Western Living Magazine
5 Homes with Showstopping Murals
Inside a West Vancouver Farmhouse Built Like a Tuscan Village
Trade Secrets: Dark Drama, Smart Design
Say Cheese: Inside Whistler’s Tiny, ’80s-Inspired Cheese Shop
The Best Al Fresco Winery Restaurants in the Okanagan for Summer
Recipe: Dry-Aged Duck Breast with Beet Pavé, Rainbow Chard and Blackberry Jus
The Best Okanagan Wineries for Architecture Lovers
Inside the $100-Million Reinvention of Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
This Remote Texada Island Retreat Has Tiny Homes, Treehouses and a Forest Spa
In Living Colour: 8 Striped Home Finds for Summer
The Unsettling Wallpaper in A24’s ‘Backrooms’ Has a Very Vancouver Backstory
New in Stores: 11 Home Decor Finds We Love Right Now
Meet the 2026 Western Living Design Icons
Western Living Design Icon 2026: Robert Bailey
Western Living Design Icon 2026: Jennifer Heffel
Because getting older deserves a delicious consolation.
Fun fact: Did you know that more Canadian babies are born in the summer than any of the other seasons? Which means you’re probably looking at a whole lot of birthdays on your calendar right about now—which means you’re probably in the market for perfect cake to celebrate your special someone(s). Here are five DIY recipes from our WL archives to wow all the summer babies in your life. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Lovekin)
Nigella Lawson’s flourless pear, pistachio, and rose cake is satisfying, in more ways than one. While this rosewater-infused dessert does an excellent job balancing the light and fruity flavour of pears with the taste of crunchy pistachio pieces, scented syrup and real floral garnishes is what makes this cake taste as good as it looks. (Photo Credit: Poppytalk)
Wow your guest of honour with Poppytalk’s easy-to-bake lemon poppy seed cake with vanilla swiss meringue icing. The recipe calls for two traditional ingredients: white cake mix and instant vanilla pudding, to make an unconventional, lemony delight that looks amazing and tastes delicious. (Photo Credit: Julie van Rosendaal)
Blowing out the candle then eating the cake is a germaphobe’s worst nightmare but thanks to these individual chocolate salted caramel cupcakes, featuring a light cocoa-coffee base, creamy icing, and sea salt caramel, everyone can have a good time.
Keep calm and banana cake on with Wendy Boys’ banana cake with caramel buttercream and dark chocolate glaze, packed with subtle sweet from the fruit and just the right amount of tang from the blend of dark chocolate sauce and caramel buttercream. (Photo Credit: Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House)
If you’re looking to really impress the chocoholic in your life, Joe Fortes’ chocolate raspberry truffle tart is a terrific way to do it. Okay, granted, it’s not really a cake…but who’s going to notice the difference when they’re gushing over the taste of the bittersweet dark chocolate, subtle raspberries, and sweet whipping cream?
Are you over 18 years of age?
Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox 3 times a week.