Sips, Sweets & Snacks

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In case you haven’t heard (and/or stuffed your face already), it’s national donut day today! Here at RAOP headquarters (aka my apartment), we’re always totally stocked up on sweets of every variety, and donuts are one of my absolute favourite choices. There’s nothing quite like a hot cuppa tea and a sweet, fluffy donut to brighten up your day, and I for one am pretty happy that these baked goods have their own special holiday.

To celebrate the wonder that is the donut, I’ve compiled a little list of some of my favourite VEGAN donuts from around the city! In the past year or two so many amazing vegan bakeries have popped up around Toronto, which means I’ve been doing a lot of “research”!

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Through Being Cool

I was so crazy excited when this all-vegan bakeshop opened up down the street from my house last year, and I’m not ashamed to say I’ve become a bit of a regular! This place is always coming up with the most delicious new inventions, and their menu is constantly changing, which makes it the perfect spot to visit again and again. My favourite donuts so far (though they’ve always got something incredible in the works) are green tea, milk and cookies, and classic sprinkle!

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Glory Hole Donuts

Until recently, Glory Hole didn’t offer vegan donuts at all, and I can safely say people all over the city were overjoyed when they finally announced they were going to start! With a cult-like following in Toronto before they were able to open their own shop, Glory Hole is famous for their decadent, inventive donut flavours like Toast and Butter, PB+J, and Buttered Popcorn! I recently tried the vegan “Hibiscus tea”, and it was sort of life changing.

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Tori’s Bakeshop

Tori’s Bakeshop is a little out of the way for me, but it’s totally worth the trek. Located in Toronto’s Beaches, Tori’s serves up all sorts of seasonal baked goods and drinks made with organic ingredients, and everything is vegan (and mostly gluten free to boot!) I’ve written about this cute spot before, but their vegan gluten-free baked donuts are just too wonderful to leave out. Plus, they’ve also been known to make cupcakes with little mini donuts on top!

If that’s not enough donut love for you, here’s a little roundup of some of my favourite Donut DIY’s too:

These strawberry shortcake donuts by A Beautiful Mess look unreal

The House that Lars Built made amazing donut macarons

Paper & Stitch made some darling donuts that look like watermelons

And Kelly from Studio DIY did an entire week of donut posts, including a donut hat, donut marshmallows, and super easy donut sunglasses!

Illustrations by the brilliant Brianne Burnell

Sips, Sweets & Snacks

I’m always on the search for great vegan places to eat, and Tori’s Bakeshop is a true gem. Tucked away in the beaches, one of my favourite Toronto neighbourhoods, Tori’s has vegan and gluten free treats, delicious sandwiches (like smoky coconut bacon BLT), and a bright, cozy atmosphere. Though it’s a bit of a trek to get there from my west end apartment, I try to make my way there are often as I possibly can to load up on treats!

On top of being all vegan with lots of gluten free choices, Tori’s is organic, fresh, and handmade, and there are always tasty new seasonal things to try. I brought my parents while they were in Toronto on vacation and my meat-eating dad loved it so much he begged to go back twice in one week! On my last visit I had a delicious blueberry tea latte with home made blueberry syrup and black tea from a local tea company, paired with a massive, gooey cinnamon bun! I can’t wait to see what easter treats this wonderful spot has in store soon!

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Photography by Brianne Burnell