The third generation of family members operates 27th Street Bakery. It’s in the historic South Central core, and has watched the entire city shift and change over decades all while making sweet potato and pecan pie, carrot cake, and a wonderful sock-it-to-me cake.

Qualifying as a hidden gem, look for the black and white awning of Heavenly Cakes Creations in a tiny spot in Hyde Park where regulars return for tea cakes, custom cakes sweet potato pies chocolate chip cookies, along with the sweet, sticky monkey bread.

After being squeezed out of Virgil Village a few years ago, the family-owned Super Pan relocated to South Park near the 110 south of Vernon Avenue, where they still serve superb Mexican, Salvadoran, and Guatemalan bread and pastries.

Walk in the door and ask for chef Mo, aka Monet Walker, who makes stunning custom cakes, sugar cookies, scones, and a creative eight-ounce cupcake in a jar.

Head to Cobblers Cakes & Kream and just explore. Check the display case for a variety of cobblers that come in individual or shared sizes, as well as ice cream, cupcakes, and pecan pies.

From certified nursing assistant to bakery owner, chef Marsha Molard mostly operates as a caterer, but dessert seekers can still nab one of her baked goods, especially the cake jars.

Owners Catarah Coleman and Shoneji Robison started their baked venture in 2007. This year, the partners expanded to a Watts location, where the popular Southern bakery creates banana pudding, pies, and apple caramel, and Hennessy and Coke cupcakes.