New bakery in Sunbury expands gluten-free offerings in region

Sunbury, Pa. — A new bakery has opened its doors in Sunbury, offering specialty gluten-free baked goods to the region.

Sugar Cat Gluten Free Bakery, 436 Market St., located in the Sunbury Market House, offers a downtown space to experience food in community, just as the marketplace has for more than a century. The present-day Market House includes dozens of food and craft vendors.

Owner and chef Becca Boyer has a mission — not only to create options for those who feel they miss out on the pleasures of food due to illness or intolerance, but also give them an opportunity to enjoy food together.

Motivated to tie her passion for community with her expertise in baking, Boyer spent nearly two years in the Bakery & Pastry Arts program at Penn College before leaving due to her allergies. That's when Boyer decided to start her own bakery.

“I have lived in this area my entire life, and being a person with allergies, there aren't a lot of options," Boyer said. "And so when I saw the opportunity to create something for people like myself — that they can go and have a safe treat and not have to worry about it. That is important to me, to have that for people around here."

After being diagnosed with celiac disease in high school, Boyer didn’t want to stop enjoying the foods she knew and loved. So she began to experiment.

“I had to figure out how to make things in a completely different way but still have them taste good,” she said.

Gluten-free baked goods are known to be hit or miss in flavor and texture, but Boyer wants to take any doubt out of the equation.

Prioritizing taste over making the next best “healthy alternative,” Boyer has created a classic bakery — a concept focused on enjoying an indulgent product, not stressing its contents.

“I want everyone to be able to enjoy these. So I don't want you to bite into something and be like, 'Oh, this is gluten-free.' I just want people to taste it and be like oh, this is good regardless of what's in it,” Boyer said.

Boyer currently sells brownies, cookies, muffins, and specialty cakes. Many of her offerings will be soy and nut free; some will be vegan. Boyer plans to add more offerings as the business grows, including sourdough bread. She also has her eye on recreating Pennsylvania classics.

Sugar Cat Gluten Free Bakery will be open on Saturdays and, eventually, Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.