Icedgems

213 Main St., Reisterstown, 443-690-7056.

This
boutique bakery features 140 fanciful flavors dreamed up by owner
Christine Richardson and her staff. Offerings include Banoffee Toffee
(banana cake with caramelized banana buttercream) and Illegally
Delicious (raspberry and chocolate cake with raspberry buttercream and
pistachios). Richardson’s signature pink-and-white polka-dotted vans can
also be found around town.

Editor’s pick: Blueberry-pancake cupcake topped with maple buttercream and candied bacon.

Charm City Cupcakes

Several locations including 1340 Smith Ave., 410-244-8790.

Eight
years ago, owner Sandra Long opened this petite bakery in the former
guard house of the historic Mt. Washington Mill. Her formula for making
cupcakes that taste as good as they look is a winning one. With a
rotation of more than 65 flavors to choose from, even the quickest
decision makers may struggle here.

Editor’s pick: Vanilla praline—a crown of caramel and pecans perched on top of vanilla cake.

Fresh Bakery

10351 Reisterstown Rd., Owings Mills, 410-530-0098.

The
bakery sets itself apart from all the other cupcake places by making it
hip to be square—literally. Letta Simon and her husband, Michael,
figured out not only a cute concept, but also how to make divine
cupcakes. Named after dream destinations—Palm Beach Coconut, Aspen Mint
Chocolate Chip, and Charleston Chocolate—you haven’t done due dessert
diligence until you’ve squared off with one of these.

Editor’s pick: The Monday special: Cape Cod carrot cupcake.

La Cakerie

Two locations including 11 W. Allegheny Ave., Towson, 443-275-4050.

Thanks to his star turns on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars and Sweet Genius,
La Cakerie owner/chef Jason Hisley has become our town’s king of
cupcakes. His Towson shop focuses on special-occasion cakes, cookies,
and even savory snacks, but the cupcakes take the cake here.

Editor’s pick: The harvest-apple cupcake with spiced buttercream and compote.

Midnite Confections Cupcakery

1051 S. Charles St., 410-727-1010.

The
focus here is on quality, not quantity, with seven daily flavors
utilizing interesting ingredients like Madagascar vanilla, white rum,
and organic carrots, plus a rotating schedule of three daily specials.
We’re sweet on the policy of icing all cupcakes after they’re ordered
and allowing customers to mix and match icings.

Editor’s pick: The Sublime-inal cupcake—lemon cake with lime buttercream frosting.