Happy Sunday, all! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I’m still riding high on warm and fuzzy Thanksgiving vibes – yesterday, Tania and I drove up to Muskoka for a belated Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving dinner with two of my best friends, their husbands and kids. Prior to that, my actual Thanksgiving weekend was also very cup-filling. We celebrated with our families – and two delicious feasts – on Saturday and Sunday. I baked a cinnamon sugar apple butter pie that I (humble brag) was pretty impressed with. I started the new season of American Horror Story (so good!) My friend and I did a fun floral workshop at The Watering Can followed by “garden tea” in their bistro, which might just be my new favourite high tea experience in Ontario (more to come on that.) And last Saturday, Tania and I got to celebrate something else we’re thankful for: the return of our favourite bakery, Kelly’s Bake Shoppe, to Burlington.
If you’ve ever spent time in downtown Burlington, you’re probably familiar with Kelly’s. Their iconic storefront is as synonymous with Burlington as our beautiful waterfront or charming Village Square. Run by mother-daughter team Kelly Childs and Erinn Weatherbie, Kelly’s Bake Shoppe opened at 401 Brant Street in 2012, and quickly rose to local (and international) fame. Their delicious cupcakes, cookies, brownies and other sweet treats are all 100% plant-based, vegan, gluten-free, peanut-free, dairy-free and egg-free (yes, you read that right!) Between their Barbie-pink branding and gram-worthy cupcakes, it’s easy to see why I’m a fan of Kelly’s aesthetic – but even though neither Tania or I have any food allergies or serious dietary restrictions, we both absolutely LOVE their baked goods.
At Kelly’s, nothing “tastes” gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. I’ve been to other vegan or GF bakeries and even if the treats taste decent enough, there’s honestly always something that tastes a little off. Not the case at Kelly’s! Their famous Mile High Brownie tastes just as – if not more – chocolatey and decadent as any other “regular” brownie I’ve tried. What I love the most: everything tastes real. We just tried their pumpkin pie cupcake and strawberry milkshake cookie, and you could genuinely taste the real pumpkin puree and fresh strawberries in each bite. There are no highly processed or artificial ingredients, and because of that, I don’t get that gross feeling I often get after eating a traditional baked good. You know the one – that sugary cupcake tastes so good in the moment, but an hour later your stomach hurts, you have a headache and brain fog from the sugar crash… with Kelly’s, none of that happens for me. I’m not putting it on par with eating a salad – it’s still dessert, after all – but it definitely feels like a healthier choice. It’s also amazing to buy baked goods for a gathering or celebration and rest assured that everyone can enjoy a treat, regardless of individual dietary restrictions or allergies.
Fun fact: several years ago, when Tania was first trying to win me over on the idea of moving from Toronto to Burlington, she took me on a cute date to downtown Burlington. Our first stop? Kelly’s, naturally. I tried their strawberry shortcake cupcake (still one of my favourites) and never looked back. Not saying I credit a cupcake with my decision to move cities, but…
Since then, Kelly’s has been a part of so many milestones and celebrations. We went there for a celebratory cupcake the day we moved into our house, the day we met with our jeweller to design our engagement rings, the day we got our marriage license at City Hall across the street. Most holidays. Every birthday. (Fun fact: Kelly’s gives you a free cupcake on your birthday, you just have to show ID!) Their team is SO wonderful and always go above and beyond to make each celebration special. They’ve even snuck a hand-written note into my order so I could surprise Tania on her birthday! Needless to say, Kelly’s quickly became our go-to spot in Burlington.
That’s why in the spring of 2025, we were so sad to learn Kelly’s would be forced to close their original location at 401 Brant Street – a beautiful heritage building filled with memories – due to redevelopment. As a diehard supporter of everything local, it’s always tough to see beloved local businesses close… and when you have as many memories as we had at Kelly’s, it’s even harder. We attended their farewell celebration that May, and as bittersweet as it was, it was most definitely a celebration – filled with music, laughter, good vibes, and what felt like all of Burlington coming out to show support. People filled the walls with handwritten messages, ate way too many cupcakes, and shared their favourite Kelly’s memories.
Our contribution to the wall:
Since the original Burlington location closed, Tania and I have been making the trip to their second – and equally fabulous – location in downtown Oakville, which opened in December 2024.
But I had to admit, we missed having Kelly’s so close to home. That’s why we were so excited when we heard they’d be reopening in Burlington at 461 Brant St, just a block away from their original location. Over the last year, we’d been following along with renovation updates on Instagram, until we finally heard the news we’d been waiting for: Kelly’s would be officially (re)opening its doors in Burlington the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. We were so excited to be among the first to check out the new space during a special preview hosted by the Kelly’s team, and it was such a fun morning!
The festivities kicked off with a ribbon cutting ceremony led by co-founders Kelly and Erinn, Erinn’s husband Michael (you’ll often see Michael working at the shop and he is the nicest person!) and Burlington’s Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns. There was a huge line down the block – someone told me they’d arrived three hours early at 7:30am just to be the first in line!
The original Kelly’s Bake Shoppe was so full of character and charm that I honestly wondered how the new location would be able to replicate it, but I have to say it exceeded every expectation. Designed by Davies General Contracting, Greenlee Design Studio and Fraham Interiors, the space is light, bright and airy with sleek contemporary details. It feels fresh and new while weaving in nostalgic nods to its former location: from the original hot pink letters on the exterior (repainted and looking good as new) to the mural commemorating the farewell messages from the original shop walls.
Tania and I enjoyed a sneak preview of the space before they opened it up to the massive line spilling down the block. We had so much fun chatting with the owners, the amazing Kelly’s team, and the other local bloggers and content creators who joined in the celebration.
We got adorable swag bags filled with goodies from some of our favourite local businesses, along with a copy of Conscious Living, Kelly and Erinn’s plant-based cookbook.
Of course, we couldn’t leave without ordering some treats. We got two cupcakes – Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Spice Latte – and two cookies – Strawberry Milkshake and Pumpkin Shortbread. (Can you tell we’re in full-fledged pumpkin mode over here?) Everything was delicious as always, but the Pumpkin Pie Cupcake and Strawberry Milkshake Cookie were our absolute favourites.
Some of my go-to Kelly’s treats include…
The Skinny Cookie: Their bestseller, packed with delicious and wholesome ingredients like oats, sunflower seed butter, dried cranberries and roasted bananas. (And dark chocolate chips for some healthy decadence!)
The Mile High Brownie: Just as – if not more – decadent than any “regular” brownie I’ve tried. Don’t forget to ask for their homemade caramel sauce on top!
The Coffee Break Cupcake: This rich chocolate cupcake is filled with espresso chocolate ganache and topped with a cinnamon mini donut. Enough said.
The Blossom Bar: This seasonal special is only available in April and May, but both Tania and I are so addicted to them that we buy them in bulk and freeze them to enjoy year-round. The matcha shortbread cookie base is topped with heaps of fluffy pink strawberry frosting and rose-tinted coconut flakes. I promise they’re worth waiting for!
Needless to say, I’m beyond thrilled that Kelly’s is back home in Burlington. Be sure to check out their new store at 461 Brant and show their amazing team some love. And if you’re a bit further east, you can check out their second location at 259 Lakeshore Road East in downtown Oakville – Kelly and Erinn have assured us both stores are here to stay!
Are you a Kelly’s Bake Shoppe fan? What’s your favourite item on the menu?
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