Dessert Spots Worth Breaking Your Diet For

Osborne Village institution Baked Expectations brought the dessert-specialty café concept to this city 30 years ago and is famed for its lavish cakes — like the light-as-air chocolate meringue, layered with frothy cocoa cream and tangy raspberries. Many of life’s milestones are marked with cake, and thousands have celebrated birthdays, showers, engagements, graduations and weddings with owner Beth Grubert’s now-classic recipes.

Location: 161 Osborne St, 204-453-5176

This bustling Winnipeg location, La Belle Baguette has garnered praise and popularity for its delicate French pastry classics and unique array of breads. Decadent desserts, like creative pocket tarts stuffed with berries and colourful croissants.

Locations: 248 Avenue de la Cathedrale, 204-219-2123

Gourmet doughnut fever is sweeping the food world (and our Instagram feeds), and Bronuts is on board. This doughnut shop is all about technique, accented by fun topping and filling flavours like grapefruit rosemary and crème brûlée. Everything, from dark chocolate fudge to pastry cream fillings, is made in its small, bright space in the Exchange District.

Location: C-100 King St, 204-955-1036

A white sunlit space welcomes guests, and flights served on wooden boards offer an assortment of creamy artisanal scoops at Chaeban Ice Cream. Husband-and-wife duo Joseph Chaeban and Zainab Ali create fun, out-of-the-box flavours like Mojito Mint Patti and Louis Lavendar using all-natural, locally-sourced ingredients. Order by the scoop at their South Osborne location, or pick up a pint at one of twenty retail locations around the city.

Location: 390 Osborne St, 204-475-6226

Located just off Corydon Avenue, The Frenchway is a bright bustling neighbourhood café-bakery popular for its freshly baked cinnamon buns, tarts, croissants and crème brûlées. In the style of traditional Parisian boulangeries, casual comforts like savoury sandwiches, soups and all-day breakfast are also served.  

Location: 238 Lilac St, 204-421-9002

Prim and proper with a side of playfulness is what you’ll find at classy neighbourhood spot High Tea Bakery. Traditional tea cookies and shortbreads are perfect for dipping into a hot cup of tea while cozying up in the large sunlit cafe. Those in the know always order a delicate imperial cookie stuffed with raspberry jam and covered in sweet almond icing. Even the Queen of England has indulged in these sweet treats!

Location: 2103 Portage Ave, 204-775-0264

An unexpected delight, the dessert case at French-Mediterranean restaurant InFerno’s Bistro is what dreams are made of, displaying house-made creations right at the entrance. Find a large selection of cheesecakes and chocolate tortes. Grab a fork and dive into the Solo Maple St Honoré with its pudding-like consistency and delicate flavour.

Location: 312 Rue Des Meurons, 204-262-7400

This cute spot’s Japanese-style crêpes are perfect for Village cool kids seeking a sugar rush. At Kawaii Crepe, crêpe batter is poured on a skillet, then topped with fillings, wrapped in paper and eaten as a hand-held. The tiramisu crepe deconstructs the traditional dessert into coffee-infused Nutella, whipped cream, and crumbled lady fingers between the crepe’s warm, crispy folds.

Locations: 201-99 Osborne St, 204-415-2833; D-1220 St Mary’s Rd, 204-691-3700; 4-1385 McPhillips St, 204-694-0172

What began as a one-woman doughnut operation is now two busy Oh Doughnuts locations with wild flavours. With both gluten-free and vegan options, these light and fluffy doughnuts prove diet restrictions don’t sacrifice indulgence. There are more than 100 daily-changing flavours but thankfully Matcha glazed is often in the mix.

Locations: 1194 Taylor Ave, 204-477-1276; 326 Broadway, 204-615-0802

Stella’s Café and Bakery has become a Winnipeg favourite, expanding to eight locations of its restaurant throughout the city. Visit the newest Corydon Avenue location for the widest selection of freshly baked breads, hefty pastries, and healthy muffins.

Locations: 1895 Grant Ave, 204-488‑7810; 166 Osborne St, 204‑453‑8562; 1463 Pembina Hwy, 204-275-2001; 340 Provencher Blvd, 204-477‑8393; Plug In Gallery, 460 Portage Ave, 204‑772‑1556; 1795 Henderson Hwy, 431-478-1377; 1699 Corydon Ave, 204-783-1453.

More than 25 years of baking has made Tall Grass Prairie Bakery a local legend, with two locations whipping up treats daily. It’s known for being a proud user and supporter of Manitoba grown ingredients and sustainable farming. Longtime favourites include the folk festival cookie, a chewy treat full of grainy goodness, and sticky sweet cinnamon buns made with freshly ground whole wheat.

Locations: 1 Forks Market Road, Forks Market, 204-957-5097; 859 Westminster Ave, 204-783-5097