Third-generation co-owner of the Dutch Bakery, Michele Byrne already knows what time of year it is when smells of almond logs loft through the air.

The logs also known as Banketstaaf in Dutch, can be described as a flaky pastry filled with almond paste and apricot. According to the co-owner, these pastries are, 鈥渧ery traditional Dutch, only baked this time of year.鈥�

That鈥檚 just one of the many goods the patrons of the Dutch Bakery rush in for during the holiday season.

Speculaas cookies are also a hot commodity in December. These Flemish delicacies are classified as Dutch gingerbread because it鈥檚, 鈥渁 combination of all kinds of wonderful spices, filled with baked almond paste, and it鈥檚 really rich,鈥� said Byrne.

Although the bakery specializes in Dutch treats, it does sell a variety of treats from around the globe. Some are more Canadian, including the sugar cookies made with fondant, while the bakery鈥檚 German raisin bread, stollen is a twist on a classic.

Byrne called the stollen at the Dutch Bakery, unique, and added, 鈥淭hey鈥檙e extremely large, filled with a lot of almond paste, and it鈥檚 really nice bread, it鈥檚 not really heavy bread.鈥�

The stollen and almond log鈥檚 recipes are passed down with care. The baker鈥檚 commitment to following the recipes keeps Victoria鈥檚 large Dutch population lined up out the door. The festive pastries are so popular that December is, 鈥減robably double a regular month,鈥� in revenue for the bakery according to Byrne.

鈥淚t is our make-or-break month,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o last year when it snowed, it definitely impacted us greatly. We don鈥檛 like to hear that word in the weather forecast because people don鈥檛 like to come into town. Victoria does shut down.鈥�

Although the bakery does deliveries, Byrne prefers speaking with her customers face-to-face.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always better when people come in because, they see something that maybe wasn鈥檛 on their list, or they鈥檒l stop into the diner as well and say, 鈥榣et鈥檚 have a coffee or pastry while we鈥檙e here, let鈥檚 have some lunch,鈥� that sort of thing.鈥�

The Dutch Bakery will continue to enthusiastically serve its loyal community and those first-timers wandering in, especially during the holidays.

鈥淲e value customers, we value family tradition,鈥� said Byrne. 鈥淲e hold our traditions quite near and dear to our hearts and I think tradition is that nostalgia that we grew up with.鈥�

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