THE SWEET AROMA as you approach the little red-roofed chalet signals fresh pastries straight ahead. But these aren’t just any baked goods. They’re a giant, deep-fried delicacy called BeaverTails, and they’re as symbolically Canadian as the buck-toothed rodent they’re named after.

They’re not real beaver tails, of course (although a smaller number of people eat those as well). This BeaverTail is a ball of whole-wheat dough that’s hand-stretched into a long, flat oval — the same shape as its namesake. It’s then deep-fried in canola oil and served piping hot in a paper sleeve. The traditional version is sprinkled with a mix of sugar and cinnamon, but you can also slather your pastry with toppings like chocolate hazelnut spread, maple cream, crushed chocolate bars or cookies, fruit, and even another Canadian classic — poutine.

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