The holidays aren’t complete without indulging in some delicious treats with your kiddos. And in Portland 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.
Where to Find Holiday Treats
Doe Donuts
4110 NE Sandy Blvd.
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: Peppermint Cookies and Cream (pictured), White Chocolate Pretzel Fritter, Gingerbread Old Fashioned, Pink Grapefruit, and a sufganiyot bursting with apricot jam, among others. Kids who prefer cooler treats also have several seasonal ice cream flavors to choose from, as well as candy-cane-flavored soft serve and a chocolate candy cane crinkle cookie with peppermint ice cream — all guaranteed to be a mouthful of holiday goodness.
Farina Bakery
1852 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Macarons! Pastries! Hit up Farina Bakery on Hawthorne for a variety of seasonal treats, including sweet apple hand pies, gingerbread muffins, and a delectable apple cider cake with caramel filling, brown sugar buttercream and shortbread crumbles. The shop also released three special holiday macaron flavors (two of which are kid-friendly: Hot Chocolate, with chocolate buttercream, white sprinkles and a touch of glitter; and Tiramisu) in addition to their regular macaron selection.
Salt & Straw
Four Portland-area locations
Portland’s celebrated ice cream chain is scooping up two special flavors this holiday season that will satisfy the little cookie monsters in your household: Gingerbread Cookie Dough, packed full of molasses cookies, and the Great Cookie Swap, a vegan ice cream made up of four different cookies sprinkled throughout a macaroon-like coconut cream. Additional offerings for the month of December include Almond Brittle with Chocolate Ganache, Peppermint Mocha, and — for the adults — Dwanta’s Teramana Spiked Eggnog.
Unicorn Bake Shop
2824 SE Gladstone St.
Head to the joyful Unicorn Bake Shop in Southeast Portland for a selection of vegan cupcakes bursting with holiday cheer. Two of the offerings — Salted Caramel Apple (pictured) and Frosty — are also gluten free. Other flavors include Egg Nog and Orange Rosemary. You’ll also be tempted by their gingerbread cookie bars and brightly colored chocolate-dipped almond shortbread treats.
Mio’s Delectables
Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University
For some seriously impressive festive desserts, take your children to the PSU farmers market on Saturdays to browse a changing weekly selection of treats by Mio’s Delectables. 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
2225 E Burnside St.
Pix’s pretty French pastries make children’s eyes sparkle. While the pâtisserie is currently closed for regular business, the shop is continuing to offer a selection of treats that you can order by phone and pick up — and that includes holiday 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 and Spice
6330 SW Capitol Hwy.
Hillsdale’s beloved Baker and 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.
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.
1927 S’mores Company
1126 SW Alder St.
Woodblock Chocolate hot cocoa with add-ons available including peppermint, toffee and crushed candy cane.
Cloudforest Chocolate Shop
727 SE Morrison St.
Cloudforest’s renowned chocolate in drink form, available in rotating flavors during the colder months.
Nossa Familia Coffee’s Seven Corners Café
2007 SE Division St.
Creo chocolate with steamed milk and (caffeine free) espresso chocolate whipped cream.
Ranger Chocolate Co.
118 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Made with Ranger chocolate syrup; flavorings like nutmeg brown sugar, cardamom orange and fir(!) syrup available for add on.
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, mint, banana or white hot chocolate, complete with cute foam art!
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