Shortbread isn't boring, and I will die on that hill. The deceivingly simple Scottish biscuit, traditionally made with one part sugar, two parts butter, and three parts flour, when done well, is the best pairing for an evening cup of tea. Another hill I will die on.
The historical origins of shortbread could actually be a relic of Medieval Scotland with a relatively unchanged recipe (eating shortbread is eating history); since it was quite a luxury at the time, it was reserved for special occasions like New Year's Eve. Mary, Queen of Scots, really brought shortbread into vogue in the 16th century with her love of Petticoat Tails (thin, crispy, and buttery shortbread flavoured with caraway seeds). The first printed recipe appeared in 1736 from a Scotswoman named Mrs. McLintock.
Shortbread is also super customizable; some people like to add lemon, others caramel; I personally love chunks of chocolate tossed into my shortbread. All varieties you can get in the city and the following places in Toronto make an excellent shortbread; what a great host gift for the holidays!
We love Phipps, their cakes, pies, and tarts can do no wrong, but don't neglect their double chocolate shortbread! Baked fresh every day by Leticia, Millie, Jerry and Vicki, they also have plain and chocolate chunk options.
Roselle does pretty much every pastry they tackle in a stunning way, but their shortbread is truly exceptional. Available in bags of 4, they include the following flavours: strawberry vanilla thumbprint, earl grey shorties, pecan Toffee Dark Chocolate and sable Breton.
Sweet Flour Bakeshop bakes their shortbread in-house, you can get them in small packs but also in beautifully wrapped gift boxes, their flavours include: lemon, milk chocolate coffee pecan, vanilla and double chocolate.
Although headquartered in Aurora, you can pick up Cookie It Up almost everywhere (I've gotten boxes at Pusateri's, Winners, really anywhere I need it to be when I'm craving a box of milk chocolate shorts.
443 King St W
SOMA Chocolatemaker
With two other locations on King Street and Brock Avenue, SOMA is almost synonymous with chocolate, their drinking chocolate being a personal favourite. SOMA, however, also does incredible shortbread, chocolate shortbread, of course, but they also have a cardamom-spiced shortbread.
Toronto, Orangeville, it's all one tank of gas, isn't it? Wicked Shortbread isn't to be missed (they offer delivery all over Ontario). Started by Keirstyn (Keri) Parfitt's, a passionate baker, they offer 12 flavours of shortbread.
Okay, so Grafton, Ontario, isn't really Toronto, but The Shortbread Company is still available all over the city. Started by mother-daughter duo (Rose-Mary and Rosie), the bite-sized shortbread cookies come in little jars and literally melt in your mouth.
246 Boulton Ave
Coach House Shortbread Co
Around since 1986, the Coach House Shortbread shiny tubes scream the holidays. Coach House was started by Carl Stryg, a former ballet dancer and opera singer, and to this date, their artisanal cookies are not available commercially. Carl's legacy is carried on by his husband Will, and their current shortbread offering is incredible, with beautifully flavoured sweet and savoury biscuits like lavender, orange and cardamom, gorgonzola and pistachio etc.
Made by Jess, her shortbread recipe and its variations are inspired by her mother with her own added twists. Jess' cookies are made to order and whipped up by hand in Toronto with no additives and preservatives. She offers flavours like chocolate chunk and sprinkles sandwich (rainbow sprinkle shortbread cookies sandwiched with rich buttercream frosting).
80 Galaxy Blvd #16
Mary MacLeod's
Family run since 1981, when Mary herself opened up Canada's first-ever shortbread shop under the marquee of Toronto's Capitol Theatre. Though they've since grown much bigger than their tiny bakeshop origins, the recipes they use are loyal to Mary's own and are available all over the city, from Whole Foods and Loblaws to little mom-and-pop shops.
Shortbread isn't boring, and I will die on that hill. The deceivingly simple Scottish biscuit, traditionally made with one part sugar, two parts butter, and three parts flour, when done well, is the best pairing for an evening cup of tea. Another hill I will die on.
The historical origins of shortbread could actually be a relic of Medieval Scotland with a relatively unchanged recipe (eating shortbread is eating history); since it was quite a luxury at the time, it was reserved for special occasions like New Year's Eve. Mary, Queen of Scots, really brought shortbread into vogue in the 16th century with her love of Petticoat Tails (thin, crispy, and buttery shortbread flavoured with caraway seeds). The first printed recipe appeared in 1736 from a Scotswoman named Mrs. McLintock.
Shortbread is also super customizable; some people like to add lemon, others caramel; I personally love chunks of chocolate tossed into my shortbread. All varieties you can get in the city and the following places in Toronto make an excellent shortbread; what a great host gift for the holidays!
Phipps Bakery Café
We love Phipps, their cakes, pies, and tarts can do no wrong, but don't neglect their double chocolate shortbread! Baked fresh every day by Leticia, Millie, Jerry and Vicki, they also have plain and chocolate chunk options.
Roselle
Roselle does pretty much every pastry they tackle in a stunning way, but their shortbread is truly exceptional. Available in bags of 4, they include the following flavours: strawberry vanilla thumbprint, earl grey shorties, pecan Toffee Dark Chocolate and sable Breton.
Sweet Flour Bakeshop
Sweet Flour Bakeshop bakes their shortbread in-house, you can get them in small packs but also in beautifully wrapped gift boxes, their flavours include: lemon, milk chocolate coffee pecan, vanilla and double chocolate.
Cookie It Up
Although headquartered in Aurora, you can pick up Cookie It Up almost everywhere (I've gotten boxes at Pusateri's, Winners, really anywhere I need it to be when I'm craving a box of milk chocolate shorts.
443 King St W
SOMA Chocolatemaker
With two other locations on King Street and Brock Avenue, SOMA is almost synonymous with chocolate, their drinking chocolate being a personal favourite. SOMA, however, also does incredible shortbread, chocolate shortbread, of course, but they also have a cardamom-spiced shortbread.
Wicked Shortbread
Toronto, Orangeville, it's all one tank of gas, isn't it? Wicked Shortbread isn't to be missed (they offer delivery all over Ontario). Started by Keirstyn (Keri) Parfitt's, a passionate baker, they offer 12 flavours of shortbread.
The Shortbread Company
Okay, so Grafton, Ontario, isn't really Toronto, but The Shortbread Company is still available all over the city. Started by mother-daughter duo (Rose-Mary and Rosie), the bite-sized shortbread cookies come in little jars and literally melt in your mouth.
246 Boulton Ave
Coach House Shortbread Co
Around since 1986, the Coach House Shortbread shiny tubes scream the holidays. Coach House was started by Carl Stryg, a former ballet dancer and opera singer, and to this date, their artisanal cookies are not available commercially. Carl's legacy is carried on by his husband Will, and their current shortbread offering is incredible, with beautifully flavoured sweet and savoury biscuits like lavender, orange and cardamom, gorgonzola and pistachio etc.
Best Shortbread By Jess
Made by Jess, her shortbread recipe and its variations are inspired by her mother with her own added twists. Jess' cookies are made to order and whipped up by hand in Toronto with no additives and preservatives. She offers flavours like chocolate chunk and sprinkles sandwich (rainbow sprinkle shortbread cookies sandwiched with rich buttercream frosting).
80 Galaxy Blvd #16
Mary MacLeod's
Family run since 1981, when Mary herself opened up Canada's first-ever shortbread shop under the marquee of Toronto's Capitol Theatre. Though they've since grown much bigger than their tiny bakeshop origins, the recipes they use are loyal to Mary's own and are available all over the city, from Whole Foods and Loblaws to little mom-and-pop shops.
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