I went in today hoping I was going to get some fresh dessert treats but all I got was a lack of available desserts and so I got the hostess cupcake and when I bit into it it was hard and crumbly. I could tell it was at least 5 to 7 days old. For this place to have a four star review Tatian want to keep their products fresh and not left over from the weekend and this is the middle of the next week. read more

Over the weekend I had the privilege to attend my BFF's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" brunch and she had a cake made at Brown Sugar Bakery for this occasion. Though the cake tasted okay it was nothing to rave about. The cake looked so bad it was left to the side. We all want to support small business, but I believe that in order to maintain your customers happy and coming back, no matter how far you are, you MUST provide your best at all times. The cake that was produced by Brown Sugar Bakery for this occasion looked horrible not of a professional caliber, the color was off, the shape was off, the decoration was off, the lettering was off. I will search and support other bakeries however this bakery has lost one sweet customer. read more

Oh lawd, this place has some GOOD desserts. Chicago is notorious for their cadre of "cake ladies" who mostly are Southern-bred mamas with bomb baking skills. They'll bake and sell their cakes by word-of-mouth request or Sundays after church. I had kinda forgotten all about this regional tradition until I rolled up to Brown Sugar Bakery randomly one summer. I had my mind set on a chocolate-frosted, yellow cake but they were fresh out. To appease me, the day worker gave me a strawberry shortcake on the house. This was about two summers ago, mind you, but I still have the sweet, delicious taste of that shortcake stored in my gastronomic memory bank! I've gone back very infrequently since then but every time I'm always quite satiated. Occasionally, the owner, Stephanie will give me freebies or discounts just cause. It reminds of me of just going into granny's kitchen and walking away with whatever sweet something I find. I'm so glad this tradition is still alive. read more

THE best brownies with cream cheese frosting and caramel. Without a doubt, go there, you will not be disapointed!!!

When I was a youngster in the 60's, my aunt Lucy of Detroit would visit us in Chicago and always bring along with her a "Caramel Cake." I looked forward to her visits. I didn't think I would ever have a good ole' slice of caramel cake again until I stopped at "Brown Sugar Bakery," in Chicago. I am going to tell you the absolute truth, "this recipe is the most delicious Caramel Cake I have ever had in my life!" You have got to visit this bakery! read more

We first discovered Brown Sugar Bakery when it first opened. After one free taste of the caramel cake....we were hooked and have been going ever since. I think she makes the absolute best caramel frosting EVER and the cakes are always moist. They would last for days if we didn't eat them up---nearly before we even get them home! Please support this business...it is a gem! read more

Love the caramel on the caramel cake, but I swear the cake was from a mix. It tasted artificial. And the top layer slide off the bottom layer. Also, the machine was down for debit/credit cards. It was lucky that I had cash. read more

I LOVE this place! The owner Stephanie Hart is a wonderful woman who has been blessed with a GIFT and she shares it with us! Her caramel is ADDICTIVE! My favorite is the caramel pound cake, which I call the caramel dipped pound cake. Perfect balance of sweet from the caramel and butter from the cake. *eyes roll to the back of my head thinking about it* You can't go wrong with the cupcakes here either. Every flavor that I have tried over the years have been good, very good, and great. My only complaint (if you can call it that) is that on the 4 layer cake slices there just isn't enough frosting between the layers of melt-in-your-mouth cake. Our out of town friends and family always tell us before they arrive that we need to make this stop for sweet treats. They are addicted as well! For those who believe the city ends at Roosevelt Road (12th street) you need to make the drive to 75th and Eberhart. Its so totally worth it. read more

Great selection, good cakes. Maybe consider less use of styrofoam.... that stuff is bad for so many reasons. Gotta start caring. Happy to buy the delish cake but let's find a better safer container to carry. read more

Went here to pick up a cake for a friend's birthday and a few individual slices. My sales person was exceptional and the lemon cake was soooo delicious! read more

Moist rich flavor in both cake slices I tried, proportion of frosting used is perfect. German chocolate cake is worth the drive for me for an occasional indulgence. Well done! read more

In a word, "delicious!" Their product gets an A+ every time. My complaint is with the lack of consistency. There is no set menu. There is no listing of all the flavors they offer. Sometimes I've shown up and they've had no cupcakes at all. I don't like the fact that they don't give you an itemized receipt, either. I like to know exactly what I'm being charged. Also, they recently raised the prices, thus causing me not to visit as frequently as I used to. If they made some professional improvements, they'd be able to compete with the heavyweights. read more

My husband who is super finicky loved his 50th birthday cake from Brown Sugar. Yellow cake with banana filling and whipped cream frosting. Thank y'all. We have one slice left of a quarter sheet cake! read more

Thank God I finally went to Brown Sugar Bakery, and that it's on the south side of Chicago. I went in to meet Stephanie for business and came out with a new friend and a slice of her famous caramel cake as a free sample. My son after tasting the cake came to me with a blank look on his face. I asked him how is the cake and all he said was "mom, you have to taste it, I'm not going to say anything until you taste it." Needless to say we were both blown away by this delicious awesomeness. I have to question the taste buds of whomever says Stephanie's cake tastes like box cake. She is one of the nicest people I've met in a very long time. I wish you all the success in the world! read more

Have you had the cookies. Make you want to slap your moma. My company buys for events and whenever we use them people rave. The service for me has not been a problem they have helped me to my car even during busy times . read more

I love sweets and was excited to support this black owned business plus I love anything with caramel!! Big disappointment. I got the turtle cheesecake: the cheesecake itself was lacking flavor ,was not firm, and tasted like it was on a undone piecrust. As far as the topping go for as thick as the cheesecake was it was very unbalanced(more needed). Even after freezing the cheesecake in order to firm it up I still ended up just tossing it. My sister got a cream cheese iced brownie yuck didn't taste like anything... especially not chocolate more like a weird bland gummy concoction. Lastly based on a recommendation I got my dad a slice of carrot cake as it is his favorite..I will need to get his actual review but upon appearances big slice but skimpy frosting in between the cake layers. read more

Brown Sugar is hands down my top choice for cakes and cupcakes. I cannot say that all of my many years of customer service experiences there have been pleasant, but I can say that when I voiced my displeasure to the owner she went above and beyond to address my concerns. As a business man myself I see that the bakery has a tremendous opportunity to increase prices, however it is obvious that the owner chooses to stay true to the community and not price gouge even after being burglarized. While the product remains incredible I have seen the store go through some growing pains with regards to the staff, however this is something that can be fixed rather easily with customer service training. My family largely uses Brown Sugar for birthday cakes and we allow the team there to use their own creativity in designing our cakes. read more

I would like to began with saying that I travel from the Midway area to shop at Brown Sugar. The owner of the bakery has such the NASTIEST attitude ever. I am a frequent customer & wonder why she is always moody? Besides, without the customers she won't have a business (something that black people don't understand, that's why most of black businesses FAIL). The great thing about the bakery is that they have the BEST Caramel Cupcakes in the world!!!!!!!!! I used to come in & buy 2 dozens always. I actually stopped going in the bakery & let my teenage son go inside. Overall the pastry's are great but the attitudes that customers have to do with are ridiculous. I will say if I ever find a bakery that can compare with Brown Sugar, I will never ever ever visit Brown Sugar again. read more

I ordered a cake from Brown Sugar Bakery last week and this cake was definitely made with love!!!. The cake was so beautiful intricate in detail she made my guest not want to eat it that's how pretty it was, but we ate it. The cake mouth watering, very moist, rich in flavor and my strawberry filling was delicious. The staff was very friendly, polite, smiling and acknowledging every one. Every time I went to this bakery there was always a line but customer service got everyone out quickly. I only waited about 10 minutes and there were at LEAST 15 people before me. From now on I will only get my desserts from Brown Sugar Bakery. read more

Bought a slice of sweet potato pie with the caramel & almond topping. Gooder den a mug!

First thanks ladies for making my son's grad dinner fabulous! The carmel cake is the best. I also enjoyed the bread pudding. The deserts are the bomb. I have not had anything that was not good. Also a nice quiet place to have a seat and chill. I wish them continued success. read more

I came in just as they were opening. My mind was immediately set on a Carmel cupcake. It was warm and delicious. It took me a few minutes...so good and fresh I sucked it up with a straw! Not really, but it became good friends with my stomach really fast. The owner was very nice and professional. A must if you want FRESH baked goodies. read more

i luv luv luv this place! i go in there at least twice a week. you get large portions for your money. one slice of cake lasts me 2 days. the customer service is great. the girls are so sweet and friendly! the prices are great. i will never ever go to angelica's bakery again after they gave me a stale piece of cake and it was so small and overpriced at that! i luv brown sugar's german choc, pineapple coconut, strawberry coconut, caramel cake. i dont eat red velvet, but my sister said it was the bomb! read more

Two words: caramel cake. The caramel cake here is seriously one of the best desserts I've ever had. The cake is moist and tasty but the real star is the caramel - I have never loved caramel until I had this cake!!! A huge slice (I think the cake is 6 layers and the portion they give you can really serve 3) and a cup of good coffee set me back about $5. I read the reviews before I went and I was expecting poor customer service, but it was not the case at all. The person who worked there when I went (Monday night I think it was) was super nice and polite! I will definitely be back to try the caramel cheesecake. The biggest challenge for me will be to resist getting an entire caramel cake for later! read more

Cheesecake, caramel, german chocolate and lemon cupcakes are to die for. If you are watching your figure, this is not the place for you. Friendly service and tasty treats. read more

Trying to watch my weight and eat healthy but every now and then I have to have their turtle cupcake...I'm sorry but it is soooo good I cannot help myself read more

I never been to this shop and i feel ashamed. This place is not only has the most welcoming staff, but the cake is absolutely the best cake i have ever tasted. I will no longer waste my time at places like Let the eat cake or the Cheese cake factory. read more

This one star is not for the quality of the cake I purchased but for the bad business practice. I called to place an order for a two layer chocolate cake for my mom's 75th birthday. I needed the cake for Sunday, December 3rd. I was informed that I would have to pick up the cake on Saturday. I asked if they were going to be closed on Sunday and I was informed that they would be open, but I couldn't pick up the cake on Sunday. The young lady stated that I could walk in on Sunday and just purchase a cake, but I could not pre-order a cake for pick-up on a Sunday. When I arrived on Sunday to purchase a cake, I was informed that I would have to purchase a 4 layer cake, because the two layers were sold out. They went on to state that I should have preordered a cake! I informed them that I did and they wouldn't take the order. So now I have to pay double the price for a cake because they have bad business practice. Next year I will be going up north to Sweet Mandy B's. read more

Turtle cake was heaven and huge. I never taste a cake that wonderful before even a homemade cake from my mother. The price was right. I am hooked. read more

Been going to Brown Sugar since 2006! Oh how I wish, Stephanie would move to the DC area. All cakes are fantastic. Everybody I take to the shop, becomes a HUGE FAN. My favorite, Porgy and Bess - hmmm!! read more

I live out of town but have 3 children and 5 grandkids in the Chicago area. For the past several years, I have been ordering the Vanilla Caramel cake to be delivered as a special birthday treat! The Brown Sugar Bakery has never let me down!! They are always so helpful in placing my out of town phone order, and the cakes arrive on time. This cake wins raves, not only from my son (who is not really a sweets eater) but his co-workers as well! I will continue to order this fabulous cake as long as they will deliver it! Hope to have one all to myself on my next trip to Chi town! read more

I love it. I have bought cakes for the last two birthday parties I had for my kids. This cake has been the talk of the party. And, its still moist after about three days in the fridge. Thumbs up!!! read more

I ordered my daughter's Baby Shower cake 3 weeks ago paid for it in full and picked it up this Saturday and it was a total disappointment from the appearance to the taste. We gave them a picture of what we wanted and I don't know what happened the cake didn't look nothing like the picture and we paid additional for a ribbon which wasn't on it. When I called the owner said if someone could bring it back they would put the black bow on it what black bow it was brown. My guest even said it tasted bad and hope we didn't order it but I had to tell the truth it came from Brown Sugar Bakery. It was suppose to be a marble cake it was layers of yellow cake and chocolate; the yellow tasted ok and the frosting but the chocolate had no taste at all and then it had some strawberries who asked for that I don't know. This happened to me several years ago with them and I stop going to them and now I remember why this was the 2nd and final time. Thanks for the disappointment. read more

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this is the best bakery in chicago!!!....you have never had cake thats close to your grandmothers baking until you have came here....i really love their great customer service and i appreciate all the cakes they have done for me. every year a patronize this black on business because there are not many bakeries thats even close to this bakery when its comes down to....southern desserts....carmel cake,peach cobblers,banannapudding, birthday cakes n etc....this is the best bakery!!! ever read more

Stephanie is wonderful, she did a cake for my daughter's baby shower, the decoration was just like the invitations, the cup cake and the cake was decorated so elegantly, it looked like it was prepared for a wedding, Stephanie got the concept I was trying to display. Everyone was so impressed and going crazy over the cake and the variety of cupcakes, the portion are bigger than any other bakery and the cakes are moist and delicious, I usually don't like bakery cakes, But Brown Sugar has won me over... Thanks Stephanie, I recommend her to everyone.... read more

I've contacted this establishment in person and over the phone. In both cases, the service was horrible. During the "in person" visit the only product that was made were several cakes. This was the case and the place had just opened! I purchased a slice of Caramel cake. The taste was good. Not exceptional. Especially given the level of service. I won't be going there again. read more

The customer service at this establishment is horrific to say the least. I wouldn't recommend it at all just based on that. I love sweet treats and willing to pay top dollar to enjoy them. I ordered a specialty cake, it was decorated incorrectly and wasn't ready on time. NOTE TO THE OWNER: You are a reflection on the success of your business! read more

I order a cake couple days before Thanksgiving and received a cake that was frozen. I was little disappointed and contacted the bakery. I was met anger and a bad attitude on the phone. From a person that stated she was the owner. She was not interested in knowing the reason for my call and talked over me the whole time I was on the phone. I informed her that, or tried to, that she needed to give her customer full dis closer if they freeze their cakes. Since she would not let me speak, I request a full refund. Bad attitude like this, I did not want my holiday spoiled by going back to the bakery the Wednesday before the holiday. This bakery will not get any of my business again, nor will I recommend them for any coming events. To pay $49.00 for a cake, and they put in the freezer before you pick it up, is too much. Full Dis closer to your customer is a MUST!!! You can decide if you want to purchase a frozen cake. read more

Customer service as well as the owner STINKS, STINKS, STINKS. They care nothing about their customers, the owner is rude as heck and she must train her staff to be that way. No more, no way no how. Cakes are good, but nothing is that good. Sorry you lose. read more

I have been to plenty of bakeries, and none have surpassed my expectations like Brown Sugar does. It's been so long since I have delicious baked goods since the passing of my mother......mine is edible, this is fantastic, which is why you have desserts in the first place. I'm in love with the sweet potato pie, lemon, turtle, and I am now dying to try the peach cobbler. Good service, and excellent food, that's all we really want, especially since the dollar is so tight now a days. read more