One of the gorgeous specialty cupcakes from the Lily Torte Baking Company, your pick for best cupcakes in and around Atlanta. Photo courtesy Lily Torte Baking Company

YOUR PICKS
1. Lily Torte Baking Company
You say, “They have so many flavors it is like being a kid in a candy store. My favorites are salted caramel and cookie monster yum” and “Lily Torte has the perfect cupcake for every occasion. Family owned. Great family, even better cupcakes. You can never have just one!”

2. CamiCakes
3. Cake Cafe Atlanta
4. Piece of Cake
5. GiGi’s Cupcakes

Atlanta Cupcake Factory co-owner Jamie Fahey frosts some of the delicious treats available at the Poncey-Highland shop. Photo: John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

OUR PICKS
The AJC dining team’s specialist in Southern and Neighborhood Fare Jenny Turknett says, “Atlanta’s cupcake scene has exploded over the past year. As I compared cupcakes from many of our local shops, the unique strengths of each bakery revealed themselves. Instead of ranking the five best cupcake spots, I offer the best features of five local cupcake bakeries and a few flavors to try (in no particular order).”

Gigi’s Cupcakes, multiple locations
Best feature: Filled cupcakes, which keep the cupcakes moist
Flavor to try: Coconut Cream-filled — A mountain of smooth coconut cream awaits.

Alpine Bakery, Alpharetta
Best feature: Moist and flavorful cake
Flavor to try: Turtle cheesecake — Is it a cake or a cheesecake?

The Atlanta Cupcake Factory, Poncey-Highland
Best feature: Cream-cheese based frostings
Flavor to try: Lemon — It might as well be a lemon meringue pie.

The Great Cupcake Co., Buckhead
Best feature: Fun flavors that venture beyond the traditional
Flavor to try: Creamsicle — Think of a frosted orange from The Varsity.

Jilly’s Cupcakery, Alpharetta
Best Feature: largest selection of miniature cupcakes
Flavor to try: Peanut butter chocolate — Peanut butter buttercream steals the show here.