Sugar Sweet Sunshine is the mouthwatering result of a friendship between two bakers who once worked at New York City’s renowned Magnolia Bakery. Located in a charming and homey space on the Lower East Side, this little slice of a shop is known for its luscious cupcakes, Betty Crocker approach to baking and a pervading optimistic attitude. The owners’ ethos extends to philanthropy too, mainly in the form of prices, which are far below standard haute bakery rates.

The Menu: Exotic cakes, like pistachio with mousse, pumpkin with cream cheese frosting and coconut with meringue topping, satisfy the curious. However, it’s the more classic flavors like the signature “Sunshine,” (yellow cake with vanilla buttercream ) and the “Lemon Yummy,” (lemon cake with lemon buttercream), that showcase the bakers’ true talents for cake making. Order ahead for layer cakes that range in size from standard to giant. Also on the menu, breakfast breads and muffins, fresh-from-the-oven cookies, cheesecakes, brownies, pies and puddings.

The Must-Have: No question, the cupcakes here are a crowd favorite, but vintage desserts like banana pudding, can cure what ails you. Layers of vanilla pudding, vanilla wafer cookies and sliced bananas are comforting and sweet. If chocolate is more your speed, order the aptly named “Piggy Pudding,” a heavenly strata of shortbread crust, sweet cream cheese, chocolate pudding, whipped cream and walnuts. It’s a transporting treat that is addictively good.