The holidays aren’t complete without indulging in some delicious treats with your kiddos. And in greater Portland and Southwest Washington, we’re spoiled by an abundance of bakeries, chocolate shops and scoop shops serving up an array of holiday favorites and unique seasonal creations. Here are some of our favorite family-friendly dessert shops that are bound to make your holidays sweeter.
Doe Donuts
Doe Donuts is known for its inventive, flavor-packed vegan doughnuts beloved by kids and adults alike. This December, their holiday doughnut options are wonderfully indulgent: Iced Gingerbread Latte and Italian Rainbow (pictured above), red and green swirled almond old fashioned doughnut dipped in a chocolate shell and topped with fresh raspberries. They also have such delicious ice cream flavors, too. All guaranteed to be a mouthful of holiday goodness.
Farina Bakery
Macarons! Pastries! Hit up Farina Bakery on Hawthorne for a variety of seasonal treats, including marionberry pop-tarts, spicy chocolate scones, cookies like gingerbread molasses, plus a selection of savory flavors, too. The shop also released three special holiday macaron flavors — cherry amaretto, morning bun, and chocolate mint — in addition to their regular macaron selection.
Salt & Straw
Portland’s celebrated ice cream chain (with six locations and one on the Vancouver waterfront) is scooping up two special flavors this holiday season in the Holiday Shop include Almond Brittle Cake and — new this year – Tacolattes, plus other December specials with regular and vegan options.
Mio’s Delectables
For some seriously impressive festive desserts, take your children to the PSU farmers market on Saturdays for Mio’s Delectables. Preview the upcoming offerings at their blog online to browse a changing weekly selection of treats. The bake shop’s decadent hand-crafted pastries are influenced by both French and Japanese traditions, but they’re far from conventional treats. The offerings are first come, first served, so you may want to arrive early to get your picks of the spread!
Pix Pâtisserie
Pix’s pretty French pastries make children’s eyes sparkle. Pickup is available at the Pix Patio (shared with the Can Bar) on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday evenings, or order by phone to arrange pickup seven days a week with advance notice — and that includes special holiday menu items. Kids will get a kick out of the Surprise Eggs, Pix’s take on Kinder Eggs “with better chocolate and cooler toys.” There are also gorgeous hand-colored edible chocolate ornaments, artisanal chocolate advent calendars and celebratory cakes for the whole family including three different bûches de Noël (Yule logs). While you’re picking up your order, be sure to check out the Pix-O-Matic, a 24-hour refrigerated vending machine just outside their shop stocked with fresh gourmet treats.
Baker & Spice
Hillsdale’s beloved Baker & Spice was founded with a focus on seasonal local ingredients, so naturally they know how to channel the holidays in their delightful creations. From delectable pastries like Maple Twists, Sweet Bread Pudding and Cranberry Buckles to classic seasonal cookies including Gingersnaps, Chocolate Crackles and Hazelnut Clouds, there’s a lot to get excited about.
Sweet Touch Cafe & Svitoch
From cranberry cakes to cannolis, meringues to macrons, and baklava to pavlova, the Sweet Touch Cafe in Vancouver has an immense selection of both sweet and savory treats year round. This 15-year community hub for sugar offers an incredibly diverse selection of local favorites, with roots tracing back to the families Ukrainian origins and unique cultural favorites.
Where to Get a Really Good Cup of Hot Chocolate
Have a little chocolate lover in your household? Treat them to a rich cup of cocoa (among other tempting goodies) at these Portland standouts.
Nossa Familia Coffee’s Seven Corners Café
2007 SE Division St.
Creo chocolate with steamed milk and artisan Creo chocolate whipped cream.
Ranger Chocolate Co.
118 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Made with Ranger chocolate syrup with seasonal flavorings available for add ons.
Roste Chocolate House
475 NW 14th Ave.
Featuring Roste’s single-origin craft chocolate; there’s also a decadent sipping chocolate and a Chocolate Chill iced drink.
Soro Soro
2250 E. Burnside St.
Choose from regular, banana or white hot chocolate, complete with cute foam art!