Even if you're a competent baker, cupcakes are usually better to buy than make yourself. Great cupcakes aren't just about flavor but presentation: a decadent cake with a beautiful swirl of icing on top and a few little flairs to make it stand out. It's not an easy skill to master, and if you want a great cupcake, sometimes you need to look for the right spot—especially if you've just moved to a new area. So where do you go in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas to find gourmet cupcakes? Here's a roundup of our favorite places.

Jazzy Sweeties Bakery

1006 East McMillan Street, Cincinnati, OH 45206

The only drawback to Jazzy Sweeties is that it doesn't do walk-ins. This locally owned, independent bakery does custom orders, which must be placed in advance. They're well worth the extra wait, though. Jazzy Sweets has a variety of treats that taste as good as they look—especially their cupcakes. The bakery's website includes a gallery of some of the cupcakes they can make, from simple birthday cupcakes to elegant strawberry cupcakes (with a decadent strawberry glaze) to cupcakes shaped like Cookie Monster and more. They also have a variety of other treats available, from cookies to wedding cakes—all beautifully decorated and absolutely delicious. Whatever the occasion and whatever kind of cupcakes you're looking for, Jazzy Sweeties can make you something that will satisfy.

Abby Girl Sweets

4773 Glendale Milford Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242

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Abby's has three locations: Blue Ash, Eastgate, and Downtown Cincinnati. Each location has a variety of cupcakes available, but the specialty is cheesecake cupcakes: Decadent, gourmet cheesecake with a vanilla wafer crust, baked into cupcake form and topped with cherry, cookies and cream, key lime, and other toppings. Or, if you'd rather have a traditional cupcake, try their coconut, red velvet, and strawberry blast flavors. And ask about their flavor of the week! They also provide cupcakes by special order for weddings and other events.

3 Sweet Girls Cakery

7458 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236

Whether you want cupcakes for delivery, pickup, or just walking in and browsing, 3 Sweet Girls Cakery has what you need. They have over a hundred different cupcake flavors available throughout the year, from standard flavors like chocolate, Oreo, and birthday cake to more specialized varieties like strawberry lemonade, peanut butter mudslide, red velvet cheesecake, and white chocolate raspberry. Many of their flavors are intricately decorated and beautifully colored and can also be made vegan and/or gluten-free upon request.

Memorie Makers Cafe & Cupcakery

8470 US-42 Suite G, Florence, KY 41042

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All Memorie Makers desserts are made fresh daily, with locally sourced ingredients. They make custom cakes and other special order treats for weddings and other events, but if you want a cupcake, all you have to do is come into the store. Try their red velvet, pink champagne, and Death by Chocolate cupcakes, plus a variety of other rotating flavors. They also offer regular cake and cookie decorating classes, plus "Cupcake and Canvas," where participants can learn to paint and eat a cupcake in the process!

Happy Chicks Bakery

4035 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45223

This independent, woman-owned bakery serves all vegan treats, in sustainable packaging, with gluten-free options available as well. They also take pride in offering a variety of new and creative flavors you can't find anywhere else. Try their coconut yellow curry cupcakes with almond icing, called the Yellow Dragon. They also offer orange lemon, ginger chai, and various seasonal flavors. The bakery includes a cafe, where many offerings are readily available, along with sandwiches, salads, chicken nuggets, and more. However, for most of their bakery offerings, they recommend ordering at least a week in advance to ensure you get what you need.

BonBonerie

2030 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208

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The goal of BonBonerie is to make everything beautiful and delicious. As such, they use only the best ingredients—some fresh and locally grown; others imported from Belgium, Madagascar, and other places around the world. Their cupcakes are made with a variety of fun designs, many of them shaped like animal faces, such as tigers, owls, and monkeys. They also make cupcakes for all occasions, from birthdays to weddings, or a bouquet of flower-shaped cupcakes to give to that special someone. Their flavors are amazing, too, such as opera cream and carrot cake, along with an ever-rotating roster that changes from month to month. Stop by their cafe and tearoom to see what they're offering right now.

Cakes & Pastries by George

3674 Muddy Creek Road, Cincinnati, OH 45238

This small bakery offers a variety of sweet treats, but the cupcakes are what everyone raves about. They offer a variety of gourmet flavors you can't get other places, such as English Toffee and Boston Cream. They also do macarons, wedding cakes, and more. Everything is lovingly made, beautifully decorated, and absolutely delicious.

Sweeterie

6820 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45227

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Located at The Strand mall in Mariemount, Sweeterie prides itself on using high-quality ingredients to make beautiful and delicious cupcakes. Try the double fudge, white chocolate, cookie dough, and brown sugar Irish coffee cupcakes, along with various decadent flavors. Everything is available in regular, mini, or jumbo sizes—and during the holidays, each cupcake gets decorated with a little something extra. Open Wednesday through Saturday, Sweeterie's cupcakes are an experience not to be missed.

Getting Your Just Desserts

Where will you go for gourmet cupcakes in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area?