bakeshops across Metro Vancouver have been rolling out the dough and loading up the ovens with delectable holiday cookies. While one cookie is fantastic, a box of several styles is definitely the way to go at this time of year...chase that buttery shortbread with a spicy gingerbread, and then maybe a sugar cookie topped with beautiful icing. Why not? It's December and the calories don't count.*
Whether you're bringing home a box to enjoy with your household, or sending off something to sweeten a friend, relative, or work associate's season, there are quite a few local bakers creating bundles of merry-making cookies right now. We've rounded up a few of our favourite options for holiday cookie boxes in Metro Vancouver.
Butter & Botanicals
The holiday cookie boxes from this awesome local baking business run by two Vancouver women come in three sizes, small, medium, and large, loaded with beautiful artisan cookies and treats featuring festive flavours. Enjoy their decadent Eggnog s'mores bars, charming Cinnamon bun cookies, and the crave-worthy Butterscotch and toffee shortbread cookies - and don't forget to dunk their Gingerbread biscotti with white chocolate drizzle in your morning cup of coffee (would be a dreamy pairing for Christmas morning, if you can hold off from tucking in for that long). Pre-order are open now until Dec. 11, with pick-up or delivery from Dec. 17 to 19. Even better: They are donating a percentage of sales to Kids Help Phone.
Cost: $45-120
The Bench Bakehouse
Photo: Octane Collective for The Bench BakehouseCommercial Drive's Bench Bakehouse is focused on buttery shortbread cookies for their seasonal boxes this year, featuring flavours like chocolate hazelnut, white chocolate and pistachio, caramelized chocolate and toasted almonds. They're also doing gingerbread cookie and house kits, as well as a vegan cookie box.
Cost: $14.50-60
Oh Sweet Day!
Photo: Oh Sweet Day!One of the local modern masters of festive cookie boxes, Oh Sweet Day! slays the sleigh-time season with their cookie tins, with an emphasis on their signature shortbread. Enjoy everything shortbread from classic vanilla to Earl Grey and Dried Cranberry and Pistachio, too - plus Lavender Lemon and Dark Chocolate shortbread stars. They're also adding in Chewy Ginger Spiced Cookies; Matcha Shortbread Christmas Trees; Snow Balls (Walnut and Pecan Butter Balls). There's also an option to add-on the Oh Sweet Day! cookbook, so you can try your hand at making those cookies at home, too.
Cost: $32-59
Soirette
Photo: SoiretteSoirette's Holiday Cookie Giftbox comes with nine scrumptious varieties this year. This box includes 23 cookies, so there will be enough to go around, even for Santa. It comes fully decorated and packaged in a festive Soirette gift box adorned with beautiful ribbon, all handmade and gift wrapped by the bakery's team.
Cost: $42.95
Beaucoup Bakery
Photo: Beaucoup BakerySouth Granville's French-style bakery is putting together elegant and adventurous Holiday Cookie Tins with new flavours: Tonka Pecan Wreaths, Black Sesame Cigarette Russes, and Kinako Macadamia Toffee Snowballs. Get eight pieces for $17.95, or 16 pieces for $35.
Cost: $17.95-35
Butter Bakery
Photo: Butter Baked Goods/FacebookYou can go all out with some massive collections of cookies and treats for treating your whole family or work team, or keep it simple with a selection just for Santa (that lucky guy). Butter has a half-dozen box options, including their Holiday Box - which even includes hot chocolate mix, mince tarts, and spiced nuts to spice things up - and those Cookies for Santa, featuring some of their biggest (literally) cookie hits.
Cost: $50-400
YVR Cookie
Photo: YVR CookieAvailable in sets of five or 15 cookies, YVR Cookie's Holiday Boxes are brimming with their big stuffed cookies, in flavours like Salted Caramel Mocha, Peppermint Chocolate, and Lemon Cranberry.
Cost: $44-89
Mon Paris
Photo: Mon ParisEnjoy a bundle of 20 assorted cookies (six caramelized pecan, six hazelnut chocolate chip, four pistachio shortbread and four ruby chocolate dipped shortbread) from Burnaby's Mon Paris this year. Or, get into the sweet stuff yourself with their Christmas cookie decorating kit ($23), which comes with 16 baked sugar cookies, three bags of royal icing and one bag of rainbow sprinkles. Delivery is available Dec. 22-23.
Cost: $23-25
Noisette by Olivia
Photo: Noisette by OliviaThis limited edition cookie box features some whimsical selections: "Salted caramel sablé to dip into the morning coffee, strawberry shortbread to accompany relaxing brunch, chocolate sablé for the afternoon pick-me-up, pecan shortbread to curl up on the couch with a great book, caramel popcorn and spiced nuts for the late night movies, and chocolate rocher for the emergency stash we always have on hand." Pre-order online for pick-up at Aperture Coffee Bar on Broadway on select dates.
Cost: $55
Gabi & Jules
Photo: Gabi & Jules"All the wonders of Christmas Cookies in one delicious box - it's a miracle!" says the beloved Port Moody bakery. You'll find three each of Gabi & Jules' Gingerpeople, sugar cookies, shortbread, and ginger molasses sandwich cookies.
*Not scientifically true, but of all Decembers, this is one where guilt about indulging a little (or even a lot) is beyond unnecessary. EAT THE COOKIES!
