Sweet Indulgence Pastries operates out of a small shop on West Main Street in Wolcott, a quiet town between the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario that you would not expect to harbor a Silver-winning bakery. But pastry chef Eva, who spent more than two decades perfecting her craft before opening this spot alongside her partner Karli, brings a level of technique and global inspiration that belies the rural setting. The selection changes regularly, drawing on baking traditions from around the world, and the small-batch approach means everything in the case tastes like it was finished that morning.

This is not a bakery that churns out dozens of the same muffin. The globally inspired approach means you might find French-style tarts alongside Eastern European pastries, with seasonal flavors rotating through the menu. The Silver award for best bakery in 2024 put Sweet Indulgence on the map for Finger Lakes visitors willing to make a short detour, but the real audience is the devoted local following that treats each visit like a treasure hunt — you never quite know what will be in the case, and that unpredictability is part of the charm.

If you are driving the Lake Ontario wine trail or heading between the Finger Lakes and the coast, Wolcott is a natural stopping point, and Sweet Indulgence is worth building your route around. Call ahead if you have your heart set on something specific, as small-batch means popular items sell out. This is a labor of love in the truest sense — two people making beautiful pastries in a small town because they genuinely care about the craft.