Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery is one of those places that’s been around for nearly a decade and a half, but has somehow flown under the radar. It’s not clear how it has flown so far under the radar despite the fact that it boasts some incredibly creative puddings that are absolutely to die for. Sugar Sweet Sunshine has a dedicated but quiet customer base and though it’s going strong, you don’t really hear about it ever. It’s not on lists, it doesn’t make headlines, and it doesn’t have a “viral” dessert. Instead, it just trucks away making mainly the same two things it has for ages: pudding and cupcakes.
First cupcakes – eh, whatever. People go completely crazy for them, but ever since they became hugely popular around 10 years ago, they have pretty much remained the mediocre and ordinary dessert that they are. It’s a small cake with frosting on top for goodness sake. And waayy too much frosting at that. And frosting that is often stale, hard, and sickeningly sweet. The proportions are all off, it is always ok at best, and there is zero creativity.
But now let’s get to the pudding. First, I know what you’re thinking because when someone says pudding, we all think the boxed Jell-O instant pudding (which is delicious, by the way, despite being preservative-laden). But here’s the thing, where have you ever seen fresh made pudding? And it’s not just fresh made pudding, it’s pudding elevated to the highest level of awesomeness and deliciousness. It’s like the difference between canned tuna and sesame-crusted tuna steak. Sugar Sweet Sunshine figured out a way to make pudding a dessert that can actually shine. A dessert that can be craveable, unforgettable, and addictive.
Sugar Sweet Sunshine offers about ten different types of puddings in all kinds of crazy flavors with decadent ingredients mixed in. The extra ingredients make it go from the equivalent of a standard slice of white bread (which, like the aforementioned Jello pudding, is still delicious), to a fresh-baked, warm, crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside French baguette stuffed with stone ground mustard and cheese (which is crazy, I-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-myself delicious). This is best demonstrated through examples.
Instead of a regular chocolate pudding, they offer a Chocolate Bomb, which is chocolate pudding, stuffed with layers of moist chocolate cake and mixed with chocolate whipped cream. Or the Strawberry Lemon Trifle, which is vanilla pudding with sliced strawberries, lemon cake, and fresh whipped cream. How about The Nog, with eggnog-spiced pudding, chunks of pumpkin cake, and whipped cream mixed throughout? Maybe you’re in a nutty mood, so why not try the Peanut Butter, which is chocolate pudding, peanut butter cookies, and peanut butter whipped cream, or the Schmapple, which is vanilla pudding with sliced apples, toasted walnuts, vanilla cake, and caramel-spiked whipped cream. Do you seeee?? And yes, they are as amazing as they sound.
So while some people do go for the cupcakes, which are said to be good and moist, I can’t be bothered. I go for the pudding – over and over and over again. They have all flavors available for take-out in 5 different sizes. And the pudding actually freezes well too, so I say buy the largest size and freeze some for later. I know, I know, how unlike me to suggest that someone buy a large and save some for later instead of promptly consuming it all. But their largest size is something like 64 ounces, so good luck with that.
Incidentally, if you must indulge in the cupcake craze, their most popular cupcake is the pistachio cupcake, which I can only assume is because it’s the only pistachio cupcake that exists in the world. So, hey, why not try that too while you’re at it.
Long story short, get yourself over to this place, sample the puddings (they let you try before you buy), and buy a few. You will be giddy the rest of the day.
