At Two Birds Baking Company in Huntington Beach, Calif., vegan cupcakes are the star of the show, and the owners swear they're just as good as the ones mom used to bake. Speciality flavors include Banana Split, The Elvis (chocolate peanut butter banana) and The Sinner (double chocolate).

My Sweet Cupcake in South Pasadena, Calif., has desserts for nearly everyone, including dozens of vegan and gluten-free options. Locals agree that their specialty cupcakes, including crowd-pleasers like Chocolate Pretzel and Pink Lemonade, are absolutely worth the trip.

Ah, How Sweet in South Pasadena, Calif., is the event guru to turn to for cupcakes and cakes that are beautiful inside and out. Customized for the occasion and designed using the finest ingredients, each treat will have you saying, Ah, How Sweet. Simply submit an order form online.

Cups cupcake bakery and lounge in La Jolla, California, is green to the core. The organic, sustainable and locally sourced pantry pumps out grandma's classics with a modern sensibility. Don't miss the feisty Vanilla Vixen, spicy Churros and Chocolate or luscious kaffir lime-topped Coco-Limey.

This bakery brings the sweet taste of the South straight to California with dessert classics like Peach Cobbler and Sweet Potato Pie. Red Velvet cupcakes are this spot’s specialty, but the innovative cakes customized by owner Karolyn Plummer and cake artist Jasmine Frank are also irresistible.

At Bliss Cakes, owner Stephanie Sparkles (yes, that's her real name) uses vegan recipes and all-natural ingredients to cook up specialty cupcake flavors such as Matcha Raspberry Green Tea and Acai Jungleberry Bliss. Stephanie decorates her cupcakes with garnishes like real fruit and edible flowers.

Customers who treat themselves to Incr-Edible Cupcakes in Temecula, Calif., can mix and match flavors, frostings and fillings to design their own cupcakes. As a former competitor in the Cupcake Wars arena, owner Diana Colletti loves experimenting with specialty flavors such as Margarita Madness.

Lovely's Sinfully Sweet Creations cater to a clientele wanting full-on flavor and fun. The online bakery packed a punch with a jalapeno popper cupcake on Cupcake Wars. Back home in Temecula, Calif., they're serving margarita cupcakes and 3-D cake that "tastes so good, it must be a sin."

On this episode of Food Network's Cupcake Wars, the owner of Ava James Catering competes to win $10,000 and have her cupcakes presented at an event honoring the Major League Soccer Cup Finals.

On this episode of Food Network's Cupcake Wars, the owner of Sweet Rachel Desserts competes to win $10,000 and have her cupcakes featured at a celebrity-packed holiday tree lighting ceremony in Hollywood.

Kara Haspel Lind has built her own cupcake empire, with seven locations in various parts of California. Kara prides herself on using organic ingredients for all of her desserts, including seasonal and gluten-free cupcakes. Kara's reputation positioned her as a challenger to beat on Cupcake Wars.

The cupcakes and cookies at Tiffany's Sweet Spot will satisfy any sweet tooth cravings. No display case here — owner Tiffany Thorpe guarantees all her cupcakes are made fresh to order. Get in line for the everyday flavors of Peanut Butter Crunch, Salted Caramel Mocha and Chocolate Blondie.

Boy likes cake. Boy bakes cake. Boy opens bakery. That's the story of ConfeXion Cupcakes + Cake - brainchild of Anthony Valerio and his aunt, Vandy. They've stocked a cupcake emporium with innovative cupcakes like The Villain (fresh lime margarita) to The ViXXXen (cayenne red velvet).

Once a tight end for the NFL, George Wrightster soon found his sweeter side and started baking at Violet's Cakes in Pasadena, Calif. The cupcake flavors change daily and include both classic standbys like Red Velvet and Chocolate Chip as well as more unusual offerings such as Cinnamon Roll.

On this episode of Food Network's Cupcake Wars, the owner of Whodidily Cupcakes competes to win $10,000 and have her cupcakes presented at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.