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Cupcakes are all the rage these days - and for good reason. Kids have long loved the individualized treat of cake-y goodness, and over the last several years boutique bakeries specializing in the cupcake have been popping up everywhere. There's simply no avoiding them.

Here's a look at some of our area's best cupcake destinations:

hello, cupcake

hello, cupcake was one of the area's original cupcake Meccas. Since it has been around for several years, hello, cupcake has cupcakes down. The cake is balanced and not too sweet, but where Hello shines is the frosting, which is rich and delicious. The lineup features standard flavors as well as one or two seasonal choices each month. The store is in downtown Tacoma, close to the museums, restaurants and several cute shops, so it makes a fine pit stop when you need a jolt of sugar to keep going. Appropriately, the Irish cream latte cupcake is currently under glass.
1740 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.7772

Affairs Chocolate & Desserts

Affairs is the place to go if a cupcake is just not enough. The cupcakes here are amazing - firm cake and enough frosting to make your day. The assortment of cake flavors is broad enough to suit everyone. But just in case you're with someone who is not a cupcake fan, Affairs offers more. Owner Gay Landry was originally a chocolatier, so there are handmade truffles, as well as cakes, cookies and pastries. The store is also a café and known as a great breakfast spot, too.
2811 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.565.8604

Metropolitan Market

Met Market is a hub for some of the best bakeries in the Puget Sound, including Cupcake Royale - Seattle's original cupcake joint and the first cupcake spot to open outside of New York City way back in 2003. You won't typically find the more unusual Cupcake Royale flavors at Met Market, but chocolate-vanilla, red velvet, mint chocolate and seasonal flavors are always available. Even though these might not offer the experience of dining in a cute cupcake shop, Cupcake Royale's cake is one of the moister cupcake options and their frosting is muffin-top-licking good.
2420 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.761.3663

Bearded Lady Food Co.

Some of what Olympia does best is in the vegetarian/vegan food arena, and this includes one of the best cupcake options - vegan cupcakes at Bearded Lady. Beyond the fact that the cake is vegan, the cake is also delicious, with standard flavors as well as Mexican spice, gingerbread, and other creative choices. Frosting flavors like lavender and mango complete the sugary goodness. Bearded Lady nabbed Best Desserts in the Best of Olympia 2012 issue.
412 Franklin St., Olympia, 360.943.6235

What is your favorite South Sound cupcake joint?

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: Reserve your table for Tacoma Restaurant Week