Baking & Desserts
Iconic Canadian Desserts From Every Province (You've Likely Never Heard Of)
Frozen Nanaimo Bar Pie/Photography by Ryan Szulc
Baking & Desserts
Iconic Canadian Desserts From Every Province (You've Likely Never Heard Of)
From coast to coast, uncover the iconic desserts home to each Canadian province.
“What do you mean you’ve never heard of schmoo torte?” was the confusion-laced reply I received as I returned to the table after perusing the dessert counter in a small cafe in a downtown Saskatoon, Sask., My local guide and I quickly deciphered that the fluffy, whipped-cream loaded pie was a Prairie delicacy that hadn’t quite made it to Ontario.
Just one bite into my mandatory schmoo torte experience, I was left baffled that I hadn't heard of this dessert before.
While there are some desserts that are truly synonymous with Canada—think, sticky-sweet maple candies and doughy Beaver Tails—others are far more hyper-local than we might expect. In my case, it took an off-the-cuff remark about a cake with a cutesy name to learn about the childhood sweet locals have grown up with for generations.
From the berry-laden treats of the East to the custard pies of the Prairies, take a peek at the desserts that define each province.
British Columbia: Nanaimo Bars
B.C., of course, is known for its delicious (and not-so-underground) Nanaimo bars. Originating from Vancouver Island’s coastal city of Nanaimo, these bars are loaded with layers of chocolatey-coconut, custard, and silky chocolate.
Alberta: Puffed Wheat Cake
Also known as puffed wheat squares, this treat is reminiscent of Rice Crispy treats. The dessert is believed to have originated at a candy store in Red Deer, Alta., in 1913. Puffed wheat cereal is combined with butter, sugar, and cocoa powder for a decadent and chocolate-forward bite.
Saskatchewan: Schmoo torte
An iconic dessert across the Prairies—particularly in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where it allegedly took root—schmoo torte is a heavenly mixture of fluffy angel food cake, nutty caramel sauce, light whipped cream, and candied pecans.
Manitoba: flapper pie
Another Manitoba staple is flapper pie. This airy vanilla custard pie is topped with meringue or whipped cream and encased in a crumbly graham cracker crust.
Ontario: Butter tarts
There are a handful of origin stories for butter tarts. Some believe the handhelds originated in 1900 in rural Ontario, while other accounts indicate that a variation of the recipe dates back to the filles du roi who were sent to Quebec in the late 17th century. Essentially mini versions of Quebec’s traditional sugar pies, butter tarts are ooey-gooey delicious. The biggest question that remains—do you take yours with pecans, raisins, or plain?
Quebec: Pets de sœur
Believe it or not, the direct translation for these cinnamon bun-esque treats is “nuns’ farts.” Originally made to use up leftover pastry, this dessert rolls pie pastry up with butter and brown sugar.
New Brunswick: Poutines à Trou
A traditional Acadian dessert, Poutines à Trou is also called “Poutine in the hole.” The hand pies are traditionally filled with sliced apples, raisins, cranberries, and a runny sauce.
Nova Scotia: Blueberry grunt
Crispy oatcake cookies might be the heart of Atlantic baking, but blueberry grunt certainly takes the cake in Nova Scotia. This summer-ready dessert is made of stewed wild blueberries topped with dumpling-like biscuits.
Newfoundland & Labrador: Figgy duff
Similar to English spotted dick, figgy duff is a steamed pudding filled with raisins. Variations of the traditional recipe with molasses and spices are sometimes referred to as Labrador duff.
Prince Edward Island: glazed strawberry pie
P.E.I may be known for its fresh seafood, but the province knows its way around a dessert or two. Dish up a classic strawberry dessert, from glazed strawberry pie to strawberry galettes for a taste of the island.
10 Sweet Strawberry Desserts
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