An international bakery chain known for what it calls “healthy” versions of classic treats is about to open its first-ever Canadian location in Toronto.
You may assume that ingredients like sugar, gluten, and dairy are integral pillars for almost any baked good, and, most of the time, you’d be right. However, one European bakery chain that’s about to make its Canadian debut is on a mission to prove that you can have sweet treats that still hit the spot without any of those things.
We’ll be the judges of that.
Landing on Bloor West this summer by way of Poland is FitCake, a chain that touts itself as “the first and largest non-pastry shop in the world,” and currently boasts nine locations in Poland, with an additional presence in Austria, Sweden, Spain, and Malta.
So, what makes the cakes so “fit”? The bakery (or, non-pastry shop, if you prefer) is completely sugar-free, lactose-free, gluten-free, and vegan, but, if its rapid expansion across Europe can be used as any indication, its products don’t necessarily taste that way.
The bakery also offers a series of keto options, so that anyone, regardless of its dietary restrictions, can dig into treats like Tiramisu, Cookie Dough Brownie in a jar, or Cheesecake, sans the cheese part, of course.
“We offer healthy alternatives to the traditional cakes that our moms and grandmas baked,” a post on the chain’s newly instated Toronto Instagram account reads. “Our treats are full of nutrients but still keep the authentic taste and aroma of classic recipes.”
Proudly boasting the tagline “no sugar, no problem,” the chain prides itself on using all-natural ingredients, making the confections not only appropriate for folks who avoid dairy, sugar and gluten, but actually kind of healthy.
Healthier than a slab of pound cake with a generous serving of buttercream frosting, that is, but hey, there’s a time and place for everything.
With 30 new locations in development worldwide and 300 planned to open by 2030, it’s clear that FitCake is on to something with its model, regardless of how wary we may be about sugar-free sweet treats, and the good news is that we won’t have to wait much longer to find out if the hype is deserved.
According to its Google listing, FitCake will be opening its doors on Sunday, July 13, and may just usher in a new era of baking in Toronto.
FitCake Toronto will be located at 3367 Bloor St. W.
