Simple Sweets operates out of a small storefront on Castle Street in Geneva, and what it lacks in square footage it makes up for in butter. This is a cookies-first bakery, and the cookies are the reason people drive across town — buttery, generously sized, baked fresh daily in flavors that rotate with the seasons. Three consecutive Gold awards for Best Cookies at the FLX Finest awards is the kind of streak that doesn't happen by accident. The display case also holds cupcakes, brownies, and custom cakes for special orders, but the cookies are the main event.

The operation is small-batch by design, not by limitation. Everything is made from scratch in small quantities, which means popular flavors can sell out by mid-afternoon on busy weekends. If you're planning a Geneva day trip that includes a walk down South Main Street and a stop at the lakefront, swing by Castle Street early. The vibe is friendly and unfussy — this is a bakery counter, not a sit-down cafe — but locals treat it like a weekly ritual. For lake visitors, a box of Simple Sweets cookies makes a better souvenir than another bottle of wine. Almost.