Where to get gourmet cupcakes on Long Island

Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery

Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery (multiple locations): At both Long Island locations of this national franchise, one thing is for sure: the options are anything but limited. All Smallcakes offer a minimum of 12 signature cupcakes on a daily basis, including caramel crunch, cookies-n-cream, peanut butter cup and hot fudge sundae. Each location also puts out its own specials. Patchogue’s include Boston cream pie (Vanilla cake filled with Bavarian cream topped with fudge and whipped topping), carrot cake (Carrot cake with pecans and coconut topped with cream cheese frosting and crushed pecans) and cannoli (Chocolate chip cake topped with a chocolate chip cream cheese frosting and a filled cannoli). Syosset features the Neapolitan (chocolate cake frosted with chocolate, strawberry and vanilla buttercream and topped with chocolate sprinkles, a cherry and wafer cookie) leggo my eggo (vanilla bean cake with pieces of cone baked inside, fudge icing, waffle pieces and caramel drizzle on top) and cinnamon sugar coffee cake (vanilla bean cake with cinnamon and sugar streusel, frosted with coffee cream cheese and topped with cinnamon sugar and streusel). Both shops also offer — in limited quantities —  gluten- and dairy-free chocolate, and vanilla cupcakes, a variety of ice cream flavors, cupcake push-pops and more. Cupcakes at both locations are $3.75. Bonus: both locations also offer dog-friendly cupcakes, $1.50 each or 4 for $5.  More info: smallcakescupcakery.com

NY Cupcakery

NY Cupcakery (2544 Merrick Rd., Bellmore): Rainbow cookie, cappuccino, Dulce de Leche. Take your pick among these, plus more than 30 other variations at Joseph Polito’s nearly 10-year-old bake shop. The former Garden City Hotel pastry chef, who likes to base his menu off of customer requests, also turns out custom cakes, pies, apple cobblers and other baked goods. Cupcakes are offered in three sizes: mini ($1.25 ), classic ($2.75) and jumbo ($3.75). Gluten and sugar free versions are available upon request. Also available: Pupcakes ($3.95). More info: 516-409-8866, newyorkcupcakery.com

Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery (multiple locations): When you think of Cold Stone, you probably think of ice cream — but think again. The ice cream chain also offers three signature cupcakes in edible chocolate cups: Cake batter deluxe (a layer of red velvet cake, fudge and cake batter ice cream topped with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles), double chocolate devotion (a layer of Devil's Food cake, fudge and chocolate ice cream topped with white frosting and crumbled Oreos on top) and sweet cream (a layer of yellow cake, fudge and sweet cream ice cream topped with white frosting and white and milk chocolate curls). Cupcakes are sold six in a pack, either by individual flavor or in a variety pack (two of each flavor). Each pack is sold for $14.99. Custom cupcakes available by order only. More info: coldstonecreamery.com

The French Workshop

The French Workshop (191 7th St., Garden City): In addition to French pastries like macarons, profiteroles and eclairs, this artisan bakery offers a selection of assorted cupcakes including apple cinnamon, infused with apple chunks; raspberry, infused with raspberry filling; hazelnut, infused with Nutella; and chocolate, infused with even more chocolate. The cupcakes are made fresh daily and sold for $3.50. Grab a cappuccino or latte, take a seat at one of their marble tables and satisfy your sweet tooth. More info: 516-248-6800, thefrenchworkshop.com

Baked by the Ocean

Baked by the Ocean (919 W. Beech St., Long Beach): Baker and owner Catherine Schimenti, who has worked with notable chefs like Tom Colicchio and Thomas Keller, turns out all kinds of sweet treats at her nontraditional bakery. Aside from Chanel-adorned brownies and Gucci-printed lemon bars, the six-month-old shop also offers gourmet cupcakes. The menu is constantly changing, but recent offerings include a signature funfetti cupcake (vanilla bean cake toasted with sprinkles and served with pink vanilla buttercream and confetti sprinkles), a chocolate oreo mint cupcake (chocolate cake with mint cookie buttercream icing and metallic sprinkles) and Schimenti’s version of a red velvet cupcake, which is made using beets and features a cream cheese buttercream frosting and funky sprinkles. Seating is available at a handful of tables, or counters, facing W. Beech. St. and Virginia Ave. Cupcakes start at $3.25. More info: 516-889-2253, bakedbytheocean.com 

Alpine Pastry Shoppe

Alpine Pastry Shoppe (59 Route 111, Smithtown): It’s hard to miss the cupcakes at Alpine Pastry Shoppe — nearly two showcases are devoted to them. The family-run shop, which has been in business for nearly 40 years and ships nationwide, offers options like Mallomar, strawberry shortcake, apple caramel crumb, Nutella, lemon coconut and Boston cream. The cupcakes are available in regular size ($3.50) and miniature ($2.15). More info: 631-265-5610, alpinepastryshoppe.com

Baked by Melissa

Baked by Melissa (630 Old Country Rd., Garden City at Roosevelt Field mall): The New York-based mini-cupcake chain’s only Long Island location serves up eight “original greats,” three seasonal cupcakes and a mini of the month at its kiosk at the Roosevelt Field mall, located across from the Apple store on ground level. Choose from a variety of  flavors, including tie-dye, peanut butter and jelly, cookie dough and chocolate chip pancake. Current seasonal offerings include chocolate caramel cookie dough, marshmallow and magic cookie (vanilla chocolate chip cake stuffed with Biscoff cookie butter and topped with Biscoff icing and a cookie bar). January’s mini of the month is the Snowball (vanilla cake, fudge stuffing, creamy vanilla icing, and a flurry of sugary coconut sprinkle topping). All mini-cupcakes are $1.25 each. From its gluten free corner: birthday cake, caramel, cinnamon, red velvet and more, in addition to its bite-size macaroons, which make up the other half of the menu, $2 each.. More info: 212-842-0220, bakedbymelissa.com

Torta Fina Bake Shoppe & Patisserie

Torta Fina Bake Shoppe & Patisserie (80 Deer Park Ave., Babylon): This spot, decorated to invoke the feel of a European bakery, turns out 16 different cupcake styles daily. Options include s’mores, Oreo, lemon, red velvet, salted caramel and peanut butter fudge. You’ll also find versions topped with French macarons or ones frosted to look like a flower. (Price: $1.95-$2.95.) Cupcakes make up just a small portion of Torta Fina’s menu. You’ll also find assorted and custom cakes, cookies, pies, scones, shortbreads, muffins, brownies, and more, plus the hot beverages to go with them. More info: 631-669-0824, tortafina.com

Buttercooky Bakery

Buttercooky Bakery (multiple locations): Buttercooky offers a variety of gourmet cupcakes at all three of its locations in Huntington, Manhasset and Floral Park. M&M, Reeses, brownie and red velvet are among the varieties offered, and Sesame Street fans will be impressed by versions made to look like Elmo and Cookie Monster. The Huntington location also has plans to expand to gluten free cupcakes and others baked goods. More info: buttercookybakery.com

Blue Duck

Blue Duck (multiple locations): This bakery chain is known for its artisanal breads, but customers visiting locations in Riverhead, Southold and Greenport will also find a variety of gourmet cupcakes. Lemon buttercream, carrot, raspberry buttercream, double chocolate and mocha are just a few of the flavors available ($2.50-$3.50). Blue Duck also offers cakes, pies and cookies, plus pastries like cannoli, key lime squares and more. You’ll also find soups, salads and sandwiches on the menu. More info: blueduckbakerycafe.com

Benkert’s

Benkert’s (2216 Middle Country Rd., Centereach): Customers will find traditional chocolate, red velvet and vanilla cupcakes at Benkert’s, but the bakery’s most Instagram-worthy option is the unicorn cupcake. The on-trend treat features vanilla cake topped with multi-colored vanilla buttercream and edible glitter. It’s stuffed into a unicorn cupcake holder and topped with paper cut-outs for the horn and ears (Price: $2.99). More info: 631-585-8618, benkerts.com