Brown Sugar Bakery

“Life is sweeter with a little brown sugar” is the phrase proudly displayed on Brown Sugar Bakery’s website. And this iconic Chicago bakery in Greater Grand Crossing makes cakes sweeter than declarations of love from your kindergarten crush. The counter-service shop is small (there’s no seating), but the menu is long. Besides cheesecake, pies, and cupcakes, there’s a variety of cakes available by the slice. They come in flavors like the straightforward lemon or carrot, plus original creations like the multi-layered, multi-flavored “Obama Cake.” But the real standout is the classic caramel. Like all the cakes here, it’s made with precise, light, open crumb layers that look like they were stacked and frosted by an architect.