Photography courtesy Bobbette & Belle.
When it comes to the French macaron, the perfect creations from Ladurée can’t be beat, but when Paris or New York is not an option, luckily there are no shortage of options in our hometown of Toronto. Here are seven of our favourite places in the city.
1. Bobette & Belle
Cake designer Allyson Meredith Bobbette and pastry chef Sarah Bell, gained notoriety with their wedding desserts (by order only) — now thanks to their storefront in Leslieville — anyone can pick up some of their delicious macarons. Flavours include gianduja (chocolate with pralines and hazelnuts), pecan, vanilla and raspberry. Well-sized, these have a crisp crust and generous filling.
Price: $2.50/each
Location: 1121 Queen St. East
416-466-8800, bobbetteandbelle.com
2. La Bamboche
Opened in 2005 and led by pastry chef Stephen Nason, this bakery has been known for its macarons since the beginning. Offering traditional flavours like chocolate, caramel sea salt, and espresso, you’ll also find unique flavours including lavender, yuzu, and creme de cassis. Generously sized, a perfectly creamy ganache centre and light and crisp crust, these are to-die for!
Price: $2.60/each
Location: 1712 Avenue Road
416-224-5595, labamboche.ca
Photography courtesy Nadege Patisserie.
3. Nadège Patisserie
Led by pastry chef Nadège Nourian of Lyon, France, the macarons in this high-end patisserie are light with a thin, crisp crust. Offering flavours like cappuccino, olive oil, rose and salted caramel, you’ll also find adorable Marie Antoinette mini-cakes with macarons and other delectable pastries. The best part? You can have sweet treats delivered with coast-to-coast shipping via their online boutique.
Price: $2.30/each
Locations: 780 Queen St. West (416-368-2009); 1099 Yonge Street (416-986-2011)
nadege-patisserie.com
4. Petite Thuet
A gourmet food shop with goods from celebrity chef Mark Thuet, the macarons aren’t the main focus, but are a welcome addition. Chewy and small, they offer a variety of flavours including pistachio, lemon and hazelnut.
Price: $2.50/each
Locations: 244 King St. East (416-519-4847); 1162 Yonge Street (416-924-2777)
petitethuet.com
Photography courtesy MoRoCo Chocolat.
5. MoRoCo Chocolat
This stylish Yorkville bakery and lounge specializes in — you guessed it — chocolate, but also offers gorgeously displayed macarons. A delicious mix of crunchy and chewy, flavours include coconut, pistachio and salted caramel.
Price: $2.55/each
Location: 99 Yorkville Ave.
416-961-2202, morocochocolat.com
6. Butter Avenue
An elegant bakery owned by Calvin Su, a former account executive who joined forces with his sister Tina, a Le Cordon Blue-trained pastry chef, this patisserie focuses on French pastries, with macarons being their specialty. Traditional flavours like sea salt caramel, chocolate hazelnut and raspberry are on the menu, but unique flavours including Early Grey, matcha, and cream cheese passionfruit are divine too.
Price: $2.25/each
Location: 3467 Yonge Street
647-341- 8686, butteravenue.com
7. Bakerbots Baking
A tiny bake shop with limited hours, owner and baker Rosanne Pezzelli started with a passion for fine art which eventually led her to Europe. Developing an obsession for delicate sweets and beautiful pastries while overseas, she enrolled in baking and pastry classes and never looked back. Her ice cream sandwiches are certainly one of the shop’s highlights, but the beautiful macarons are not-to-be-missed. Discover flavours like peanut butter and jelly, black sesame, and coconut, not to mention classics like vanilla bean, chocolate hazelnut and lemon.
Price: $2/each
Location: 205 Delaware Avenue (at Ossington station)
416-901-3500, bakerbotsbaking.com
Updated July 2014.
