Flower buds are ready to burst, birds are gathering bits to feather their nests, and Vancouver bakery cases are filling up with pastel-colored and bunny-eared treats for Easter.
Here’s a small taste of the goodies hopping into Vancouver this spring. Many of these places will be closed on Easter Sunday but take pre-orders. It’s best to check business hours and plan ahead during this busy time of year.
Leaving baking to the experts allows more time to design a spring tablescape, organize an egg hunt, focus on other parts of the meal, or simply sip a mimosa and enjoy your guests.
2411 Main St., Vancouver; 360-693-2538; open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
Bleu Door Bakery has coconut cake, triple lemon cake, carrot-shaped carrot bread, peanut butter Easter eggs, decorated marshmallows and sugar cookies. Cakes are $8 per slice, $45 for a 6-inch cake, and $75 for an 8-inch cake. Orders can be placed by phone or through the website. Cake orders must be placed 72 hours before pickup.
3100 Columbia St., Vancouver; 360-896-7321; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Simply Sweets has Easter-themed chocolate-dipped Oreos ($2.75), chocolate-dipped marshmallows on a stick decorated with bunny faces, as well as special cupcakes like carrot cake or lemon coconut decorated with Cadbury Mini Eggs to look like little nests ($10.80 for a half-dozen mini cupcakes and $18 for a dozen; $16 for a half-dozen full-sized cupcakes and $30 for a dozen). Sugar cookies are $2 each, and Easter-themed cookie-decorating kits are $3. Pre-orders can be placed by phone, but there will also be plenty of treats stocked leading up to Easter.
210 W. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver; 360-750-0811; 4-8 p.m. Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday
Treat offers 9-inch chocolate cream, coconut cream and strawberry rhubarb crumble pies ($32), chocolate-covered cream-filled cakes akin to Ding Dongs (four-pack $20), and pints of carrot-cake ice cream ($9.50). Pre-order through the website, although the shop will have some extras for walk-ins.
5301 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver; 360-694-7500; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily
Couvie coffee shop River Maiden is baking iced sugar cookies in egg and bunny shapes ($3.50), brownies topped with Cadbury Mini Eggs ($4.50), browned butter crispy rice treats with malted milk robin eggs ($4.50), and butter cookies with Easter sprinkles ($3) for the spring holiday.
4804 N.E. Thurston Way, Unit E, Vancouver; 360-896-6693; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
The glass cases at Sweet Touch Bakery by Vancouver Mall are always filled with sophisticated European pastries, cakes and macarons ($2.75 each, $2.50 for 10 or more). For Easter, Sweet Touch offers a special Ukrainian Easter sweet bread made with a rich egg dough and topped with white frosting and sprinkles ($10-$30).
19171 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Unit 106, Vancouver; 360-984-6781; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday
Baron Patisserie’s bakery case is packed with an array of fruit- and cream-filled Danish pastries, as well as sweet and savory croissants ($2.50-$3.75 each) daily. The refrigerator case holds fruit tarts, mousses and eclairs ($3.50-$7 each). Orders can be placed by phone or in person three or more days ahead. Large orders should be made well in advance.
500 S.E. 192nd Ave., Suite 200, Vancouver; 360-326-4410; 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
Tiny Tasties’ menu includes treats like crepe- or bubble-waffle-wrapped fruit or ice cream, topped with whipped cream and a Pocky stick ($7.50-$9.75), a rainbow of macarons ($2 each or three for $5), and crepe cakes with flavors like coconut, Thai tea and Orange Creamsicle ($8 per slice, $77 for a cake). The 25-layer crepe cakes are available from Friday to Sunday. Whole cakes can be ordered two days ahead.
