sugar Sweet sunshine

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Yet another itsy-bitsy business spawned by Magnolia and Buttercup alumni, this laid-back Lower East Side bakery is the least pretentious of the lot. Decorated with funky light fixtures and mismatched thrift-shop furniture, Sugar Sweet is the kind of joint whose retro appeal reliably allures, regardless of what’s for sale. As luck would have it, owner-bakers Debbie Weiner and Peggy Williams sell a limited selection of pretty tasty, if not exceptionally pretty, stuff. It’s a kind of anti-patisserie approach: Taste counts for more than looks when the pistachio and red velvet cupcakes have a delectable icing—that nearly glows in the dark. Yum-Yum bars, with their sticky-crumbly contrast of shortbread, semi-sweet chocolate, and raspberry jam layers, delight, despite a similarly homely appearance. Everyday offerings may be few, but the charming, anything-goes ambience makes this spot a comfortable neighborhood hang. — Kim Steckler

This cozy bakery is becoming a neighborhood staple for its cupcakes (the pistachio variety will make anyone a regular), which they’ll assemble into cute trees for a minimal charge. Conventional buttercream-frosted cakes are also available. Cupcakes are $21 per dozen; layer cakes start at $5 per serving.