Brockton Eats with Alisha: Got a sweet tooth? Dive into these local pastries, donuts and more

BROCKTON — Craving something sweet that will melt in your mouth? Well, Brockton and surrounding areas have a few places to curb those cravings, especially after eating something savory.

As a foodie and sweets connoisseur, I'm constantly battling my love of sugary treats, from hand-dipped donuts to crème brûlée and everything in between. I love it all. 

Chocolate, cake and churros are some of my crowd-pleasers, and in this installment of Brockton Eats with Alisha, we're on a hunt to find several hidden gems in the baked goods world.

This list is just a small fraction of what's truly out there and doesn't reflect the entire bakery scene in the Brockton area. I've compiled a few places that would be great for you to try whenever you are craving something delicious. 

Sweet Piglet Bakery — 1138 N Main St., Randolph

A pink pig-themed bakery opened its doors in September 2021 and is spreading delectable unique treats with a lot of cultural significance for the owners.

Located at 1138 N Main St., Randolph, Sweet Piglet Bakery has a variety of sweets and breakfast options for the early morning commute.

The business offers savory items of sweet bacon jam and opened-faced sandwiches served with sweet potato hash. 

Sweet Piglet also incorporates traditional crab snacks wrapped in onigiri seaweed paper and white rice. The customers inside also enjoyed the pan-fried gyozas with dipping sauce.

The best part might be how different their menu is from traditional bakeries. The owners, a mother-daughter duo, Armanda Britton and Meghan Phan, wanted to bring Southeast Asian desserts to Randolph. Some desserts include ube crepe cakes, matcha crème brûlée, and pandan cream puffs.

Italian Gem Café — 19 Center St., Middleboro

Looking for a taste of Italian sweets? Well, look no further. 

An Italian-style bakery has planted its roots on Center Street in Middleboro. Italian Gem Café is baking up family recipes that owner Jessica Gemma learned as a child when she frequented Frosinone, a town south of Rome. 

Customers can indulge in the owner's favorite items: pistachio white chocolate cookies, classic bomboloni, and roasted focaccia bread made from scratch daily.

Passionate about food and bakingNew Italian bakery is serving up roasted focaccia, bomboloni, and authentic recipes

The menu is inspired by baked goods and sweet treats from the town where Gemma's parents grew up. Even the flour is imported from Italy to keep the authentic flavor and rich culture alive.

You can find classic and non-traditional Italian desserts, focaccia panini in nine options, cappuccino, tea, espresso, homemade drip coffee, cold brews and much more.

Sweet Kneads Bake Truck — 60 Hale St., Bridgewater 

Are you sick of "stale" donuts that sit all day? Then head over to Sweet Kneads Bake Truck in Bridgewater, where donuts, cookies, brownies, donut breakfast sandwiches and sweet drinks await you.

The food truck, located at 60 Hale St., Bridgewater, has an assortment of freshly cooked, hand-dipped donuts made to order with over 18 flavors to choose from, so you can satisfy any craving.

Some of the most popular flavors include Cinnamon Toast Crunch, apple cider, Oreo, Boston crème pie and regular donuts frosted with either chocolate or strawberry and then dipped with your choice of topping.

'It’s like a Chipotle but for donuts'Customize your hand-dipped donut at Sweet Kneads

Sweetness and Honey Bakery — 46 Central St., Foxboro

Macaroons, cupcakes, cookies, pastries and more are available fresh daily at Sweetness and Honey Bakery located at 46 Central St., Foxboro. 

Patrons can order custom cakes, cupcakes, macaroons, and other items through an inquiry form. 

One unique aspect of the bakery is its mini waffles with maple syrup dipping sauce, which you don't see often. The menu includes homemade pop tarts, coffee cake, whoopie pies and decorated sugar cookies. 

The owner, Kerri Cookson, started her journey as a teen baker and kept up with the hobby, turning it into a thriving business. Since she was 13 years old, Cookson's goal was to open a bakery, and now her dream has come true. 

Taste of Brazil Bakery — 696 Crescent St., Brockton

Flavors of South America have landed here in Brockton with Taste of Brazil, a family-run business serving up fresh bread daily, acai bowls, burgers, steak rice, giant pastels, coffee, grilled chicken, pizza, soup and salad.

The bakery has a seemingly never-ending list of sweets ranging from chocolate balls and flan to tres leches, banana cake, pineapple upside-down cake, rice pudding and much more.

Some of the fan favorites are potato bread, French rolls, baguettes, sweet bread and Portuguese bread. 

A lot more than just baked goodsBrockton bakery serves up 'taste of Brazil'

Islands Cafe & Bakery By Josi Sweets — 91 Weir St. Taunton 

Sweet cheesecake bites, layered Cape Verdean cakes, and cachupa can all be found in one place —Islands Cafe & Bakery By Josi Sweets.

The tropical island-inspired café brings traditional Cape Verdean hot, ready-made food and classic treats to the area.

Homemade Cape Verdean delightsIslands Cafe & Bakery lands in Taunton

The hot food menu includes a large variety of traditional and American food, including rice and beans, pagina (fried pork), bacalhau (cod fish and potatoes), drumsticks and Cape Verdean tuna.

Every day, the business makes different entrees to serve their customers, which means there's something new to try daily. The recipes come from Cape Verde and are passed down from generation to generation. 

Do you have a suggestion for the food series? Email staff reporter Alisha Saint-Ciel at stciela@gannett.com.