When Kim Hand created Buttercups Cupcakes in Shreveport, Ala., her goal was to create modern interpretations of classic flavors, such as the popular Red Velvet. The elegant simplicity of Kim's cupcakes helped showcase her skills on Cupcake Wars.

Owner Shelly Stannard says a spark of creativity (and a small sugar rush) makes her day. Inspiration comes to her by many names, you see. Snickerdoodle, Black Bottom, Even Chocolate-Dipped Vanilla Macaroon. Catch her creative juices in action with a stop in to Flavor's "cupcake happy hour."

Cupcakes in Bloom takes the edible arrangement to a new whole level. Mason-Dixon favorites like Strawberry Pretzel Salad or Root Beer Float cupcakes are good, but (like most things in life) are even better on a stick. Their staked and styled cupcake bouquets just make flowers feel so old-fashioned.

On this episode of Food Network's Cupcake Wars, a baker at Sweet Bakery competes to win $10,000 and have her cupcakes presented at a celebration at SeaWorld.

"Cupcake Wars" competitor Blondies Baking Company has whimsical cupcakes such as Love Potion, Pink Feather Boa and Texas Turtle as well as delicious classic flavors like Salted Caramel and Mocha Crunch. Owner Cindy Selby strives to offer customers high-quality pastries and warm hospitality.

Shannon Clarke needed a jolt - a Kona coffee-chocolate cupcake kind of pick-me-up, double shot with espresso glaze and buttercream. She ditched the desk to start her whimsical Starry Night Bakery and now has only one complaint: she needs more things to put chocolate and salted caramel into.

At CakeDreams in Rockville, Md., owner Jane-Marie Kane takes pride in the fact that, unlike most bakeries, her cupcakes are topped with meringue-style buttercream. One of her specialties is the Banana Cream cupcake filled with rum custard and topped with caramelized bananas.

At East End Cupcakes in Portland, Maine, the best cupcakes come from quality ingredients that speak for themselves. East End serves up the classics, but it also plays with unusual ingredients like bacon and lavender in its cakes, and honey and avocado in its Italian and American buttercreams.

The next time you're in New Orleans, stop by CupCake Fairies for whimsical, sassy and delightful baked goods. Some local favorites include the Bourbon and the Cookie Monster. When the Fairies aren't competing on Cupcake Wars, they're catering parties and making specialty cakes.

It’s not every day that Duff Goldman calls your cake flavors "visionary" ... unless you're Cupcake Charlie's. This fast-growing, family-run Cape Cod cupcake powerhouse churns out hits in 71 flavors. Duff was bowled over by Charlie's Samoa Chocolate Cupcake with Caramel and Coconut.

Yum Bunnies Cakery knows cake - in fact it's all they do! The Technicolor workshop's gallery is overflowing with tasty works of art. Choose a flavored canvas (the Half-and-Half butter-chocolate combo wins people's choice), and marvel as owner Jessica Sahakian sculpts and frosts edible masterpieces.

In historic Lexington, Kentucky, James Brown's cupcakes are old-school Southern. His aptly named Brown's Bakery brings king-size personality and charming flavors to Bluegrass country with hits like Bourbon Chocolate Pecan, Pineapple Upside-Down and Ice Cream Sundae.

At Rocket Girl Treats, owner and Cupcake Wars contestant Zoe Duvall specializes in vegan cupcakes with decadent flavors like Chocolate Raspberry and Peanut Butter and Jelly. In addition to cupcakes, Zoe also bakes gourmet doughnuts with toppings like fresh blueberries and walnuts.

Shortly after their battle on Cupcake Wars, Victoria Donnelly and her staff at Cakeology bought a storefront to call their own in Boston. Their German Chocolate cupcake is a favorite among regulars, and they also have specialty cupcakes such as Root Beer Float and Earl Grey with honey.

Everything at Crema Cafe - the buttercream swirl-coated cakes, the whimsical dessert displays, the latte foam art - is brimming with personality. This cozy Cambridge hideaway's rotating menu has something to enjoy for every meal of the day (and croissants in five flavors for every snack in between.)