Iconic Canadian Foods You Can Make at Home

Make this East Coast classic right at home, no matter which part of the country you live. Just don’t forget the donair sauce for dipping these garlicky, cheesy bites.

The history of the Nanaimo bar can be traced back to the Vancouver Island city of Nanaimo, B.C., with the first known recipe published in 1953. Requiring no baking, Nanaimo bars have become a favourite dessert thanks to the ease of making them along with their undeniable sweetness.

You’d be hard-pressed to find one of these delightful fried pastries outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Known as ‘Persians’ locally, these sweet, cinnamon-flavoured treats are smothered in a vibrant strawberry glaze that’s truly delectable.

Many Canadians may not realize that our neighbours to the south are not so familiar with butter tarts — that quintessential Canadian dessert that originated with pioneers in the Prairies, in which butter, sugar, syrup and egg fill a flaky pastry shell. Ask around and you’ll discover many bakers use their own tried-and-true recipes, but you can’t go wrong with this classic from Anna Olson, which stars maple syrup along with toasted pecan pieces for added crunch.

An iconic Québec specialty, these meat-filled pies have a history dating back to the 1600s, and are as distinctively Canadian as it gets. This spicy, meaty recipe gives anyone the ability to recreate the iconic meal right at home.

Based on one of Canada’s most popular treats, this giant red velvet cake sandwich is filled with a creamy marshmallow-y layer with a milk chocolate coating.

This family recipe combines beef, pork and lots of potatoes, cooked slow and low until the meat is tender and the potatoes can be mashed easily. The result is a rich holiday favourite.

Face your fear of making ice cream with this easy recipe that will help you fill your freezer with that orange and licorice flavour that’s quintessential to so many Canadian childhoods.