This holiday season, support local artisans and small businesses by making your goodies with products from Vancouver Island.
Here’s how!
Mulled gin
Wine isn’t the only alcohol that can be transformed into a warm, festive drink. Mulled gin is a fancy alternative with a deceptively simple recipe.
Use their Victoria Gin from Victoria Distillers to make this deliciously spiced beverage, perfect for cold December nights.
Victoria Distillers, a distillery in Sidney, is one of Canada’s oldest small-batch spirit companies. They also offer tours and tastings at their waterfront location.
Here’s the recipe for the drink that’s sure to warm up your cold winter nights!
Spiced nuts
Whether they’re a Christmas party appetizer or a homemade gift in a festive tin, spiced nuts are a holiday staple – and honey is key when it comes to their sweetness and depth of flavour.
Try making your spiced nuts this Christmas with Urban Bee’s cinnamon honey for a little extra oomph!
Urban Bee Honey Farm has been located on the Saanich Peninsula since 2015. In addition to over 20 varieties of honey, they offer beeswax products like candles and soap.
Click here for the recipe for spiced holiday nuts!
Thumbprint cookies
These adorable jammy cookies add a bright pop of colour to any holiday spread.
Fill your cookies with Mrs Jones’ strawberry vanilla jam for an aromatic twist to this traditional German treat.
Mrs Jones Jams is located in the Cowichan Valley. They make jams, jellies, and seasonal marmalades, as well as a cranberry sauce that’s perfect for Christmas dinner.
Check out the recipe here!
Bread pudding
An old-fashioned and well-loved recipe, bread pudding is a stick-to-your-ribs comfort food perfect for the winter.
Try Portofino’s cinnamon french loaf to add a little more flavour to this warm and saucy dish.
Portofino Bakery, located in Victoria, has been in operation for over ten years. In additional to bread, buns, and baguettes, they make festive desserts like cranberry shortbread and candy cane brownies.
Here’s our tried and true recipe for bread pudding!
Fudge
Decorated and gifted or eaten right out of the pan, fudge never tastes better than at Christmas. This combination of sweet and salty will take your fudge to a whole new level.
Sprinkle a little of Salt Spring Sea Salt’s chocolate vanilla fleur de sel into and on top of your fudge to give it a unique flair.
Salt Spring Sea Salt was established in 2014 on Salt Spring Island. Their fleur de sel comes in a number of delicious flavours like blackberry and smoked mesquite.
Here’s a sea-salted fudge recipe you’ll want to bookmark!
Do you have a favourite holiday recipe that incorporates local ingredients? Share it with us in the comments below!
