The bright lights in this Brentwood bakery shine down on a pristine counter full of cupcakes, puddings and cookies—and tall, decadent cakes on top. Our face and fingers, pressed to the glass with unabashed desire, were also quite visible.

Owner Susan Sarich opened SusieCakes in mid 2006 with two things in her favor: Her skill in the kitchen and her smart choice to start small. (The caf closes around dinnertime for now, but when all kinks have been ironed out she hopes to extend the hours to accommodate evening strollers seeking a sugar fix.) Special occasions are serviced by made-to-order layer cakes of carrot, German chocolate or southern red velvet; several are always available by the oversized slice for dine-in or takeout. Other recommended indulgences include the banana pudding with vanilla wafers, the whoopie pie (two soft, cake-like cookies sandwiching a thick layer of buttercream frosting) and frosting-filled cupcakes in flavors like peanut butter, lemon, mocha and chocolate mint. All were recently consumed at an LA.com office party Official Taste Test, and it was the whoopie pie that vanished most quickly. —Lonny Pugh